At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of healthcare regulation and improve services for hospitals and specialist care.
- Company: Join CQC, a leader in healthcare regulation with a mission to ensure safe, high-quality care.
- Benefits: Enjoy 27-32.5 days annual leave, NHS pension, training opportunities, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace prioritising fairness, respect, and support for all applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on healthcare by influencing regulatory services and improving patient experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in hospitals or care sectors, with skills in service improvement and stakeholder collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 55172 - 61028 £ per year.
This advert is for current internal applicants only. External applications will be closed.
Grade A: £55,172 (National) or £61,028 (London) – for London office based or home-based workers within the boundary of the M25. There is also an additional homeworking allowance of £600 per annum for those working from home.
Contracted Hours: Full-time 37 hours per week
Contract Type: 12-months fixed-term or secondment opportunity
Internal applicants must obtain written confirmation from their line manager, granting permission to be released from their current role, before applying for this opportunity.
Location: Homebased with travel
Interview Date: Friday 4th and/or Tuesday 8th September 2026 via Teams
Closing Date: Monday 17 August 2026 at 11.59pm
Make a difference. Every role at CQC contributes to our mission. If you’re looking for a new role in Rebuilding our Regulatory Services that gives a true sense of meaning and purpose, then you’ve found it!
As a Subject Matter Expert – Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care, you’ll help shape the future of regulation by ensuring the needs of hospitals and specialist care services are reflected in the systems, processes and tools that support safe, high-quality care. You’ll play a key role in one of CQC’s most significant transformation programmes, helping to ensure the experiences and expertise of Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care teams influence the future design of regulatory services. Working with colleagues across inspectorates, digital teams and programme workstreams, you’ll help turn operational insight into meaningful improvements.
In the last 12 months, as a Subject Matter Expert – Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care in Rebuilding our Regulatory Services you could have:
- Gathered insight and prioritised requirements from Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care inspectorate colleagues, working closely with digital specialists to help shape future services, business processes and technology solutions as part of Rebuilding our Regulatory Services.
- Supported testing, piloting and implementation activities, helping to ensure new assessment services worked effectively for colleagues and service users before being rolled out across CQC.
The role:
You’ll work closely with others to deliver shared outcomes. In this role, you’ll:
- Represent sector expertise: Work with Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care colleagues to identify requirements, share operational insight and ensure sector priorities are reflected in service design, guidance and system development.
- Support change and improvement: Help develop guidance, training and implementation plans that enable colleagues to adopt new ways of working and embed improvements across regulatory services.
- Build collaboration and assurance: Work with programme teams, stakeholders and other subject matter experts to provide assurance, promote consistency across workstreams and champion the benefits of new services and processes.
Show us:
We will be looking for specific skills, knowledge and experience in your application form:
- Experience working within hospitals, secondary care, specialist care, regulation or a related environment, with a strong understanding of operational practice and sector priorities.
- Experience contributing to service improvement or transformation programmes, including gathering requirements, identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting the implementation of new processes, systems or ways of working.
- Experience working with a range of stakeholders to influence decisions, manage complex discussions and translate policy, operational requirements or technical information into practical guidance and solutions.
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 you are shortlisted.
You can read the full details of the role in the Job Description. If you’d like to have an informal chat about the role you can contact Jane Cummings, Deputy Director for Rebuilding our Regulatory Services, at Jane.Cummings@cqc.org.uk or Maggie Kemmner, Director of Hospitals, at Maggie.Kemmner@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 Blue Light card, costing £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.
We promote a workplace where fairness, respect and inclusion are a priority. 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.
A Note on AI:
We know 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.
Subject Matter Expert - Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care employer: Care Quality Commission
As an Enterprise Architect with us, you'll join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation and collaboration. Our supportive work culture fosters professional growth through continuous learning opportunities and mentorship, while our competitive benefits package, including a homeworking allowance, ensures a healthy work-life balance. Located in the vibrant London area, we offer a dynamic environment where your contributions will make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Subject Matter Expert - Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care
✨Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives
Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like Care Quality Commission.
✨Tap into Professional Associations
Check out associations like the Institute of Healthcare Management. They often have job boards, networking events, and conferences that are perfect for connecting with potential employers in health sciences administration.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at Care Quality Commission.
✨Apply Through Our Website for Better Visibility
When you find roles that excite you, especially at places like Care Quality Commission, don’t forget to apply through our website. This can sometimes give you an edge by showing the employer you’re savvy and committed to finding the right fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Subject Matter Expert - Hospitals, Secondary and Specialist Care
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Care Quality Commission.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Care Quality Commission.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Care Quality Commission. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Care Quality Commission. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Care Quality Commission
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Care Quality Commission’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
