NHS Group interview - please help :-)

pepsipop

Hello,
I am so lucky and excited to have an interview with the NHS next week as a maternity care assistant. There were over 150 applicants :eek:

The letter said the interview would consist of a two hour group interview focusing on Breastfeeding, and if successful we would then be interviewed individually.

I have never had a group interview before, I would love any advice on what to expect.

I am swotting up on the trust, confidentiality, safe guarding etc. Is there anything else I should be doing

Has anyone had an NHS interview before ? I can imagine the questions are scenario based, like what would you do if you saw a mother hitting her baby ? Are they the sort of questions to expect ?

OMG sorry so many questions, especially for a first post, I am just so nervous and excited. This really is my dream job. xx

pepsipop

p.s - I have a smart suity style dress would that be ok with tights and heels or should I get a jacket too ?

lakes17

pepsipop wrote: »

p.s - I have a smart suity style dress would that be ok with tights and heels or should I get a jacket too ?

I always think a jacket finishes of the outfit nicely - be it a dress or top and skirt.


Sorry I can't help with the question scenario, but good luck with your interview.

pepsipop

yes I think a jacket too, I quite like those ones that don't do up but just sit nicely. Thank you for replying

FBaby

Group interview is to check how you interact within a team. They like to see people listening and respecting others whilst being able to take decision. That means being able to negotiate in a way that doesn't come across as imposing. Ideally, you either take on the initiative to lead, but if you do so, make sure you listen and take on the ideas of others, or you let someone else take the initiative, but make sure you participate actively, proposing solutions to the issue.

Bethany80

I agree with the above, the purpose of group interview will be to observe 'team' participation in the group as if successful you would be a part of the clinical team. Listening skills and good communication skills will be important as again will be a requirement of the job.

Good luck

pepsipop

Ah thank you, do you think it will discussion based then ? I just have horrible visions of role play x

FBaby

Yes, I would expect it to be. Something like you are part of a team's meeting and you've been informed that your team is not meeting its target in terms of encouraging mums to breastfeed. How would you go about as a team to suggest/implement new practices to increase those targets.


You already know it is about breastfeeding, so do some research about targets, recommendations from NICE, practices etc... so that during the interview, you feel confident to refer to them and make suggestions.

debrag

my only 'invite to group interview' was yesterday and it wasn't an interview just them telling us about the team and seeing if we still wanted a 1-2-1 interview. I've never had a true group interview.

pepsipop

Ah thank you, that's really helpful. I hadn't even thought it would be something like that. I have been researching methods of feeding etc but not targets and guidelines so will have a look thankyou.

jazzypinkpuppet

First of all congratulations, those types of jobs are very rare and when they do come up hundreds of people apply. So you must have something they want for you to even get an interview.

I haven't had a group NHS interview before but my individual one consisted of lots and I means lots about 15-20 behavioral type questions, i.e tell me about a time you were doing one job but were then asked to do another.

They were all based on the job requirements, so if it says good team player I can imagine there will be 'tell me about a time you worked well within a team'.

I also had several scenario questions like 'what would you do if you saw a Doctor being aggressive towards a patient'

Then (yes it was a looooooooong interview) I had the usual, why do you want this job, why this trust, why should we employ you over the other people applying.

Have some questions ready to ask, even if they cover them in the interview say so rather than "do you have any questions ?" "NO".

Oh and they were telling me about all the jobs in the hospital directors, doctors and consultants etc etc they then asked "so who do you feel is the most important person in the hospital?" the answer is the Patient. They laughed when I said it and said I was the first person all day to get it right.

Good luck let us know how you get on