Deputy Director of Policy – Adult Social Care and Local Authorities

This advert is for current internal applicants only. External applications will be rejected.

Grade E3: £75,183 per annum

Contracted Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Homebased, with travel as required

Closing Date: Thursday 12 November at 11.59pm

Make a difference

Every role at CQC contributes to our mission. If you're looking for a role with purpose at a pivotal moment for the organisation, you've found it.

As Deputy Director of Policy – Adult Social Care and Local Authorities, you will play a key leadership role in shaping the future direction of CQC's regulatory approach within one of our most important sectors. Working closely with the Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and senior colleagues across CQC, you will lead the development and implementation of regulatory policy, ensuring our approach remains effective, evidence-based and responsive to the evolving health and social care landscape.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence national policy, drive strategic change and help ensure CQC's regulatory frameworks continue to support high-quality care and positive outcomes for people using services.

Picture this

You are leading the strategic development of regulatory policy for Adult Social Care and Local Authorities, ensuring CQC's approach keeps pace with national priorities, legislative change and emerging models of care. Working closely with Chief Inspectors, Directors, Executive Team colleagues and external stakeholders, you provide expert advice and leadership to shape policy, develop regulation and influence improvement across the sector.

In your first year you might have:

• Led the development of a major regulatory policy initiative that strengthened CQC's approach to regulating Adult Social Care and Local Authorities.
• Established strategic relationships with government departments, sector partners and key stakeholders to influence policy development and improve outcomes.
• Shaped and delivered policies and guidance that supported operational teams and enhanced regulatory effectiveness.
• Identified emerging risks, opportunities and legislative developments, ensuring CQC's regulatory approaches remained fit for purpose and responsive to change.
• Contributed to high-profile corporate priorities, statutory publications and cross-organisational programmes of work.

The role

You will:

• Lead the development and implementation of regulatory policy relating to Adult Social Care and Local Authorities.
• Shape CQC's long-term strategic approach to regulation and monitoring within the sector.
• Develop policies, guidance and regulatory frameworks that support operational delivery and achieve strategic objectives.
• Horizon-scan legislative, political and policy developments, identifying implications, opportunities and risks for CQC.
• Provide expert policy advice to senior leaders, Chief Inspectors, Executive Team and Board colleagues.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, influencing policy development and securing support for key priorities.
• Lead cross-cutting programmes of work and strategic initiatives that contribute to CQC's wider objectives.
• Ensure robust governance, quality assurance and performance oversight of policy programmes and projects.
• Manage and develop a team of policy professionals, supporting their wellbeing, growth and performance.
• Promote inclusive leadership, collaboration and a culture that reflects CQC's values and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Show us

We will be looking for specific skills, knowledge and experience in your application form:

• Strategic policy leadership: A proven track record of leading complex policy development, regulatory programmes or strategic initiatives within a large and complex environment. You'll be able to develop clear strategic direction, influence decision-making and deliver meaningful outcomes.
• Stakeholder engagement and influence: Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with significant experience working with senior leaders, national stakeholders and partners across competing interests to shape policy and achieve results.
• Regulatory policy and sector expertise: Understanding and/or experience of health and social care, regulation, public policy, strategy, government, consultancy or analytical disciplines. You'll be able to interpret complex policy issues and translate them into practical regulatory approaches.
• Policy development and implementation: Experience of developing and implementing policy, frameworks or regulatory approaches at a national level. You'll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, managing competing priorities and delivering high-quality outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership and organisational impact: Experience of leading and developing high-performing teams, influencing organisational decision-making and driving improvement through collaboration, innovation and evidence-based solutions.

How to apply:

To apply for this role, 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 makes you suitable for this role?
• What strengths will you bring to the role?

Compliance

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.

If you’d like an informal chat about the role contact – contact Alexia Partington, Executive Personal Assistant to Chris Badger - Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care on: alexia.partington@cqc.org.uk. For general enquiries, please email recruitment@cqc.org.uk.

The Benefits

We offer 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 23.7% 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 welcome applications from everyone, and colleagues can find support and 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.