South East England
Job Summary
Make a difference
Every role at CQC contributes to our mission. If you’re a pharmacy professional looking for a new role in
CQC’s Medicines Optimisation Team that gives a true sense of meaning and purpose, then you’ve found it! As a
Medicines Inspector based in the
South, you’ll use your pharmacy expertise to help ensure people receive safe and effective care by supporting inspections and promoting good medicines optimisation across health and social care.
Picture this
Imagine being the trusted expert on medicines safety, helping inspection teams across the South make informed decisions that protect people and improve care.
- In the last year as a Medicines Inspector in the Medicines Optimisation Team, you will have supported inspections in a range of health and social care providers, such as care homes, GP practices and hospitals, identifying risks in how medicines were managed and helping the team take action.
- You might have contributed to the delivery of medicines training for inspectors, improving their understanding of safe medicines use in all health and social care settings.
Job Description
The role
You’ll work closely with others to deliver shared outcomes. In this role, you’ll:
- Assess and Inspect health and social care providers: Provide expert input on medicines optimisation and safety during inspections and investigations.
- Support learning: Help train and develop CQC staff to improve their understanding of medicines optimisation.
- Manage workload effectively, focusing on specific care sectors as agreed.
The role
You’ll work closely with others to deliver shared outcomes. In this role, you’ll:
- Assess and Inspect health and social care providers: Provide expert input on medicines optimisation and safety during inspections and investigations.
- Support learning: Help train and develop CQC staff to improve their understanding of medicines optimisation.
- Manage workload effectively, focusing on specific care sectors as agreed.
Person specification
Show Us
We will be looking for specific skills, knowledge, and experience in your application form:
- Pharmacy registration and experience: Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and at least 3 years of experience as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
- Medicines knowledge: Understanding of medicines law and how it applies to health and social care services.
- Clear communication: Ability to explain complex medicines issues in a simple, accessible way to different audience
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 14% 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.
Selection process details
Assessment Date: Tuesday 23 September 2025*
- The assessment centre will be in London
What To Expect At Assessment
Your assessment will be face-to-face and includes:
- A short written exercise
- A brief presentation (prepared in advance - we’ll send you the details)
- A relaxed interview
We aim to keep things welcoming and supportive. If you need any adjustments, just let us know!
If you're curious about the role or just want to find out a bit more before applying, we’d love to have an informal conversation. No pressure, no commitment—just a chance to ask questions, get a feel for the team, and see if it’s the right fit for you. Please contact
Hayley File, Regional Medicines Manager at
[email protected]. For general enquiries, please email
[email protected]
To apply, please click the ‘Apply at advertiser’s site’ button located at the bottom of this page.
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.
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.
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
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
Recruitment team
Further information
https://www.cqc.org.uk/
