CQC Experts by Experience: What They Do on an Inspection, Who They Are and How to Prepare Your Service (2026)
People search for a “CQC inspector by experience”. The role is called Expert by Experience. Here is what they do, who they are, how people apply and what it means for your service.
A CQC Expert by Experience is not an inspector. They are a member of the public with recent personal experience of using, or caring for someone who uses, the services CQC regulates, who joins assessments to speak with people using the service and their families and to make observations. CQC says experts by experience help gather the evidence it uses to make judgements about the quality of care, and that people often find it easier to speak to someone with similar lived experience. For community-based services they also speak to people by phone or video chat. Since April 2026 the programme has been delivered for CQC by Choice Support under a three-year contract.
This guide is for registered managers and providers who want to know what to expect from an Expert by Experience, and for anyone searching for how to become one. It uses CQC’s Experts by Experience page (last updated 5 October 2026) and How we involve you. Where we offer advice for providers it is our suggestion, not CQC guidance.
Key takeaways
- Experts by Experience are people with recent lived experience (within the last eight years) of using, or caring for someone who uses, health, mental health or social care services CQC regulates.
- They gather evidence on assessments by talking with people using the service, friends and family, and by making observations. They are not inspectors and do not decide ratings.
- For home care and other community services they also speak to people by phone or video chat.
- CQC says they are recruited and managed by support organisations under contract. Choice Support holds the contract from April 2026 for three years.
- Make sure people using your service can be heard, and treat what they say as evidence you can act on.
In this guide
What an Expert by Experience does
CQC describes experts by experience as people with recent experience of using, or caring for someone who uses, the services it regulates. They help CQC gather the evidence it uses to make judgements about quality. They have meaningful conversations with people using services and with friends and families, and make other observations while taking part in assessments. CQC says they give unique perspectives, gathering evidence that might otherwise be missed. They can also help CQC in other ways: designing the way it works, taking part in recruitment of senior staff, reviewing documents and speaking at events.
CQC’s page says experts by experience take part in inspections and in visits to monitor the use of the Mental Health Act. Choice Support, which runs the programme, describes the role as visiting people and listening to their opinions of what it is like to use the service, working alongside CQC inspectors.
Expert by Experience, inspector and specialist advisor
| Role | Who they are | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Inspector | CQC employee | Leads the assessment, gathers and weighs evidence, and writes the report (CQC says the report is written by the lead inspector) |
| Expert by Experience | Member of the public with lived experience, working under a support organisation’s contract | Talks with people using the service and their families, observes, and feeds back what they heard |
| Specialist advisor | Professional with specific expertise, for example in medicines or dementia care | Gives specialist professional input on part of the service |
The inspector remains responsible for judgements. An Expert by Experience gives the lived-experience evidence that informs them.
Who can be an Expert by Experience
CQC says experts by experience are people with recent personal experience, within the last eight years, of using or caring for someone who uses health, mental health or social care services that CQC regulates. Its list of backgrounds includes family carers of older people, of people living with dementia and of adults with a learning disability, people with a learning disability, autistic people, people with a physical or sensory impairment, people living with dementia, and people with experience of mental health, substance misuse or other services.
How to become an Expert by Experience
CQC says experts by experience are recruited and managed by support organisations with contracts with CQC. Following a formal procurement process, CQC awarded the contract to deliver the Experts by Experience programme to Choice Support, starting in April 2026 for three years. To apply, use Choice Support’s Experts by Experience page, which has the job advert and an easy read version, or email expertsbyexperience@choicesupport.org.uk or phone 0115 970 53 53 (details from CQC’s page; check they are current).
On pay: it is a paid role, and Choice Support describes it as providing paid employment opportunities. We could not find a published rate, so check the current job advert. People also ask about CQC inspector pay and qualifications. That is a separate route: inspectors are CQC employees and CQC’s jobs pages set out the requirements.
What it means for your service
You may not be told in advance who is on an assessment team. Our suggestions for being ready (not CQC guidance):
- Let people speak freely. Offer a quiet space and do not hover. People often speak more openly to someone with lived experience.
- Support communication needs. Make sure people who use communication aids, interpreters or advocates can use them.
- Brief staff, not residents. Staff should know that experts by experience may visit and that they must be courteous and honest. Do not script or coach people about what to say.
- Home care: expect phone or video calls with people using your service and their families, so keep contact details and consent to contact current (domiciliary care inspection checklist).
- Act on what you hear. A feedback log with actions shows inspectors you listen (person-centred care and complaints).
- Run your own version. Many services invite a relative, volunteer or someone with lived experience to do an annual mock walk-round. See the mock inspection template.
Other ways the public gets involved with CQC
CQC’s How we involve you page lists other routes: giving feedback on care, joining its public online community, helping improve its website, joining local groups such as local Healthwatch, and taking part in consultations. CQC also works with a Public Engagement Network of more than 200 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, managed since April 2026 by the Voices for Health Equality Partnership led by National Voices. See how to complain about a care home for feedback and complaints.
Turn what people tell you into evidence
CQCLogic keeps audit results, feedback-driven actions and review dates in one place so you can show you listen and act. It does not recruit or manage experts by experience. See a sample improvement plan, view pricing or get started free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CQC Expert by Experience?
A person with recent personal experience of using, or caring for someone who uses, health or social care services, who takes part in CQC assessments to speak with people using the service and their families and to make observations. They help gather evidence but are not inspectors.
Is an Expert by Experience the same as a CQC inspector?
No. Inspectors are CQC employees who lead assessments and write reports. Experts by Experience are members of the public recruited and managed by a support organisation under contract to CQC.
Who recruits Experts by Experience for CQC?
Choice Support has delivered the programme under a three-year contract that started in April 2026, following a formal procurement. CQC says experts by experience are recruited and managed by support organisations with contracts with CQC.
Who can become an Expert by Experience?
People with recent personal experience, within the last eight years, of using or caring for someone who uses health, mental health or social care services CQC regulates. CQC lists many backgrounds, including family carers and people with a learning disability, autism, dementia or a physical or sensory impairment.
How much do Experts by Experience get paid?
It is a paid role, but we could not find a published pay rate. Check the current job advert on the Choice Support website.
What do Experts by Experience do during an inspection?
They have conversations with people using the service, friends and families, and make observations. For community-based services such as home care they also speak to people by phone or video chat. They report what they find to the inspection team.
Will an Expert by Experience visit my home care service?
They may take part in assessments of community services, speaking with people who use your service and their families by phone or video chat. Keep contact details and consent to contact up to date.
How should a care home prepare for an Expert by Experience?
Let people speak freely and privately, support communication needs, brief staff to be courteous and honest, and do not coach people on what to say. Keep a feedback log showing what you did in response to what people told you.
What qualifications do you need to be a CQC inspector?
That is a different role from Expert by Experience. Inspectors are CQC employees, and the requirements are set out in CQC job adverts. Experts by Experience need recent lived experience, not professional qualifications.