Scotland's national care watchdog has announced the appointment of a new leadership team, and pledged an end to the tick-box culture of regulating care services.

The Care Inspectorate said the arrival of Dr Robert Peat as director of inspection completed the introduction of a new top-level executive team. Dr Peat, former director of social work and depute chief executive at Angus Council, joins recent appointments depute chief executive Karen Anderson and director of corporate services Gordon Weir as part of a major restructuring.

Dr Peat will oversee the work of almost 300 inspectors charged with regulating and improving the care of children and adults, and criminal justice social work, across Scotland.

The body's inspectors will now work in specialist units, drawing on their own front-line experience to inspect the type of services they have direct experience of running.

Annette Bruton, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: "Our role as a regulator will not be diluted, but the days of tick-box regulation are over. Every person using a care service in Scotland should receive good quality care that reflects their needs and promotes their rights."

Dr Peat added: "This is an exciting time to be joining the Care Inspectorate as it further strengthens its role in scrutiny and improvement."