Jessica Franklin

Biography

Jessica is an experienced barrister who specialises in health and social care regulation, public law and litigation. She is currently employed as the Head of Public Inquiries and Investigations at the Care Quality Commission and provides strategic advice and support to the Board and Executive team on sensitive public inquiry matters. Before that role, Jessica led the Criminal Litigation, Prosecutions and Inquests team and was responsible for many breakthrough prosecutions, concerning complex criminal regulatory breaches. With the team, she secured the Whitehall Prosecutors Team of the Year award. She has rolled out extensive training for the organisation and is trusted to provide legal advice on complex regulatory matters as well as strategic direction and leadership. 

Before joining the CQC, Jessica worked as a self-employed barrister at her chambers of 5 St Andrew’s Hill in London, where she remains a door tenant. Jessica was called to the Bar in 2011 by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn after being awarded the Ann Felicity Goddard Scholarship and Stephen Seabrook Memorial Award for outstanding results on the Bar Vocational Course.

Her roles have sought to promote safeguarding and drive the improvement of services for those who are vulnerable. As well as her appointment to the Veterinary Nurses Council, Jessica is a Chair for Statutory Appeals Team at Democratic Services Essex.

Jessica has a passion for justice, integrity and good governance.

VN Council Member category

• Appointed, lay member:  2024 - 2027