Specialist Advisor (Expert witness) - The National Enforcement Team (NET)

Location: National, Homebased
Daily Rate: Aligned with your current rate
Ad Hoc: As and when required
Closing Date: Sunday 15th November at 11.59pm

Specialist Advisor (Expert witness) - The National Enforcement Team (NET)

The National Enforcement Team brings together specialist expertise in enforcement, investigation and regulation within a single, nationally coordinated function. The team plays a critical role in supporting the organisation’s statutory responsibilities, progressing complex criminal investigations and considering representations against Notices of Proposal.

Through its work, the team provides robust and cohesive oversight of enforcement and regulatory challenges, ensuring that organisational learning is embedded and that continuous improvement is achieved across methodology, processes and decision-making.

The Investigations Team leads on all cases involving specific incidents relating to breaches of CQCs prosecutable Regulations 12, 13 and 14, as well as Section 10 offences concerning unregistered services. This includes full responsibility for the strategic direction, planning and coordination of investigations, often involving complex clinical and evidential issues.

To support this work, we seek to engage highly experienced professionals to act as Specialist Advisors (expert witnesses). In this role, you will provide independent, authoritative expert reports within your area of clinical or professional expertise to prove offences beyond all reasonable doubt. These reports form a key component of the evidential case file for criminal proceedings. You may also be required to attend court to give impartial expert evidence. Part 19 of the Criminal Procedure Rules require that applicants for this role must have the relevant qualifications and experience in the field. They must be able to explain opinions and reasoning, identify the differences between facts relied upon and assumptions, highlight uncertainty or limitations and include a statement confirming their duty to the Court.

This is an opportunity to apply your professional expertise in a way that directly contributes to public protection, accountability and the improvement of care standards.

We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with significant expertise in the following areas:

- Maternity and neonatal care
- Mental Capacity Act and associated practice
- Catheter care and management
- Tissue viability and pressure ulcer prevention
- Falls prevention and management
- Choking risks and dysphagia management
- Health and safety assessment in care settings
- Clinical and organisational governance

We recognise the importance of supporting our expert witnesses and will provide appropriate training, guidance and ongoing professional support to ensure you feel confident in undertaking this role.

How to Apply

If you would like to be considered for any of the opportunities available, please submit a brief application (maximum 500 words) outlining your expertise and experience in your chosen area.

Please note that appointments will be made based on written submissions and informal conversations will be held with successful applicants for additional questions etc.

If you would like to discuss these opportunities in more detail, please contact Rosalind Sanderson, Deputy Director of Enforcement (Adult Social Care), Rosalind.Sanderson@cqc.org.uk or Vanessa King, Deputy Director of National Enforcement at vanessa.king@cqc.org.uk