by Dr David Harling BEM
McCollum Consultants is delighted to welcome Mr David Harling BEM to our growing Nursing Division. Mr David Harling (BEM), Registered Learning Disability Nurse and Registered Mental Health Nurse, brings over 30 years of experience in clinical leadership, policy development, and complex care delivery across inpatient, community, and forensic settings.
A National Leader in Learning Disability and Mental Health
Mr Harling qualified as a Registered Learning Disability Nurse in 1993 and as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 1998. He has since held a variety of clinical and leadership roles including Consultant Nurse, Clinical Director, and National Patient Safety Lead for Learning Disability and Autism within NHS Improvement and NHS England.
He has played a pivotal role in the development of national standards and safety frameworks, including the original design of the Care and Treatment Reviews, the Learning Disability Improvement Standards, and patient safety tools adopted across the NHS. Mr Harling has been commissioned by senior health leaders and government bodies to lead reviews into some of the most high-profile and sensitive cases involving vulnerable individuals, including the aftermath of the Winterbourne View and Whorlton Hall scandals.
Medico-Legal and Expert Witness Experience
Mr Harling accepts instructions from both claimant and defendant law firms in personal injury, clinical negligence, and safeguarding matters. His extensive experience in clinical risk management, service reviews, mental health law, and strategic leadership informs his in-depth medico-legal reports and expert witness testimony.
Research, Teaching and Policy Influence
A passionate educator, Mr Harling has taught pre- and post-registration nurses for over a decade as an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Hull. He has been invited to deliver national and international lectures and masterclasses, including sessions at the House of Commons and NHS national conferences.
He has also served as expert advisor to various organisations, including the Department of Health, the King’s Fund, the Royal College of Nursing, the National Offender Management Service, and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation. His contributions have helped shape national policy on learning disability, autism, health inequalities, and forensic mental health care.
Awards and Recognition
Mr Harling has received multiple national accolades in recognition of his exceptional contributions, including:
- Royal College of Nursing Learning Disability Nurse of the Year
- Nursing Times Highly Commended Award
- Florence Nightingale International Travel Scholarship (USA)
- NIMHE National Positive Practice Award
- Foundation of Nursing Studies Innovation in Practice Award
- British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to people with learning disabilities, autistic people, and their families
Professional Memberships
Mr Harling is a registered member of:
- The Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
McCollum Consultants
To instruct Mr Harling or enquire further about his expert services, please contact his case manager, Dawn Murray.
T: 0161 218 0223