I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Surrey in 2010 as a notable individual who had made a significant contribution within the field of dementia care and to society. For nine years I was a Visiting Senior Fellow at the University of Surrey. I completed my undergraduate and post graduate training at the University of Hull. I hold a BA in Social Administration, a postgraduate Diploma in Applied Social Studies and a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, having worked as an Approved Social Worker under the Mental Health Act.
I worked for 14 years as a social worker in hospital and community settings, specialising in dementia care and mental health, including a joint social work and lecturing post in the Department of Health Care of the Elderly at the University of Nottingham Medical School. I held posts as Deputy Group Principal Social Worker at University Hospital Nottingham and was also one of the first joint NHS/Social Services appointments as General Manager of Old Age Psychiatry in an NHS Trust until 1995.
I left the NHS to set up Dementia Care Matters and was the Founder and CEO for 23 years, up to 2017. I became a global pioneer and world leader in evidencing culture change, focussed on improving quality of life for people living with a dementia, promoting personhood and on evaluating care models. Dementia Care Matters developed and accredited Butterfly Homes, which pioneered culture change in dementia care, many of the Homes gaining the rating of outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in England. As a globally respected author, film maker, TV consultant, I developed an international reputation as a challenging and motivational speaker, receiving multiple international awards for my work on establishing a revolutionary model of dementia care.
My leadership work has particularly focused on strategically changing and improving care cultures in both health and social care settings. I have developed a large body of intellectual thinking, demonstrating the primary competency in all care requires the application of a model of emotional intelligence, alongside examining the impact of emotional labour in the care home sector. In recognition of my standing in the care sector I was also invited and worked for two years as Director of Culture in a newly forming ground breaking UK wide care home organisation. I was awarded the title of Care Personality of the Year at the National Care Awards U.K. in 2014 where the judging panel commented “David’s beliefs, values, boundless energy and passion have driven changes that to many were only a dream. His herculean effort has revolutionised the culture of care nationally and internationally”.
For a number of years I worked on a freelance basis as the Alzheimer's Society national training consultant seeding the development of person centred dementia care within their care services. Over a 10 year period I designed, led and facilitated University recognised courses in person centred dementia care, leadership and training skills developing practitioners, managers and consultants within a number of countries.
My current interests lie in the field of nurse education and education of wider health and social care professionals. In particular my work focuses on the application of theories of person centredness towards self, drawing from the field of emotional intelligence.
My service evaluation work has been undertaken in NHS Trusts, Social Services, Voluntary and Independent Sector providers at both a strategic Board level and in direct practice development. Particular areas of strategic focus have been in the areas of dementia care frameworks, joint NHS and Social Care provision, Community Mental Health and Dementia Awareness Teams and service evaluation of Old Age Psychiatry. My service evaluation of practice has focused on qualitative observational methodologies, ensuring inclusion of people's lived experience, supported housing, dementia care new build consultancy and interior design, sexuality and dementia care and new work in the concept of vulnerability.
I have engaged significantly over the last 10 years in the production of documentaries and films as a feature presenter and consultant - believing this is one of the most powerful ways to create a large scale movement for change, examples of which are:
- 2018 “We are Family” – produced by Professor Cathy Greenblat and Corinne Maunder. Fire Films. USA/Australia
- 2018 “Revolutionising Dementia Care” The Agenda - flagship current affairs programme with Steve Paikin – TVO Canada.
- 2018 “The Fix” – produced by Moira Welsh. The Toronto Star, Canada
- 2016 “Dementia care matters in the Ambulance Service” produced with London Ambulance Service NHS Trust funded by NHS England.
- 2015 “Dementiaville” Channel 4 documentary series produced in conjunction with The Open University, UK
- 2012 “Un o Bob Tri” documentary produced by S4C Wales.
- 2009 “Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes?” BBC1 documentary series produced in conjunction with The Open University, UK.
In addition a wide range of interviews have featured on Channel 4 News UK and Global News Canada.
