What interviewers assess for OT roles
Occupational therapist interviews assess clinical knowledge and reasoning, person-centred practice values, ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams, and practical experience with assessment and intervention planning. NHS interviews use the NHS Values framework (Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, Commitment) alongside professional standards from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and the HCPC Standards of Proficiency. Private sector and independent practice interviews are similar in content but may also assess commercial awareness and self-management.
Clinical interview questions
"Walk me through your assessment process for a new patient referred for support following a stroke." Strong answer: initial review of referral and medical notes, introduction and rapport building with the patient (and carer where appropriate), standardised assessment tools appropriate to the patient's presentation (e.g., MOHOST for occupational profile, FIM/FAM for function, MoCA for cognition), observation of the patient completing meaningful occupations, identification of priority areas from the patient's perspective not just clinical observations, goal setting using collaborative and meaningful goals, and development of an intervention plan. Show that the patient's priorities drive your plan, not a generic protocol.
"How do you manage a caseload when all your patients have urgent needs?" Strong answer: triage by clinical risk and waiting time, use a structured risk assessment approach, communicate transparently with patients about timelines, escalate to your supervisor if you identify a case that cannot safely wait, and document your prioritisation reasoning. Show you do not just take on everything and burn out: caseload management is a professional skill.
Values and ethics questions
"Tell me about a time you had to advocate for a patient who was not getting the support they needed." Strong answer: specific situation, what the barrier was (resource, interdisciplinary disagreement, family dynamics), what you did (raised it with your supervisor, liaised with the relevant service, documented the concern formally), and what the outcome was. Show that patient advocacy is something you do actively, not passively. "How do you ensure your practice remains person-centred when you are under time pressure?" Strong answer: building rapport briefly but genuinely even in short contacts, asking "what matters to you?" rather than only "what is the matter with you?", and being honest with patients about what you can and cannot do within the current constraints.
How to prepare
Review the RCOT's professional standards and Code of Ethics before any OT interview. Know the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for occupational therapists and be ready to give examples of how your practice meets each standard. For NHS roles, read the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and any service-specific documentation available. Know the clinical tools specific to the service area you are applying to: community reablement tools differ from mental health OT assessment tools and differ from paediatric OT tools.