Principal Quality Improvement Consultant

Delphi Care Solutions Ltd; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Delphi Care Solutions is seeking an experienced former or current CQC Inspector for a hybrid, national role with nationwide travel.

You will work directly with providers to implement improvements, influence governance, and drive sustainable compliance, helping services deliver safer, higher-quality care.

Qualifications

• Current or former CQC Inspector with regulatory experience.
• Experience across adult social care regulation and inspection.
• Ability to produce detailed inspection reports and improvement plans.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory assurance through mock inspections and reviews.
• Assess services against CQC framework, regulations, and best practice.
• Evaluate governance, leadership, quality assurance, and safeguarding.
• Identify improvement opportunities and produce actionable plans.
• Support providers through improvement journeys and recovery programs.
• Lead workshops, training, and sector events.

Skills

Analytical skills

Investigative skills

Communication

Report writing

Influence leadership

Project management

Commercial awareness

Consultancy mindset

Balancing support & accountability

Job description

Former & Current CQC Inspectors Encouraged to Apply

Hybrid/National Role

Nationwide Travel Required (Including Occasional Overnight Stays)

From £50,000 per annum + Expenses

Full-Time | Permanent

You've Inspected Services. Now Help Transform Them.

As a CQC Inspector, you've seen what outstanding care looks like.

You've also seen the challenges providers face when compliance slips, governance weakens, or quality standards begin to deteriorate.

At Delphi Care Solutions, we're looking for experienced current or former CQC Inspectors who want to use their expertise differently. Instead of identifying issues and moving on, you'll work directly with providers to implement solutions, drive meaningful improvements, and help organisations achieve lasting success.

This is an opportunity to become a trusted advisor to care providers across the UK, influencing real change and helping services deliver safer, higher-quality care for the people they support.

Whether supporting a service preparing for inspection, assisting a provider through recovery, or strengthening governance and leadership, your work will have a direct and measurable impact.

About Delphi Care Solutions

Delphi Care Solutions is one of the UK's leading health and social care consultancies. We support providers across adult social care, supported living, domiciliary care, specialist services, and healthcare settings.

Our mission is simple: helping providers achieve excellence.

As part of our growing national Task Force Team, you'll work alongside experienced quality professionals, operational leaders, and sector specialists who are passionate about raising standards throughout health and social care.

Why Join Delphi?

Make a Bigger Impact

Move beyond regulation and become part of the solution by helping providers improve quality, strengthen governance, and achieve sustainable compliance.

Work with Diverse Services

No two days are the same. You'll work with a wide range of providers across the UK, each bringing unique opportunities and challenges.

Be Recognised as an Expert

You'll work closely with owners, directors, boards, registered managers, commissioners, and senior leaders, providing specialist advice that shapes services for the better.

Professional Growth

Join a growing consultancy with opportunities to expand your expertise, develop your professional profile, and progress your career.

Rewarding Work

See first-hand how your guidance improves services, strengths leadership teams, and positively impacts the lives of people receiving care.

The Role

As a Principal Quality Improvement Consultant, you will provide expert inspection, assurance, compliance, governance, and quality improvement support to health and social care providers throughout the UK.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Assurance & Inspection

• Lead comprehensive mock CQC inspections and assurance reviews
• Assess services against CQC's assessment framework, regulations, legislation, and best practice
• Evaluate governance, leadership, quality assurance, safeguarding, and operational effectiveness
• Identify areas of concern and opportunities for improvement
• Produce detailed inspection reports, compliance assessments, and executive summaries
• Provide practical recommendations that support sustainable improvement

Quality Improvement & Service Recovery

• Support providers through improvement journeys, recovery programmes, and compliance challenges
• Develop and oversee action plans designed to address regulatory concerns
• Assist services preparing for inspections and assessment activity
• Support providers facing enforcement activity, compliance notices, or regulatory scrutiny
• Monitor progress and evidence outcomes against agreed quality objectives

Leadership, Governance & Consultancy

• Advise senior leaders, directors, owners, and management teams on regulatory and operational matters
• Review governance systems and quality assurance frameworks
• Support the development of effective leadership and compliance cultures
• Challenge constructively and influence decision-making at senior levels
• Promote continuous improvement and excellence across services

Sector Leadership

• Deliver workshops, training, webinars, and educational sessions
• Represent Delphi Care Solutions at conferences, forums, and sector events
• Share emerging regulatory developments and best practice guidance
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Delphi's quality improvement programmes

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Current or previous experience as a CQC Inspector
• Significant experience within adult social care regulation, compliance, quality assurance, or inspection
• Experience undertaking regulatory assessments and inspections
• Proven ability to produce detailed inspection reports and improvement plans
• Experience presenting findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders

Essential Knowledge

• CQC Regulations and Assessment Frameworks
• Care Act 2014
• Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
• Safeguarding Adults
• Health & Safety Legislation
• Governance and Quality Assurance
• Information Governance and GDPR

Essential Skills

• Excellent analytical and investigative skills
• Strong communication and report-writing abilities
• Ability to influence and engage senior leaders
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Commercial awareness and consultancy mindset
• Ability to balance support, challenge, and accountability

Other Requirements

• Full UK Driving Licence
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout the UK
• Ability to undertake overnight stays as required

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting providers through enforcement, recovery, or turnaround programmes
• Registered Manager, Regional Manager, Operations Director, or Quality Director experience
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies
• Consultancy experience within health or social care
• Experience working directly with executive teams, boards, or care business owners

The Ideal Candidate

You are a credible and respected professional who understands both the regulatory landscape and the realities of service delivery.

You know how to identify risks, challenge poor practice, and support improvement.

Most importantly, you are passionate about helping providers achieve positive, lasting change and improving outcomes for people who rely on care services every day.