National Professional Advisor – Surgery
National Professional Advisor – Surgery

National Professional Advisor – Surgery

Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Care Quality Commission

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide expert surgical advice and shape national inspection models for hospital services.
  • Company: CQC, dedicated to ensuring safe, high-quality care across the UK.
  • Benefits: Flexible home-based role with generous annual leave and professional development opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on healthcare by guiding regulatory decisions in surgery.
  • Qualifications: Senior-level experience in surgery and ability to advise on complex clinical matters.
  • Other info: Part-time role with potential for travel and excellent career growth.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

Homebased - Flexible, United Kingdom

Contracted Hours: Part-time 1 day per week (equivalent to 7 hours – 0.2 FTE)

Contract Type: Fixed Term / Secondment Opportunity until 31/3/2028

Location: Homebased with travel as and when required

Closing date: Thursday 2 April 2026 at 11.59pm

Interview date: TBC via MS Teams

Make a difference

Every role at CQC helps us make sure people get safe, high‑quality care. If you’re looking for a new role in the Hospitals Inspectorate that gives a real sense of purpose, then you’ve found it. As a National Professional Advisor, you’ll bring senior surgical expertise that guides national oversight of hospital care and shapes our future direction in regulating surgical services.

Picture this

In this role, you’ll use your surgical background to guide how hospital services are assessed, giving expert advice to CQC staff that protects people and supports safe care. You’ll work with leaders across CQC to help shape new ways of regulating surgical services.

As a National Professional Advisor in the Hospital Inspectorate, you will be asked to:

  • Advise on complex regulatory cases where surgical insight is required to support fair decision making.
  • Help shape new inspection models for surgical services, making sure they reflect real‑world pressures and current clinical practice.

The role

You’ll be key in helping us deliver our work. In this role, you’ll:

  • Provide specialist clinical insight: Offer senior‑level surgical advice to inspection teams, directors and the Chief Inspector of Hospitals to support strong, consistent and credible regulatory decisions.
  • Shape national practice: Review new clinical guidance, emerging surgical standards and policy changes, and help CQC design future inspection and regulatory models that reflect the pressures of surgical practice.
  • Strengthen external credibility: Build trusted relationships with senior surgical stakeholders and professional bodies, helping CQC stay connected to frontline expertise and maintain confidence in our regulation of surgical services.

Show us

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

  • Experience leading or advising at a regional, national or equivalent level in a surgical field, including guiding clinical groups, shaping improvements or supporting high‑level decision making.
  • Ability to give clear, expert advice on complex clinical matters, including explaining surgical risks, interpreting emerging guidance and supporting inspection or regulatory decisions.
  • Experience working with senior professional stakeholders, such as national surgical bodies or specialist forums, using empathy and inclusive leadership to influence and support change.

Join us and help CQC shape the future of health and care.

You can read the full details of the role in the NPA Job Description.

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?

If you’d like to have an informal chat about the role you can contact Nicola Wise, Director of Hospitals or Dr Prem Premachandran, National Professional Advisor for Urgent and Emergency Care.

For general enquiries, please email.

Compliance

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

Note for internal candidates: This is a secondment/fixed term opportunity. Please read the recruitment and selection policy section on secondments. You must discuss your application with your line manager before applying.

Next steps

If you apply, you’ll need to create a profile and complete an online application form. 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.

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.

National Professional Advisor – Surgery employer: Care Quality Commission

At CQC, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values the expertise and contributions of our staff. As a National Professional Advisor – Surgery, you will enjoy a flexible home-based role that allows you to make a significant impact on healthcare regulation while benefiting from a supportive work culture that prioritises professional growth and development. With generous annual leave, opportunities for meaningful engagement with senior stakeholders, and a commitment to shaping the future of health and care, CQC offers a rewarding environment for those looking to advance their careers in a purpose-driven organisation.
Care Quality Commission

Contact Detail:

Care Quality Commission Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land National Professional Advisor – Surgery

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the surgical field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your knowledge of current surgical standards and regulations. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re not just a candidate, but a thought leader in the field.

Tip Number 3

Don’t forget to follow up! After an interview, shoot a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your application status there.

We think you need these skills to ace National Professional Advisor – Surgery

Surgical Expertise
Regulatory Knowledge
Clinical Insight
Advisory Skills
Stakeholder Engagement
Decision-Making Skills
Empathy
Leadership
Communication Skills
Policy Review
Inspection Models Development
Relationship Building
Change Management
Complex Problem Solving

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your surgical expertise and relevant experience. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of National Professional Advisor, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!

Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Your Supporting Statement is your chance to shine! Use it to explain how your previous experience makes you suitable for this role and what unique strengths you bring to the table. Keep it concise and focused – remember, we’re looking for clarity!

Be Authentic: When writing your application, be yourself! We appreciate authenticity and want to get a sense of who you are. Share your passion for improving surgical services and how you can contribute to our mission at CQC.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our recruitment system! It’s the easiest way for us to receive your CV and Supporting Statement. Plus, we’ll keep you updated on your application status, so you won’t be left in the dark.

How to prepare for a job interview at Care Quality Commission

Know Your Surgical Stuff

Make sure you brush up on the latest surgical standards and clinical guidance. Being able to discuss recent developments in the field will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also passionate about your expertise.

Build Relationships

Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to build trusted relationships with senior surgical stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've influenced change or supported decision-making in previous roles, as this will be key for the interview.

Practice Clear Communication

Since you'll need to give clear, expert advice on complex clinical matters, practice explaining surgical risks and emerging guidance in a straightforward way. This will help you convey your insights effectively during the interview.

Prepare Your Supporting Statement

Your supporting statement is crucial! Make sure it clearly outlines how your experience aligns with the role. Highlight specific strengths you bring to the table, especially those related to leading or advising in a surgical context.

National Professional Advisor – Surgery
Care Quality Commission

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