David Coolbear is the Regional Commissioning Officer for the Children’s Cross Regional Arrangements Group, which is a partnership of 40 plus Local Authorities working with providers to provide safe and effective placements for children and young people.

David has worked in Local Government for the past 22 years at Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils, including a 2 year secondment to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, with the majority of this time being spent in university finance. He started his present role nearly 2 years ago and still relishes the challenge of working with Local Authorities and Providers to improve the outcomes for the most vulnerable children in our society.

Whilst at Essex David completed a post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies and more recently completed a Master of Science Degree at Anglia Ruskin University. The focus of his Master’s was effective partnership working which is a key part of my present role.