The Well Communities Board is pleased to announce the appointment of David Blacklock as its Interim Chief Executive.

David is a proud Cumbrian, living outside of Carlisle in the Northern Fells with his partner. His three sons are all now adults, which means that David is trying to adjust to a much quieter home.

David is also the Chief Executive of People First, a long-established and successful charity operating across the North of England. David has developed People First over a number of years into a strong, well-led, sustainable organisation that champions lived experience, rights and equality for all.

David is a seasoned, strategic leader holding a number of positions on boards and committees such as the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board, Safeguarding Adults Boards and three Health and Well Being Boards, helping to shape policy and practice in Health and Social Care.

David is passionate about people, their right to have information, choices and opportunities to live a life of their choosing.

David’s background is in Psychotherapy, studying with Lancaster University and more recently post graduate studies in Leading Transformational Change in Health and Social Care. He has spent his whole career advocating for the right of those who use services to be involved and included in their design and development. He believes that nothing should be done to people, rather that those with lived experience should always be included.

David said: Working at The Well Communities is a pleasure. Whilst there’s a great deal to be done to strengthen the organisation, its people, staff and community members are a total gift. Their lived experience makes them experts in their field and I’m thoroughly excited by the potential that the future holds.