Lawyer - Inquiries and Investigations Team

Job summary

Although this role is offered as a fixed term contract to backfill maternity we are also currently rebuilding our organisation and reviewing our structures and ways of working across several areas of the business, including Legal Services. We would encourage applicants to carefully consider the contract duration as advertised.

Make a difference
Every role at CQC contributes to our mission. If you're looking for a new role in Inquiries and Investigations, Legal Services that gives a true sense of meaning and purpose, then you've found it.

As a Lawyer, Inquiries and Investigations, you'll help ensure CQC responds effectively to public inquiries, reviews and investigations, supporting better outcomes across health and social care.

Picture this
Imagine using your legal expertise to help CQC respond to high-profile inquiries and investigations, ensuring important lessons are identified and acted upon. You'll work with colleagues across the organisation to manage legal risks and offering legal insight to support decisions that make a real difference to people using health and care services.

As a Lawyer in Legal Services, you might:

• Get the chance to work on CQC's response to a major public inquiry or independent investigation, helping identify legal risks and supporting complex casework that informs organisational learning.
• Contribute to the development of new legal approaches or policy solutions that help CQC respond effectively to emerging issues across health and social care regulation.

Job description

The role
You'll play an important part in delivering our mission. In this role, you'll:

• Provide clear legal advice: Deliver accurate and practical, solutions-focused legal advice across CQC, helping colleagues make informed decisions and manage legal risk.
• Support inquiries and investigations: Work closely with inquiry and investigation teams to provide legal guidance on reviews, investigations, contentious matters and related activities.
• Develop people and relationships: Support and coach legal colleagues where needed, build effective working relationships across CQC and help increase legal awareness through training and guidance.

Person specification

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

• Qualified legal professional: You are a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive eligible to practise in England and Wales, with relevant post‑qualification experience or substantial pre‑qualification experience in a regulatory or health and social care setting.
• Experience managing a varied legal caseload, assessing risks, advising on complex legal matters and prioritising work in a fast-paced setting.
• Experience explaining complex legal issues in clear, accessible language and providing advice, presentations or guidance to a range of stakeholders.

Apply today to join a workplace where your impact is felt every day.

Benefits

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 a Blue Light card, at a cost of £4.99 and valid for 2 years), reward vouchers, car leasing and more!

Please see our benefits page for the full list.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply for this job, please click the button at the bottom of this page. This will direct you to the CQC Jobs website, where you can complete and submit your application

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Lorraine Reed, Public Inquiries Manager
• Email : Lorraine.Reed@cqc.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cqc.org.uk

Further information

https://www.cqc.org.uk/