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.

Know about the Employer

Read the information about The Employer;familiarize yourself with the services offered at the Company. Have a look at their website:

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! The interviewers make you feel at ease and understand that you are nervous. 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.

What they want to see during the interview:

  1. THAT YOU ARE A CARING, KIND PERSON WITH A PASSION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE
  2. THAT YOU REALLY WANT THIS POST
  3. THAT YOU WILL BE COMMITTED AND LOYAL TO THE EMPLOYER
  4. THAT YOU 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 Carole, Hello Paul THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME TODAY” or I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS INTERVIEW”
  1. Try to smile and relax THROUGHOUT your interview
  1. 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.
  1. If you don’t understand – ask them to PLEASE REPEAT THE QUESTION
  1. Be honest and truthful
  1. Don’t answer questions with a "yes" or "no". Expand and explain whenever possible giving details about yourself and your experience, which relate to the position.
  1. You must at no point say “sorry my english is not good” – rather say something positive, like

“I am still busy improving my english and I practice every day. I know in the UK I will improve my english even more!”

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

  1. What would alert you to poor standard of Care in a CARE HOME?
  1. A resident states that a staff member has been using inappropriate language and used poor moving and handling techniques – What do you do?
  1. Do you know what types of ABUSE?
  1. A Relative comes to you and makes a complaint about their mothers care, explain to me what you do?
  1. 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?
  1. What do you feel are the main responsibilities in this job (as a Registered Nurse in a Care home)
  1. Do you know what a Care home is?
  1. Do you know what a pressure ulcer is and how many types are there?
  1. Explain what you know about Diabetes? Types, treatment and prevention
  1. Explain to me how you would administer medications safely?
  1. How would you lead your team as you shall be working with unqualified CARE Assistances?
  1. How shall you keep yourself up to date?
  1. How can you ensure a high standard of Care IS delivered?
  2. What are the signs and symptoms of a heart attack?
  3. What is an anticoagulant and when would it be used
  4. What do you think the role is of which you have applied, what do you think your duties 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 workfor The Employer?
  • 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
  1. Pressure Ulcers
  1. Diabetes
  1. Administrating of medication
  1. Types of Abuse
  1. Asthma
  1. Alzheimer and Dementia
  1. Moving and Handling techniques

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:

- 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.
- the Department of Health website and is very useful.
- the Nursing and Midwifery Council website.