Mental Health Inspector – South West
Employer: Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Job Reference: req3089
Location: Homebased – South West, UK
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Grade: Grade B
Salary: £42,044 per year (National)
Homeworking allowance: £600 per year
Posted: 10 September 2026
Closing date: Thursday 24 September 2026 at 11:59pm
Sponsorship: Not available
About the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is looking for a Mental Health Inspector to join its Operations directorate and help ensure people receive safe, high-quality and compassionate care.
The role provides an opportunity to make a direct contribution to the quality and safety of mental health services across the South West of England.
As a Mental Health Inspector, you will visit services, speak with people who use them, work with staff and partners, assess evidence and help identify risks or areas where care can be improved.
About the Role
As a Mental Health Inspector, you will plan and lead inspections and assessments of mental health services.
You will gather and analyse evidence from different sources to assess the quality and safety of services, identify concerns and support proportionate regulatory action where necessary.
The role may involve leading inspections where concerns have been raised and working with colleagues, providers and other stakeholders to identify emerging risks across the region.
Your work will contribute to decisions designed to protect people and improve outcomes across mental health services.
Key Responsibilities
Your responsibilities will include:
- Planning and leading on-site inspections and off-site reviews.
- Gathering evidence to assess the quality and safety of services.
- Reviewing information from multiple sources to identify risks and concerns.
- Taking proportionate regulatory action where required to protect people.
- Working with colleagues, providers and external stakeholders.
- Analysing data, feedback and reports to support informed decisions.
- Identifying emerging risks across the region.
- Sharing intelligence and insight to help improve service quality.
- Contributing to better experiences and outcomes for people using mental health services.
Requirements / Person Specification
CQC is looking for applicants with relevant professional experience and knowledge of mental health services.
You should have:
- Experience working in or with inpatient and/or community mental health services.
- Experience working with learning disability and/or substance misuse services.
- Experience assessing quality, safety or outcomes for people using services.
- In-depth knowledge and working understanding of the Mental Health Act (MHA), Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and their Codes of Practice.
- Experience analysing information from different sources, including data, feedback and reports.
- Ability to use evidence to make informed decisions or recommendations.
- A strong commitment to improving the experience of detained patients.
- The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, providers and stakeholders.
Salary & Benefits
The salary for this Grade B position is:
- £42,044 per year – National
- £47,900 per year – London, where applicable for London office-based or home-based workers within the M25 boundary.
- £600 annual homeworking allowance for employees working from home.
For part-time positions, pay and allowances would be pro rata, although this vacancy is advertised as full time.
Benefits include:
- 27 days’ annual leave, increasing to 32.5 days with service.
- Bank holidays, usually 8 days per year.
- Training and professional development opportunities.
- Wellbeing initiatives, including gym discounts and meditation.
- NHS Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of around 23.7%.
- Discount schemes and reward vouchers.
- Eligibility for a Blue Light Card, subject to its applicable fee.
- Car leasing and other employee benefits.
Working Pattern
This is a full-time, permanent position working 37 hours per week.
CQC states that it is willing to discuss flexible or compressed working arrangements.
The position is homebased in the South West, but regular travel is required.
Location & Travel Requirements
Applications are currently being accepted from candidates based in the South West covering:
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Dorset
- Bath
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
The successful applicant will need to travel regularly across the South West and may also be required to travel across the wider South region.
Important: If you live outside the specified area, CQC states that it will not be able to progress your application for this vacancy.
Visa / Right-to-Work
CQC is unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Applicants must provide evidence of their right to work in the UK to progress their application.
Candidates who do not have valid UK right-to-work status are not eligible for this vacancy.
This is therefore not a UK visa sponsorship opportunity.
Some roles may also be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.
Application & Selection Process
Applicants must create a profile with CQC and complete an online application form.
The application process is anonymous.
CQC states that every applicant will be contacted with the outcome of their application, whether or not they are shortlisted.
Applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates their relevant skills, knowledge and experience against the requirements of the role.
CQC also permits applicants to use AI tools for research, structuring and refining applications, but applications must accurately reflect the candidate’s own genuine skills and experience.
Applicants should not submit false or AI-generated examples that do not represent their real experience.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
CQC welcomes applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds and is committed to fairness, respect and inclusion.
The organisation encourages applicants to apply even if they do not meet every element of a job description, particularly where they can demonstrate relevant transferable skills and experience.
CQC is a Disability Confident Employer and Carer Confident Employer.
Reasonable adjustments are available for applicants who need support during the recruitment process.
Deadline
Applications close Thursday 24 September 2026 at 11:59pm.
Applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
Full Details + Apply
This vacancy is advertised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Job: Mental Health Inspector – South West
Reference: req3089
Location: Homebased – South West
Salary: £42,044 National + £600 homeworking allowance
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week
Closing date: 24 September 2026
Sponsorship: Not available
FAQs
Is this Mental Health Inspector job homebased?
Yes. The vacancy is homebased in the South West, although regular travel across the South West and some travel across the wider South region is required.
What is the salary?
The national salary is £42,044 per year, plus a £600 annual homeworking allowance for home-based workers.
The advertised London salary is £47,900 where the London criteria apply.
Is the Mental Health Inspector role permanent?
Yes. This is a permanent position.
How many hours will I work?
The advertised hours are 37 hours per week, full time. CQC also states that flexible or compressed hours may be discussed.
Can applicants outside the South West apply?
CQC states that applicants must be based within the specified South West areas. The role requires regular travel across the South West, and applications from people living outside the area will not be progressed.
Does CQC offer visa sponsorship for this vacancy?
No. CQC explicitly states that sponsorship is not available for this role.
Applicants must have valid UK right-to-work permission.
What experience is required?
Applicants should have experience working in or with inpatient and/or community mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services, including experience assessing quality, safety or outcomes.
Knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and relevant Codes of Practice is also required.
When is the closing date?
The closing date is Thursday 24 September 2026 at 11:59pm.
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