Dr Richard Dune

16-04-2025

Image by Care Quality Commission

Will this landmark appointment reshape mental health regulation and finally deliver the parity and oversight the sector has long been calling for?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken a bold step toward strengthening mental health regulation in England by appointing Dr Arun Chopra as its first Chief Inspector of Mental Health. Announced on 20 March 2025, this strategic appointment will see Dr Chopra take up the role in May 2025, ushering in a new chapter for a sector that has long demanded, and deserved, specialist regulatory oversight.

In this blog, Dr Richard Dune delves into the significance of this appointment, which comes amid broader structural reforms at CQC, as part of "The CQC Way", a new vision championed by Chief Executive Sir Julian Hartley to rebuild trust, restore expertise, and create more meaningful, effective regulation across all areas of health and social care.

Why this appointment is a turning point

Mental health services have often struggled for parity in both funding and regulatory scrutiny. The creation of a dedicated Chief Inspector role for Mental Health is a powerful signal that things are changing.

Until now, mental health regulation was largely blended into broader healthcare inspections, lacking a sector-specific focus. This change introduces a clear leadership structure, ensuring mental health services receive the specialist attention, accountability, and improvement support they require.

As CQC realigns around sector expertise across mental health, hospitals, adult social care, and primary/community care, providers and service users alike can expect a more responsive, informed and impactful regulatory approach.

Who is Dr Arun Chopra?

Dr Chopra’s appointment brings unmatched credibility and experience to the role. His distinguished career spans:

• Medical Director at the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (2020–2024), where he protected the rights of individuals living with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia, and related conditions.
• Consultant Inpatient Psychiatrist at Royal Edinburgh Hospital, maintaining his connection to direct clinical care.
• Recipient of the President’s Medal from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, recognising his national leadership and service impact.
• Contributor to mental health law reform across England, Scotland, and Wales, highlighting his systemic thinking and policy expertise.
• Academic experience as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Otago and Honorary Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Nottingham.

From the frontline to the policy arena, Dr Chopra has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving mental health outcomes, making him exceptionally qualified to shape the future of regulation in this complex and sensitive area.

Voices from CQC leadership

“The recruitment of the Chief Inspectors is a key part of re-establishing CQC’s expertise. Arun’s appointment will help shape our regulation of the mental health sector and support the delivery of better care as we continue our journey to becoming the strong, effective regulator people need and deserve.”

                                                                                                                                                                                  – Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of CQC

“The recruitment of the Chief Inspectors is a key part of re-establishing CQC’s expertise. Arun’s appointment will help shape our regulation of the mental health sector and support the delivery of better care as we continue our journey to becoming the strong, effective regulator people need and deserve.”

                                       
                                                                                    – Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of CQC

“The recruitment of the Chief Inspectors is a key part of re-establishing CQC’s expertise. Arun’s appointment will help shape our regulation of the mental health sector and support the delivery of better care as we continue our journey to becoming the strong, effective regulator people need and deserve.”

– Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of CQC

“I’m honoured to have been appointed... I am absolutely committed to supporting mental health services to provide good, safe person-centred care that helps people to recover.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                – Dr Arun Chopra

“I’m honoured to have been appointed... I am absolutely committed to supporting mental health services to provide good, safe person-centred care that helps people to recover.”

                                                                                                                                 – Dr Arun Chopra

“I’m honoured to have been appointed... I am absolutely committed to supporting mental health services to provide good, safe person-centred care that helps people to recover.”

                                              – Dr Arun Chopra

What does this mean for providers?

Dr Chopra’s appointment comes at a time when mental health services are under intense pressure. They face workforce shortages, high demand, increasing complexity of need, and public scrutiny.

His leadership promises:

• More robust, consistent, and fair regulation across NHS and independent providers.
• Greater attention to human rights, safeguarding, and ethical care.
• A push for transparency, person-centredness, and co-produced improvement plans.
• A deeper understanding of workforce realities, restrictive practices, and quality standards under the Mental Health Act.

Looking ahead - A more inclusive, responsive regulator?

This isn’t just about one appointment. Dr Chopra’s arrival reflects a deeper institutional shift. One that acknowledges the unique challenges of mental health care and the value of expert-led regulation.

At a time when the sector is navigating post-pandemic recovery, rising mental health inequalities, and new legislative developments, CQC must be not only a regulator, but a partner in improvement. Dr Chopra is well-placed to make this vision a reality.

How ComplyPlus™ can help you stay ahead

At The Mandatory Training Group, we recognise the evolving demands of mental health regulation. Our ComplyPlus™ regulatory compliance management system is designed to help mental health and social care providers stay inspection-ready, manage risk, and demonstrate good governance, in line with the latest CQC expectations.

Whether you're a frontline service, a registered manager, or a provider group, ComplyPlus™ gives you the tools to:

• Track compliance across multiple standards and domains.
• Centralise your policies, training, audits, and evidence.
• Stay up to date with real-time regulatory changes.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement and readiness for inspection.

Click here to learn more about ComplyPlus™ and our mission

Want to shape the future of mental health care and regulation?

At The Mandatory Training Group, we’re calling on mental health professionals, commissioners, carers, and service users to share their insights on what’s next for the sector.

Reflect with us:

• What are your expectations for CQC’s new mental health leadership?
• How can regulation better support innovation, recovery, and service user experience?
• What should change in how we assess and improve mental health services?

Click here to discover how ComplyPlus™ can support your mental health services through tailored training, expert consultancy, and compliance tools - or explore our full library of mental health e-learning courses to get started today.