A BLACKBURN-born man is spearheading a new commission to inspect social care.

David Behan, who was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours, still believes in grass roots services.

And he safeguards the skills he learned as a social worker at homeless charity Shelter, in Regent Street, Blackburn.

The 48-year-old has been appointed as chief inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection which has merged from the Social Services Inspectorate, the National Care Standards Commission and some work of the Audit Commission.

Among his responsibilities will be to regulate and inspect public, private and voluntary social care providers and assess the performance of local social service authorities. His latest post will, in many ways, be about picking up the pieces to restore public confidence in social services.

But that is nothing new. In the 1980s it was David who was drafted in to head up the Cleveland investigation after the scandal of abused children in social care.

He has since turned around Greenwich social services department. And it was David who had to defend criticism of his profession over the Victoria Climbi tragedy -- in his role as president of the association of social service directors.

Now he is "proud and honoured" to be named as a Commander of the British Empire.

The former St Mary's CE pupil said: "I still get the same satisfaction, and I wouldn't be here if I didn't. You have to carry that belief that what you are doing is meaningful.

"My feelings now are the same as when I started in Blackburn -- a sense of justice and opportunity for all. I have come a long way from caring for the homeless at Shelter, but I know that job is still what it is all about."

The keen footballer, now based in Kent, has always safeguarded his northern traits.

"I believe in telling it how it is, black and white," he said. "Sometimes the truth isn't always comforting, but being straight and honest is important. Many people appreciate it. I can be very blunt, but it is not always what people want to hear."

His proud parents Hilda and Brian Behan live in Langham Road, Blackburn.

"We are over the moon for him," said Brian. "But I wouldn't do his job for toffee. There never seems to be any praise for the social services, despite all the tremendous work they do.

"On several occasions he has been in the firing line, head hunted all over the country. It has been very hard work for him on some very tricky cases. He carries a lot of respect in his field, not least from being a true Northern straight-talking lad."