John Burton has worked in social care since 1965 as a practitioner at all levels, and as a manager, writer, trainer, researcher, inspector and consultant. He has campaigned to raise standards of care and has made such campaigning practical by leading the transformation of several care homes and of a voluntary organisation running homes. He is currently a member of the steering group based at the National Skills Academy (Social Care) for advancing the professional status and practice of Registered Managers. He is well known as a writer of books, chapters and hundreds of articles and columns in the social care press, and as a consultant supervising, mentoring and supporting managers to develop their services.