Job interview nerves (NHS)

[newcat12345]

Having been a SAHM for the last 8 years I have an interview for a Band 4 rehab assistant on a neuro ward.

The interview is on Wednesday and I am absolutely bricking it. No clue what they are likely to ask me, how long it will last or how many interviews will be there.

Am reasonably ok talking about past experience but utterly freeze when it comes to "what if" or "give me an example" type questions.

I really need this job on so many levels - really grateful for any advice!

*interviewers

I would brush up on your data protection/patient confidentiality/information governance. You will likely be asked a question on one of those three topics.

I work in a different area of healthcare but have been in the interview panel a few times.

So off the top of my head, read through the Job description and person specification and make notes on how you meet these.

Hot topic might be safe guarding, so I would expect to be asked a 'what would you do if you heard/saw...' kind of question

So you could talk about needing to know the ward/trust policy re safeguarding, doing the online training, knowing who the safeguarding coordinator and team are.

Probably something on supporting carers? Do you know what support is available locally?

Something in there about enjoying working with students and supporting band 2 and 3s.
Something about what new learning you want to do in the next year or two, or area of special interest? (Specific to neuro I guess)

Can you arrange to go and visit the ward and talk to the manager/matron/charge nurse?

Usually get asked for an example of a difficult situation and how you managed it?

*to add to safeguarding bit, that you would immediately Express your concerns to senior member of staff on duty and plan a way forward together.
Incident form conpmtion and documentation etc. Might involve making safeguarding referral/ raising safeguarding concern to social services yourself with support.

Good luck OP. Force yourself to write down answers for the questions you find hard. Think of it as a practice run after 8 years.

The NHS love it if you go along and find out about the job before applying. However, you probably haven't got time for that now!

Mug up on:-
The job description and work out exactly what you will be doing
The ward and what they do
The type of patients and how long they stay (short term / long term)
Neuro and exactly what that covers
Trust values

They might give you examples and ask what you would do if:-
A patient has fallen over in the corridor
A patient's husband is angry and shouting
A patient doesn't want to go to the group therapy session and starts to cry
A patient is unable to communicate

Try to think of difficult situations and how you have handled them. You need to be thinking along the lines of putting the patient first, getting to know them and what motivates them, helping them to engage (if they have communication issues), working as a team, asking for help if unsure, etc. Also remember that rehab is about supporting people to do as much as they can independently and stepping in to help as they need it. It is not care per se but very much about motivating, encouraging and helping people to relearn skills or looking at new ways of doing things. You are looking at the end result more than perfect execution (i.e. if someone is unable to talk it's about helping them to communicate their needs in other ways with gestures, bodily language, picture boards, information booklets, writing, etc.).

You've done very well to get a Band 4 interview with no experience. What did you do before children? What's your motivation for wanting to be a Rehab Assistant?

Plus what the others have said about hot topics; safeguarding, infection control, staffing issues, confidentiality, data protection, etc.

Hello, I used to do this job but in the community! I’m now an SLT and sometimes interview people for similar roles. Lots of good advice on here from PPs.
You presumably do have some experience of health care if they’ve offered you an interview? These jobs are competitive and it’s tough to get an interview!

Remember why you really want this, why you want to work in this team and with these clients. Then refresh on NICE guidelines around rehab and all the policy bits others have recommended and you’ll be fine!

As someone else said, I would totally recommend a visit to the ward.. if you have time! Or failing that, anything you’re not clear on from job description (they can be vague) call up and ask. Nothing worse than someone saying at the end of an interview - what does the job actually involve?

Be confident! You can do this - good luck!

Cannot emphasise enough safeguarding and Trust Values. Also confidentiality-based ‘what if’ questions.

I work in the NHS and these have been asked every time for me. Don’t know the specific role so can’t offer any more advice, but good luck!

Also, I’ve had a band 4 level interview in the past and there were either two or three people interviewing you, generally they take it in turns or ask half an interview each. The NHS interviews I’ve had work on a ‘points based’ system where they ‘grade’ each answer out of say 5, and whoever scores highest wins, iyswim, so just make sure to say a few things about each question, not just one word answers. Hope this helps.

Brilliant advice thank you.

Fortunately I have spent time clinically shadowing OTs and physios on the this ward so that's given me some insight.

This is a readvertised post as they decided they need a foundation degree qualification. Luckily I have a full B.Sc (albeit not strictly related) and am also about to complete an Access to Nursing diploma. Downside I have no paid healthcare experience (lots of voluntary though).

Will make sure I am well read up in the Trust values and job description. Plus NICE guidelines on rehab therapy.

One thing that isn't clear from the JD is how the hours (22 p.w.) are spread. As it stands I don't know how many days I will be working. Is that an interview question?

So excited about getting back out there but utterly petrified I'll totally mess the interview up!

Peanacat - this is a also band 4 job so sounds like at least 2 interviewers will be present.

Hi I wondered can anyone help with prepping for a band 8a management role with the NHS please? Desperate for ideas on what to expect on the scenario type questions. TIA xx