INTERVIEW PREPARATION

UK CARE SECTOR

Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview, read below for
some items that you need to think about, and if you are a nurse please make sure you
also read the attached NMC code of conduct document.
Look smart! Dress professionally and conservatively, paying attention to all facets
of your dress and grooming. Arrive on time for the interview
Smile and Relax ! You are being interviewed because the interviewer wants to
hire staff - not because they want to trip you up or embarrass you!. They
will give you all the opportunities to do well, they will be happy to explain
the questions or help and guide you as far as they can. During the interview,
they will be searching for your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your
qualifications, skills and experience and they will probably probe to determine your
attitudes, skills, stability, motivation and maturity.

Once the interview has commenced ensure you listen carefully to the questions
and if you are unsure ask the interviewer to repeat the question, or if you don't
understand the question don't be afraid of saying so.
An interview is an opportunity to sell yourself. Some people are uncomfortable
about talking about themselves - but be prepared as that is why you are being
interviewed - to find out more about you, so be persuasive!

Questions generally will be about your career background and experience, your
clinical knowledge, and the type of person you are. Areas such as managing
stress in the workplace, previous conflict with other team members and what
you do to relax can also be asked about.

An interview is also an opportunity for you to find out more about your
prospective employer, a general rule of thumb is that you should have three or
four questions prepared for the interviewers.

When the interview is drawn to an end, ensure you thank the interviewers for
their time and the opportunity of speaking with them.

Typical strengths employers look for are:

Communication - the ability to get on with a wide range of people

Team working - the ability to be an effective team leader or team member

IT skills - most jobs these days need some IT skills

Good attitude - hard worker, honest, polite, co-operative

Problem solving - using your initiative to identify solutions

Enthusiasm - employers like someone positive

Quick learner - so you can take on new tasks

Determination - shows you are focused on achieving goals

Flexibility - doing a variety of tasks to achieve a common goal.

What they want to see during the interview:

1.
2.
3.
4.

THAT
THAT
THAT
THAT

YOU
YOU
YOU
YOU

ARE A CARING, KIND PERSON WITH A PASSION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE

REALLY WANT THIS POST
WILL BE COMMITTED AND LOYAL TO THE EMPLOYER
ARE KEEN TO LEARN AND IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS IN THE UK

Tips
1. Make sure you get the name of the interviewer and greet them friendly using
their first name something like Hello Martin, Hello Kathleen, THANK YOU FOR
SEEING ME TODAY or I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS
INTERVIEW
2. Try to smile and relax THROUGHOUT your interview
3. Sit upright AND look the interviewers straight in the eyes, it is important that
your show them that your are enthusiastic and excited about the opportunity.
4. If you dont understand ask them to PLEASE REPEAT THE QUESTION
5. Be honest and truthful
6. Dont answer questions with a "yes" or "no". Expand and explain whenever
possible giving details about yourself and your experience, which relate to the
position.
7. You must at no point say sorry my English is not good rather say something
positive, like
8. I am still busy improving my English and I practice every day. I know in the UK I
will improve my English even more!
9. Do plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early.
10.

Dress professionally.

11.

Do look the interviewer in the eye while you talk to her/him.

12.
Don't bring up negative things like having a dispute with a colleague or
your boss. And don't criticize previous employers.

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

1. What would alert you to poor standard of Care in a CARE HOME?
2. A resident states that a staff member has been using inappropriate language
and used poor moving and Handling techniques What do you do?
3. Do you know what types of ABUSE?
4. A Relative comes to you and makes a complaint about their mothers care,
explain to me what you do?
5. Communication is very important in care of the elderly. Can you give examples
of how you would communicate well with your team members? How can you
maintain good communication?
6. What do you feel are the main responsibilities in this job (as a Registered Nurse
in a Care home)
7. Do you know what a Care home is?
8. Do you know what a pressure ulcer is and how many types are there?
9. Explain what you know about Diabetes? Types, treatment and prevention
10.
Explain to me how you would administer medications safely?

11.
How would you lead your team as you shall be working with unqualified
CARE Assistances?
12.
How shall you keep yourself up to date?
13.
How can you ensure a high standard of Care IS delivered?

14.
15.
16.
your

What
What
What
duties

are the signs and symptoms of a heart attack?

is an anticoagulant and when would it be used
do you think the role is of which you have applied, what do you think
will be?

OTHER QUESTIONS

Why do you want to come and work in the UK?

Can you tell me about yourself
Why would you like to work for Four Seasons Healthcare?
What are your strengths? What are you really good at?
What are your major weaknesses? What have you done to improve them?
Would previous colleagues recommend you? What do you think they would say?
How do you keep yourself up-to-date?
How do you deal with stress?
What research have you looked at recently and how would you apply this to
your practice?
What does teamwork mean to you?
What does accountability mean to you?

Research

and

Useful

Information

to

know

before

your

Interview

1. NMC Code of Conduct

http://www.nmc-uk.org/Publications/Standards/The-code/Introduction/
2. Pressure Ulcers

http://www.thinkpressurecare.co.uk/media/3236/pressure_ulcer_classification.pd
f
http://www.ehow.com/about_5431923_types-pressure-ulcers.html
3. Diabetes

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-the-elderly.html
4. Administrating of medication

http://www.standards4care.com/CorePoliciesandProcedures/MedicationPolicy/tab
id/1081/Default.aspx
http://www.socialcareassociation.co.uk/Portals/0/Public%20Docs/Medication
%20Administration%20in%20Social%20Care.pdf
5. Types of Abuse

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/elder_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_negle
ct.htm

6. Asthma

http://www.asthmahelpline.com/elderly-asthma.htm
7. Alzheimer and Dementia

http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_dementias_types.htm

8. Moving and Handling techniques

http://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/moving-handling.htm

STANDARDS OF CARE IN A CARE HOME

CARE HOMES IN THE UK ARE REGULATED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY
RESIDENTS
THEY ARE REGULARY INSPECTED TO MAKE SURE THE STANDARD OF CARE ARE
MAINTAINED AND THAT THE RESIDENTS BASIC NEEDS ARE MET
Personal Hygiene
For some elderly nursing home residents, standards of personal hygiene are difficult
to maintain without assistance from staff. Without external help, residents are
left to shift for themselves for a clean change of clothes or even such basics as
oral hygiene. Victims of nursing home neglect may not receive the help they
need with bathing, grooming, and general cleanliness, and the signs of their
abuse become telling with time.
Basic Needs
Though families often decide nursing homes are the best place for their elderly loved
ones to receive care, nursing home neglect may take the form of a failure to provide
basic needs. Food and water are the building blocks of life, but an unsettlingly
common problem for victims of nursing home neglect is dehydration and malnutrition.
A safe and clean environment is exceptionally important for less mobile elderly
people, and failure to provide one can also be considered neglect.
Medical Neglect
As with basic needs, most families assume that a nursing home will provide the
necessary medical care for their loved ones. This is not always the case. Pressure
sores, or bedsores, are a major problem in nursing homes and result from remaining in
a seated or reclined position for a great length of time; they must be dealt with in a
timely manner to preserve patient health. Untreated cuts, too, must be dealt with
quickly to prevent systemic infection in elderly, immune-compromised patients.
Neglecting hygiene and physical exercise exacerbates the problem and can be a
telling sign of abuse. Additionally, many elderly people need medicine to survive,
including diabetics who need insulin. In countless cases nursing homes skimp on
treatments or fail to treat entirely.

Emotional Neglect
One of the most difficult types of nursing home neglect to identify does not manifest
itself in obvious physical signs. Emotional neglect can be as devastating as any
physical abuse but can be much more subtle in its onset and manifestation.
Overburdened staff can often let the stress of their everyday tasks prevent friendly
interaction with residents. Elderly people are susceptible to depression and may
retreat to their rooms, withdraw from social activities, and be in dire need of
emotional support and connection. Without a concerted effort of the part of nursing
home staff, emotional neglect can take a terrible toll on the residents who so need
human connection.
Communication is a key to uncovering nursing home neglect; however, oftentimes the
elderly are unable to express to loved ones or authorities what is happening to them.
In certain cases, it is because the victim feels unable to convey that abuse is
happening. While at times this can be a result of shame or embarrassment, other
times the silence that ensues after abuse takes the even more sinister form of a
physical or emotional threat that keeps an elderly victim silent. Victims of nursing
home neglect and nursing home abuse often perceive no way out of the situation at
hand and, without guaranteed protection that whistle-blowing will not lead to more
abuse, are unwilling to come forward. Elderly victims of nursing home neglect or
nursing home abuse may feel they have little recourse and few legal rights or options
available to them.
Ending Neglect
In order to eradicate nursing home neglect and other forms of nursing home abuse, it
is vital that effective communication take place to facilitate a clear understanding of
the nature of the neglect. Once this step has been taken, legal options become more
readily available to victims, and the sources of the abuse can be dealt with.
No matter what the cause of nursing home neglect, it is always unacceptable. By
educating nursing home staff, elderly residents, and residents' families on the
different types of neglect and abuse in nursing homes, the causes of the abuse may
start to be discovered and eradicated.
For further reading:
www.nursing-standard.co.uk - this is the Royal College of Nursing Website and
discusses the role of a nurse in the UK as well as a lot of other helpful information.
www.doh.gov.uk - the Department of Health website and is very useful.
www.nmc-uk.org - the Nursing and Midwifery Council website.
http://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/source/safety/Basic_Law_in_Caring_Elderly_Patience_
%20and_%20Respect.html
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndG
uidance/DH_4005819