Common healthcare assistant interview questions

Healthcare assistant interview questions and answers

Questions marked STAR want a real example: the situation, your task, the action you took and the result. For the others, follow the steps. Keep each answer to about two minutes.

1. 1

   Motivation

   Why do you want to be a healthcare assistant?

   What they want to hear

   A genuine reason, backed by something you have done, and an understanding that the job is mostly hands-on personal care.

   Avoid

   Saying it is just a stepping stone, or that you like helping people with no example to show it.

   How to answer

   Start with

   What drew you to it, such as caring for a grandparent or a care job you enjoyed.

   Then

   What you know about the role: personal care, observations, helping patients eat and move, and supporting the nurses.

   Finish with

   Why this ward or hospital, and how you would like to develop, for example towards a nursing associate or nursing apprenticeship.

2. 2

   Values

   What does dignity mean to you when you give personal care?

   What they want to hear

   Practical understanding: privacy, choice, explaining what you are doing and treating the person as you would want your own family treated.

   Avoid

   A textbook definition with no everyday example, or describing care done to the patient rather than with them.

   How to answer

   Say

   Dignity means the patient keeps as much control and privacy as possible.

   Give an example

   Closing curtains fully, keeping them covered, asking how they like things done and letting them do what they can for themselves.

   Finish with

   That you would speak up if you saw someone’s dignity ignored, such as a patient left uncovered.

3. 3

   Clinical

   Which observations can you take, and what would you do with an abnormal reading?

   What they want to hear

   That you know the basics (temperature, pulse, blood pressure, breathing rate and oxygen levels) and that you report a worrying reading straight away.

   Avoid

   Making clinical decisions beyond your role, or planning to re-check later without telling anyone.

   How to answer

   Start with

   The observations you are trained to take and how you record them, for example on a NEWS2 chart or an electronic system.

   Then

   What you would do with a high score or a reading that worries you: repeat it, tell the patient’s nurse at once and stay with the patient if needed.

   Finish with

   If you are new to this, that you are keen to be trained and signed off.

4. 4

   ExperienceSTAR

   Tell us about a time you noticed something was wrong with someone you were caring for.

   What they want to hear

   Observation and escalation: you noticed a change, acted quickly and told the right person.

   Avoid

   A story where you waited until the end of the shift to mention it.

   An example answer, with STAR

   Situation

   In a care home, a resident who usually chatted at breakfast was quiet, flushed and not eating.

   Task

   You knew a change like that can mean an infection, and the senior carer needed to know.

   Action

   You took her temperature, told the senior carer straight away, stayed with her and recorded what you had noticed.

   Result

   The GP saw her that day and she started treatment. The senior carer thanked you for spotting it early.

5. 5

   Scenario

   What would you do if a patient refused personal care?

   What they want to hear

   Respect for the patient’s right to refuse, patience, finding out why, and reporting it so their care can be reviewed.

   Avoid

   Saying you would insist or do it anyway, or leave it without telling anyone.

   How to answer

   First

   Stay calm and ask why: they may be in pain, embarrassed, cold or simply not ready.

   Then

   Offer another time, another approach, or a colleague of the same sex if that would help.

   Finish with

   If they still refuse, respect it, tell the nurse in charge and record it.

6. 6

   TeamworkSTAR

   Tell us about a time you worked well in a team under pressure.

   What they want to hear

   That you pitch in, communicate and follow the lead of the nurse in charge when the ward is busy.

   Avoid

   Making yourself the hero, or complaining about the colleagues who were off.

   An example answer, with STAR

   Situation

   During a busy evening at the care home, two staff were off sick and several residents needed help at once.

   Task

   The team had to get everyone settled safely before the night shift.

   Action

   You agreed with the senior carer who would cover which rooms, answered call bells in order of need and kept colleagues updated.

   Result

   Everyone was settled safely, and the handover to the night team was complete and on time.

7. 7

   Safeguarding

   What would you do if you saw a colleague treating a patient roughly?

   What they want to hear

   That you put the patient first and report it, even when it is uncomfortable.

   Avoid

   Saying you would have a quiet word and leave it there, or that it is not your place.

   How to answer

   First

   Make sure the patient is safe, stepping in politely if you need to.

   Then

   Report it to the nurse in charge the same day, or to the safeguarding lead or ward manager if the concern is about the nurse in charge.

   Finish with

   Writing down what you saw, factually, and following the hospital’s safeguarding and speaking up policies.

8. 8

   Clinical

   How do you make sure patients eat and drink enough?

   What they want to hear

   Awareness of nutrition and hydration, especially for frail or confused patients, and accurate food and fluid charts.

   Avoid

   Leaving a tray and coming back later, or guessing the amounts on the chart.

   How to answer

   Start with

   Making sure food and drink are within reach, the patient is sitting up and has help if they need it.

   Then

   Recording what they actually eat and drink on the chart, not what was served.

   Finish with

   Telling the nurse if someone is eating or drinking very little, and using protected mealtimes or red trays where the ward has them.

9. 9

   CommunicationSTAR

   Tell us about a time you comforted someone who was anxious or upset.

   What they want to hear

   Compassion, patience and good listening, especially with people who are confused or frightened.

   Avoid

   Saying you told him to calm down, or that you left him because you were busy.

   An example answer, with STAR

   Situation

   A man living with dementia became distressed in the evening, asking for his wife.

   Task

   You needed to calm him without arguing or rushing him.

   Action

   You sat with him, used his name, talked about his wife using his life story book and offered him a cup of tea.

   Result

   He settled and slept, and you added what helped to his care notes for the next shift.

10. 10

    ValuesSTAR

    Tell us about a time you went the extra mile for someone in your care.

    What they want to hear

    The kindness and attention to small things that make a real difference to how patients feel.

    Avoid

    An example that breaks the rules, such as giving a patient your personal phone number.

    An example answer, with STAR

    Situation

    A patient on a long stay mentioned it was her wedding anniversary and her husband could not visit.

    Task

    You wanted to help her feel less alone that day.

    Action

    You helped her with her hair, arranged a video call with her husband on the ward tablet and told the team so they could wish her well.

    Result

    She said it was the best day of her stay, and the ward manager mentioned it at the team meeting.

11. 11

    Clinical

    How do you prevent the spread of infection on a ward?

    What they want to hear

    The basics done every time, not just known: hand hygiene, protective equipment, cleaning and isolation.

    Avoid

    Only mentioning gloves. Gloves do not replace washing your hands.

    How to answer

    Start with

    Hand hygiene before and after every patient contact, and using gloves and aprons correctly.

    Then

    Cleaning equipment between patients, handling linen and waste safely and following isolation signs.

    Finish with

    Reminding colleagues politely if you see a step missed.

12. 12

    Scenario

    What would you do if you were asked to do something you had not been trained to do?

    What they want to hear

    That you know the limits of your role, say so honestly and ask for training or help.

    Avoid

    Saying you would have a go, or refusing without offering an alternative.

    How to answer

    Say

    You would explain that you have not been trained or signed off for it yet.

    Then

    Ask the nurse to do it or to show you, and offer to help in another way.

    Finish with

    Asking for training so you can do it safely in future.

13. 13

    Values

    How do you keep information about patients confidential?

    What they want to hear

    That you understand confidentiality day to day: talking quietly, not discussing patients outside work and keeping records secure.

    Avoid

    Saying you would tell a relative whatever they ask, or treating it as an IT matter only.

    How to answer

    Start with

    Only sharing information with people involved in the patient’s care.

    Then

    Practical examples: not talking about patients in corridors or on social media, logging out of computers and checking who is calling before giving information.

    Finish with

    What you would do if a relative asked for information: check with the nurse, and with the patient’s consent.