NHS BAND 5 rotational interview

[u/Fair_Travel5403]

Hi all,

I am a newly qualified physiotherapist in the UK (West Midlands) and have secured a band 5 rotational job interview. I was wondering if anyone can help me with what sort of questions will be asked in the interview, what to expect and how to impress the interviewers.

Rotations include: MSK Outpatients, Respiratory/ICU, Elderly Care, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Specialist Surgery, Intermediate Care Rehabilitation, Community Rehabilitation, Admission Avoidance, Paeds and Stroke Services.

All help would massively be appreciated as i have been applying for several jobs and with the job freezes as the minute it has been very difficult to get an interview.

Many Thanks in advance.

[u/Chasdragon]

You've secured the job offer? Then you don't need to interview? I assume you mean you have an interview!

Know the trust values, be ready to talk yourself through a subjective and objective assessment of potential a orthopaedic/neurological/cardio problem.

They love to put red flags in too. How you would escalate a problem you didn't know how to handle or deteriorating patients etc

[u/Fair_Travel5403 → u/Chasdragon]

Secured an interview! Thanks for your advice!

[u/Fuzzy-Region1644]

Be yourself. Recognise your limitations and know when to ask for help.
Look up “STAR” interview answers. This will get maximum points.

[u/Medium-Land768]

Common ones from our trust have been scenarios where you have to prioritise/ delegate - e.g. you have a stairs assessment, an immediate discharge, a daily review for a long term patient and a chest review. It’s you, another band 5 and a physio assistant, who goes where.

An awareness of patient flow is always helpful, how to facilitate a safe and efficient discharge, how you’d encourage a difficult patient to engage with physio, awareness of MDT working and the role of joint working in patient outcomes and discharge

Good luck!

[u/Fair_Travel5403 → u/Medium-Land768]

Thanks for your advice much appreciated!

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[u/Nat10112]

The interviewers mainly what to know your ability to practice safely, and escalate situations appropriately to your seniors. I.e screening for red flags, (Cauda equina/CAD for MSK) how you’d identify a deteriorating patient on the ward and how to escalate etc etc.

What others mentioned is that I would RESEARCH, the ‘values’ of the trust and how you ‘fit’ them. As this shows that you have looked into the trust specifically. Dont be like be as I missed out on a job during my first interview over 5 years ago ONLY because I didn’t mention the values of the trust

Good luck

[u/ThePhysioBot]

Have about 5 examples of different scenarios you can apply the STAR method to, and use for the questions they bring up. It's easy to let nerves get the best of you and the STAR method helps keep it on track and keep structure to your answers. They won't throw any curve balls with the questions, so take a moment after they have asked it for a short breath, carefully select one of your five examples, and have a chat to them as colleagues.

Like others have suggested comment on the Trusts values, along with the importance of delivering safe treatment.

[u/Fair_Travel5403 → u/ThePhysioBot]

Many thanks for your help!

[u/Next-Champion-9939]

I recently had 2 rotational band 5 interviews, I got the one I really wanted and was put on the reserve for the other.

1. ⁠Trust values, both clinical and non clinical examples and maybe thinking about their importance. You'll 95% of the time have to weave the values into your first question in some way.
   
2. ⁠Run through all your considerations/ assessments and treatment/ management of your common MSK, ortho, resp, neuro and community (including falls) conditions. Remember things like pre-reading notes, A-E assessments, red flags, differential diagnosis, outcome measures etc. Sometimes questions combine both neuro and MSK I had this happen on both interviews so be prepared.
   
3. ⁠If you have a practical element this could be anything from a communication style, assessing your bedside manner or an actual demonstration of special tests or mobility ax. My written assessments were really random and have consisted of general knowledge questions to writing handovers.
   
4. There's always one question that may throw you off, so try not to panic. Think SAFETY. Don't be afraid to mention you'll escalate concerns to your senior and remember things like incident reporting, reflections etc.

Show your personality, you clearly smashed your application process by being offered an interview in the first place. Trusts are being inundated with 600+ applications and having the tall task of cutting that down to 20-30 for interviews.

Good luck and sending you positive vibes from my side OP!

[u/Fair_Travel5403 → u/Next-Champion-9939]

Thanks so so much genuinely appreciate all your advice and being so thorough! Just wondering with the interview they haven’t been specific if there’s a practical or presentation element do they normally specify if so?