Mumsnet Talk

I would look up 'Compassion in Practice' vision and strategy, the part particularly relating to Health Visiting/ School Nursing as this is very current (December 2012), The NHS Constitution for England, HV Implementation Plan, Healthy Lives, Brighter Futures and Healthy Child Programme.

Possible interview questions may include:

Why you want to be a HV.
Describe the role of an HV.
What challenges face the HV profession.
How you will cope with demands of the course.
How you cope with stress.
What makes effective teamwork.
What your strengths and weaknesses are.
What Clinical Governance is.

Hi Gardenerschoice I am awaiting assessment at Surrey University too so would be really interested to hear how you get on? Wishing you the best of luck. This thread has been so helpful.

Hi, am currently on maternity leave and just got invited to student health visitor post with NHS Essex in few weeks time, could you please advice on any kind of question as am really nervous and don't want to miss this opportunity. Thanks.

This thread has lots of helpful tips about interview questions. Read around what is happening in HV at the moment. There are several HV sites including CPHVA which have good articles. At the interview try to be yourself, friendly and chatty. They are ultimately trying to see who you are as a person and if you will make a suitable HV. They will not expect you to know everything about HV but will expect you have read around what is happening in HV at the moment and also as above MellieJB. Good luck.

Thanks for your advice tomvie.

Hats34, My interview is in two weeks and I also have a presentation to do, but besides the presentation can you tell me what questions they asked at interview? Also did you have a group discussion with the other applicants and what questions did that consist of? This would be a great help as I have limited experience of formal interviews.

I also meant to say thank you to all for your helpful information, and good luck to those waiting to hear.

Hi, finding this thread so helpful. I did the hv course in Scotland from sept 2011 - sept 2012 straight off the back of mat leave. The course was to be truthful the worst year of my life and I wasn't fortunate to get one of the three posts available when i qualified. I then went back to my post in camhs and well 17 months later I've finally plucked up the courage to apply for a hv post and have my interview on Wednesday!! I am terrified as feel I've forget everything I learned on the course and have been working in a different field for the past 17 months. Wishing everyone good luck with getting on the course

Hi mumsykinns, how did you get on, I've been offered another interview, now really nervous as I'm not good at them. Really don't know what they might ask. Interviews with central Surrey community health.

Hi everybody, I am a third year student nurse ready to apply for the HV course. Just wondered if anyone would be able to have a look at my PS before I submit? Thank you x x x x

Hi I am interested in applying for a HV post within the Yorkshire and Humber region. I am in my final year mental health nursing. Just wanted to find out if anybody has been to their interviews and what to put in my personal statement.

Hey Gardenerschoice! Not been on here for a while I haven't had it yet, it's in early March. Bit perturbed at thought of "group interview" not really sure what that will entail, have you had yours yet? I'm nervous but so excited I really want to do this! Thanks all for the advice! Good luck Gardeners choice when is your date if you haven't had it yet? Any tips to pass on if you have? xxxx

Gardenerschoice, do you mean you have had the assessment day and have been invited back for the interview? In which case WELL DONE I haven't had either as yet my assessment day is 13 March! xx

To mumsykinns, thank you, just panicing about the next interview,all assessors were very nice,short talk on course ect then had to discuss (as a group) a presentation excersise, this was followed by a short interview, role of HV, why I wanted to to be HV, managing the course. Advice relax and good luck, which area are you applying for ?

Hi all, I thought I would give you an update as i started this thread last year. I have been working as a community staff nurse with the health visitors since September in a brilliant team. I had my interview for the student health visitor post last week and I GOT IT!! I'm on the course for September. I am so excited, I have wanted this for such a long time. Anyone who wants it, keep going, it paid off for me. Xx

I'm so pleased, I had my interview last Friday and have just found out that I got in!! Thank you for everyone on the thread for your tips, they were invaluable! xx

Thank you. I had a scenario about a couple who attend baby clinic with their little one and mom seems withdrawn, what would you do? I went down two routes of possible postnatal depression and possible domestic violence. They want to know who you would contact for example domestic violence forums, specialist DV health visitors and to ask whooley questions. Always mention Nmc code of conduct and record keeping, sounds obvious but so important to mention.
I also had questions about leadership, organisational skills and working as part of a multidisciplinary team. X

What challenges to you see faced by health visitors

This post has some amazing advice, am printing it off and high lighting loads - work schmerk today!!

Hi all and Gardenerschoice thanks for the info! When is your second interview? Was the group discussion nerve racking what was the presentation exercise? Do you mean a scenario? Thanks for the tips about the one to one do i gather it was as brief as that, I guess will be more in depth at the second one? So I'm guessing it was mostly a see what your personality is like more than anything else at this first stage? Well done Hats and Chewie! xx

Hi everybody ......so exited to join u ! I am a mom and a student nurse in my final year .I use to read your post every day and I found it very useful ))).
I applied for the HV course and I was short listed for two interviews .
One is tomorrow and I am so terrified ......I have to do a ten min presentation " challenges to deliver health visiting service in the new NHS"
I done the presentation but I was wondering if there is anyone who could give me some advice ? I so a similar subject in discussion on an earlier post by Hats 34 .How did went your presentation Hats34 ? Did u had your interview ?

Good luck Roco! Let us know how it went.

Hi everyone. I'm a health visitor/practice teacher and I've been on the interview panel for student health visitor recruitment. Tips I would give you for your interview:

1. Dress as smartly as you possibly can (no cardigans lol).
2. Be early so you can sit and wait and gather your thoughts.
3. Be very enthusiastic about health visiting - health visiting is just the best job in the whole world and the interview panel need to know that you think that.
4. Don't gabble your answers. Take a deep breath and speak up.
5. It's fine if you need to ask for clarification of the question.
6. Smile and be happy (you'll feel nervous, but you'll come across well if you project yourself.
7. Do a presentation that is lively and interesting. Don't read any of it and if you use power point, don't read what's on there. Use it as a way of enhancing what you are saying.
8. Practice your presentation over and over again. Don't go over your time limit.
9. Get friends, colleagues and family to listen to you present.
10. Worth repeating, be enthusiastic +++

We asked questions that would elicit whether someone is judgemental. We asked about working as a team. We asked for an example of innovative practice in your professional working life. We always asked how you would manage the workload of the very difficult course.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Ladycelestial thanks for the advice .......very useful considering that in few hours I have to attend my interview .Thanks for encouragement Mumsykinns !!!
I hope I will not smash the opportunity I really want this and I waited all this years for this moment .
I will see how is goes .

Hi
I got through to the second stage interview, which I have this morning ! how did yours go Roco?