Deputy Director of Mental Health - Central

Executive Level 3 - £75,183 per annum Contracted Hours: Full-time 37 hours per week Contract Type: Permanent Location: Homebased with travel as required Closing Date: Sunday 27 September 2026 at 11.59pm Stage 1 Written Assessment Date: Emailed to candidates by COB Thursday 15 Oct – to be completed & returned by 9am Monday 19 Oct Stage 2 Interview Date (for candidates who pass Stage 1): Wednesday 28 October 2026 - to be held Face to Face in our London Office Make a difference Every role at CQC contributes to our mission. If you're looking for a new role in Mental Health that offers real meaning and purpose, you've found it. As Deputy Director for Mental Health , you'll provide leadership across the Central region , helping CQC improve mental health services, protect people's rights and drive better outcomes for people who use care services. Picture this You're leading a large and diverse portfolio across the Central region, balancing operational delivery with strategic influence. One day you're supporting teams with complex regulatory decisions, the next you're working with senior system leaders to address emerging risks and improve experiences for people using mental health services. As a Deputy Director for Mental Health, you might; · lead regional activity to identify and respond to emerging provider and system risks , ensuring regulatory action is timely, proportionate and focused on improving outcomes for people who use services. · lead a programme of consultation and co-production , working with partners and people with lived experience to shape approaches to regulation and drive improvement across the sector. The role You'll play an important part in delivering our mission. In this role, you'll: · Provide strategic and operational leadership: Lead regulatory activity across the Central region, ensuring priorities are delivered, risks are managed effectively and high-quality regulatory decisions are made. · Lead people and performance: Support and develop senior colleagues, oversee performance and resources, and create an inclusive environment where teams can thrive and deliver their best work. · Build trusted partnerships: Work with providers, system partners, people who use services and colleagues across CQC to drive improvement, share expertise and deliver CQC's strategic priorities. Show us We will be looking for specific skills, knowledge and experience in your application form: · Experience leading large operational services, regulatory activity or major programmes within mental health, social care, health or a similar complex environment, including responsibility for performance, risk and outcomes. · Knowledge of regulation, operational and government policy, alongside significant expertise in mental health services and how they are delivered. · Experience leading change or improvement work in complex environments , using data or insigh t to guide decisions and achieve clear improvements. Apply today to join a workplace where your impact is felt every day. You can read the full details of the role in the following Job Description and Candidate Information Pack: Job Description Candidate Pack 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 – Stuart Dunn, Director of Mental Health via his Team PA ; Elaine.Supple@cqc.org.uk For general enquiries, please email recruitment@cqc.org.uk 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. 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 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 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 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. 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.