NHS Interview Coach
Choose the UK nation you're applying in and your Agenda for Change band, pick a question, and get instant feedback scored against your nation's NHS values at the level a panel expects for that band. Your first feedback is free, then £14.99 one-time for unlimited practice.
See what you'll get — an example
England · Band 5 · Care and CompassionQuestion
Give me an example of when you have helped your team to deliver good quality care.
Your answer
On a busy late shift we were short-staffed and I could see a colleague was struggling to keep up with obs. I offered to take half her patients, made sure the two most unwell were seen first, and flagged to the nurse in charge that we were stretched. Everyone got their obs done on time and nothing was missed.
Panel feedback
There's a lot to like here for a Band 5 post — you spotted a colleague struggling, acted without being asked, and kept patient safety first by prioritising the most unwell. That shows real compassion and teamwork. Where it falls a little short for Band 5 is depth: the panel will want to see that you not only helped in the moment but supported your colleague and the team to keep standards up. Try adding what you said to reassure her, and a concrete result — for example feedback from the nurse in charge, or that no patient came to harm. It's also slightly brief; aim for nearer two minutes so there's enough evidence to score.
Suggested rewrite of your answer
Situation: On a busy late shift we were two staff down and a colleague was visibly struggling to keep on top of her patients' observations. Task: I wanted to keep every patient safe and well cared for, and support my colleague, without anything being missed. Action: I offered to take half her patients, reassured her we'd get through it together, and triaged so the two most unwell were seen first. I flagged to the nurse in charge that we were stretched so she could escalate. Result: All observations were completed on time and [add the specific outcome — e.g. no patient came to harm, or feedback you received].
Example only. With a free account you get this on your own real answers, tailored to your nation and band.
1 · Where are you applying?
NHS England recruits against the six values of the NHS Constitution. Your answers are assessed for how well your values and behaviours match them.
2 · Which band are you applying for?
Practitioner level. The candidate should show they maintain the behaviour in their own practice AND encourage or support others to do the same, and can evaluate their own and others' work.
3 · Choose a question to practise
Care and Compassion
The ability and want to nurture and support people in a healthcare environment and to offer empathetic and sympathetic advice and guidance. Compassionate care is the safe, effective, person-centred delivery of care based on values of respect, trust and compassion.
Technical / Role Specific Skills
An appropriate level of technical/functional/professional knowledge in their field is displayed, and the person values constantly updating knowledge to ensure skills remain relevant.
Communication
Effective communication in whatever form it takes place — a two-way process involving identifying what others are communicating (e.g. through listening), communicating onwards, and developing effective relationships.
Personal and People Development
Developing oneself using a variety of means and contributing to the development of others during ongoing work activities — through structured approaches (development planning, appraisal, mentoring, supervision) and informal ones.
Health, Safety and Security
Maintaining and promoting the health, safety and security of everyone in the organisation or anyone who comes into contact with it, including routine tasks such as moving and handling and the management of risk.
Service Improvement
Improving services in the interests of the users of those services and the public as a whole — whether services for the public or services that support the smooth running of the organisation, at small or large scale.
Quality
Maintaining high quality in all areas of work and practice, including effective team working. Quality can be supported through codes of conduct, evidence-based practice, guidelines, legislation, protocols, procedures, policies, standards and systems.
Equality and Diversity
Acting in ways that support equality and value diversity in relation to everyone — patients, clients, carers, colleagues, other organisations and the public. Where diversity and equality are not integral, discrimination may occur and must be avoided.
4 · Your answer
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England · Band 5
Your feedback will appear here — assessed against the England values at Band 5 level.
Values by UK nation
The practice questions use the NHS Scotland Values & Competency Based model as the base of what panels look for; your feedback is tailored to the values of the nation you choose.
🏴NHS EnglandNHS Constitution values (Values Based Recruitment)
- Working together for patients — Patients come first in everything the NHS does.
- Respect and dignity — Value every person as an individual and respect their aspirations and commitments.
- Commitment to quality of care — Earn trust by getting the basics right — safety, effectiveness and experience of care.
- Compassion — Respond with humanity and kindness; find time for those you serve.
- Improving lives — Strive for excellence and professionalism, improving health and wellbeing.
- Everyone counts — Make sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind.
🏴NHS ScotlandValues & Competency Based (VCB) framework
- Care and compassion — Show care and compassion to everyone you are in contact with.
- Dignity and respect — Interact with everyone in a professional, respectful manner.
- Openness, honesty and responsibility — Be truthful, transparent, ethical and accountable.
- Quality and teamwork — Strive for quality and excellence, working well as a team.
🏴NHS WalesValues-based recruitment & the FREDA principles
- Fairness — Treat people fairly and make fair, consistent decisions.
- Respect — Treat everyone with respect, whatever their background.
- Equality — Promote equality and challenge discrimination.
- Dignity — Protect the dignity of patients, families and colleagues.
- Autonomy — Respect people's right to make informed choices about their own care.
🇬🇧HSC Northern IrelandHSC 'Values for All'
- Working together — Work together for the best outcome for the people you care for and support.
- Excellence — Commit to being the best you can be, improving and developing services.
- Openness and honesty — Be open and honest, acting with integrity and candour.
- Compassion — Be sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding toward people and colleagues.
Browse all NHS interview questions by competency, or new to values-based interviews? read our NHS interview guides.