Deputy Chief Inspector

Permanent, full-time role (36 hours per week) based in Edinburgh or Glasgow with hybrid working.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a unique, significant and high-profile national leadership role at Healthcare Improvement Scotland. As Deputy Chief Inspector, you will work closely with the Chief Inspector to provide senior leadership, strategic support and operational direction for national inspection and assurance activity. The role ensures that external quality assurance is independent, robust and proportionate, supporting measurable improvement in the quality, safety and experience of health and care in Scotland.

Working within Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s strategic framework, you will lead designated assurance programmes and contribute to the planning, coordination and delivery of national inspection activity across NHS services and wider health and care settings. The role provides a critical link between the operational programme leadership responsibilities of Heads of Service and the broader strategic and corporate accountabilities of the Chief Inspector.

The Deputy Chief Inspector will act on behalf of the Chief Inspector when required, making timely decisions within agreed governance arrangements regarding inspection priorities, escalation of significant concerns, stakeholder engagement, urgent briefing material, and communication of material assurance findings where public protection, service continuity, or organisational continuity requires it.

The role requires a visible and credible leadership presence, with the ability to operate confidently with senior clinical and managerial leaders, build confidence and trust across professional and agency boundaries, and provide visible senior leadership in complex, politically sensitive, and rapidly evolving environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership and strategic support for national inspection and assurance activity.
• Lead designated assurance programmes and contribute to the planning, coordination, and delivery of national inspection activity across NHS services and wider health and care settings.
• Act on behalf of the Chief Inspector, making timely decisions on inspection priorities, escalation of concerns, and stakeholder engagement.
• Convey sensitive and complex assurance findings clearly and use evidence persuasively to inform action and improvement.
• Build and sustain constructive working relationships with senior stakeholders, partner scrutiny bodies, and professional networks.

Requirements

• Registered healthcare professional with active professional registration.
• Extensive senior-level experience at Band 8b or above.
• Highly developed professional knowledge of healthcare quality, safety, governance, and assurance.
• Experience leading complex inspection, scrutiny, or assurance activity.
• Ability to make critical judgements in complex, high-risk, and ambiguous contexts.
• Highly effective communication, influencing, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong track record of building and sustaining constructive working relationships with senior stakeholders and professional networks.

Pay

Band 8C (£90,808 - £97,338 per annum).

Schedule

36 hours per week.

Interviews are expected to be held on 2 October 2026. Closing date: midnight on 6 September 2026.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector.