The 6 NHS Values Explained for Your Interview

Every NHS interview is built on the six values of the NHS Constitution. If you understand what each one means and have a real example ready for it, you will walk in far more confident than most candidates. Here is each value, in plain English.

1. Working together for patients

Patients come first. Panels want evidence that you put the person you serve at the centre and coordinate with others to meet their needs. Good example: a time you worked across a team to sort something out for someone.

2. Respect and dignity

Valuing every person as an individual, whatever their background or behaviour. Good example: treating someone with dignity in a difficult or undignified moment.

3. Commitment to quality of care

Caring about safety, standards and the experience of care — and being willing to speak up when something isn't right. Good example: a time you maintained standards under pressure, or raised a concern appropriately.

4. Compassion

Responding with humanity and kindness, and never treating someone as just a task. Good example: a small, genuine act that made a real difference to someone who was struggling.

5. Improving lives

Professionalism and initiative — looking for ways to make things better rather than doing the minimum. Good example: when you went beyond what was expected to improve an outcome.

6. Everyone counts

Making sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind. Good example: a time you noticed someone being overlooked and brought them in.

You don't need healthcare experience to answer these. Examples from any job, from volunteering, or from caring for family all count — what matters is that they're real and that you kept the person at the centre.

Different nation? The values differ — the Coach handles that

The six values above are England's. The other UK nations recruit against their own sets: NHS Scotland (care and compassion; dignity and respect; openness, honesty and responsibility; quality and teamwork), NHS Wales (the FREDA principles — Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity, Autonomy), and HSC Northern Ireland (Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty, Compassion). They overlap heavily, but it's worth knowing which apply to you.

Our NHS Interview Coach does this for you: choose your nation and it assesses your answers against the right values, and choose your Agenda for Change band so it judges them at the level a panel expects. You get instant feedback on whether each answer clearly demonstrates the value and is strong enough to score for your band — plus a suggested rewrite of your own answer to show how to strengthen it. Your first feedback is free, then £14.99 one-time for unlimited practice.