CQC National Professional Advisor – Mental Health

National Professional Advisor x 3 Roles – Mental HealthTeam (part-time) 

1 x Mental Health Nursing
1 x Older People’s Mental Health Services
1 x Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services

Specialist Advisor Rate - Aligned to Professional Experience  

Contracted Hours:  0.2 FTE Equivalent (1 x day per week) 

Contract Type:  Fixed Term Contract for up to 24months  

Location: Homebased, with national travel as required

Closing date: Tuesday19th May 2026 at11.59pm 

Interview date: TBC

Make a difference
Every role at CQC contributes to our mission. If you’relooking for a new role that gives a true sense of meaning and purpose, thenyou’ve found it! As a National Professional Advisor – Mental Health,you will play a crucial role in ensuring high-quality care within the healthand social care sector. You will also have the opportunity to promote and driveimprovements nationally for people using mental health services.

Picture this
Imagine working on projects that directly impact the qualityof care that people receive.

. In the last year as a National Professional Advisor – Mental Health you might have led the development of new inspection methodologies to improve care standards.
. You could have collaborated with national health bodies to shape policies that ensure safer and more effective services.

The role
You’ll play an important part in delivering our mission. Inthis role, you’ll:

. Provide Expert Advice: Offer clinical and professional guidance to inspection teams, ensuring high standards of care.
. Shape Policy: Influence and contribute to the development of CQC’s strategies and policies.
. Engage Stakeholders: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including health bodies and professional societies.

Show us
We will be looking for specific skills, knowledge, andexperience in your application form:

. Clinical Expertise: Experience as a mental health professional working at a senior level in clinical practice.
. Policy Development: Proven ability to influence and shape health policies at a national level.
. Stakeholder Collaboration: Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining professional relationships with various stakeholders.

Join us
Bring your expertise to a role in CQC that really makes adifference. Apply today to join a workplace where your impact is felt everyday.

How to apply…  
Please submit a copy of your CV and Supporting Statement (no more than 750-words) via the Recruitment System.    

Your Supporting Statement should cover the following:   
– How your previous experience reflects the criteria required?
– What strengths will you bring to the role?     

**You will also be required tocomplete additional role specific questions at the beginning of yourapplication**

Compliance
To progress your application, you’ll need to provide evidence of your right towork in the UK. Without valid right to work you won’t be eligible for therole. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Someroles may also be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

Next steps
If you apply, you’ll need to create a profile and complete an online application form. Your application will be completely anonymous.  Please see our information for applicants for more details on the process. We contact every applicant to let them know the outcome of their application, so you will hear from us whether or not you are shortlisted.
You can read the full details of the role in the Job Description: National Professional Advisor Job Description

If you’d like an informal chat about the role contact ChrisDzikiti, Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health via his Executive PA: maeve.coleman@cqc.org.uk
& for general enquiries, please email recruitment@cqc.org.uk 

The Benefits
Weoffer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Annual leave starting at 27 days per year, rising to 32.5 days with service, plus bank holidays (usually 8 days per year).
• Training and development opportunities.
• Wellbeing initiatives, such as gym discounts and meditation.
• NHS pension scheme, with around 14% employer contribution.
• Discount schemes (including eligibility for a Blue Light card, at a cost of £4.99 and valid for 2 years), reward vouchers, car leasing and more!

Please see our benefits page for the full list.

Equity for all
We know job descriptions can feel intimidating. Research shows they can cause some people to doubt whether they’re a good fit. This happens more often to people from underrepresented groups (e.g. ethnic minority backgrounds). If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply. Your unique perspective, skills, and experience could be exactly what we need.
We want every candidate to feel supported and able to do their best. If you need adjustments to our process, we’ll work with you to remove any barriers. Visit our accessibility page for more on this. If you’d like to chat, please contact recruitment@cqc.org.uk. Please note, if you have previously informed us of adjustments you need for interview or within your role these are not carried over and must be discussed for each individual application you make.
We promote a workplace where fairness, respect and inclusion are a priority. Diverse teams make our work better, help us deliver our mission and make our culture stronger. See our ED&I page for more about this.
We welcomeapplications from everyone, and colleagues can find supportand community among our many employee networks. This includes people of any:

• Age
• Sex
• Gender identity or expression
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
• Ethnicity
• Disability

Values and vision
We are guided by our core values, which shape our work and our culture.
Excellence – being a high-performing organisation.
Caring – treating everyone with dignity and respect.
Integrity – doing the right thing.
Teamwork – learning from each other to be the best we can.
We are a disability confident employer and a carer confident employer.

A Note on AI
AI tools can be great for research and refining ideas, but we want to learn about you. If you use AI or Chatbots to help you with your application, keep these points in mind:

•        AI can support research, structuring and refining your writing, but your application must reflect your real skills and experience.
•        Spell-checking and condensing word counts are great ways to use AI effectively.
•        Do not copy and paste AI generated answers. These will not help you stand out; remember we want to hear about your skills and experience.
•        Providing false and insincere examples goes against our core values of honesty and integrity and may lead to your application being withdrawn or termination of your employment.