NHS interviews
NHS Band 7 Interview Questions: Leading a Team or Service
1 October 2026 6 min read
Practise these 6 questions with the AI panelBand 7 roles such as ward manager, specialist practitioner or team lead are judged on how you run a service. Expect a presentation first, then a panel that may include a matron, an HR partner and a patient representative.
Try it free · no sign-up
Answer one question out loud and get scored.
"Your presentation: what would you change in your first 100 days, and how?"
Questions to expect
- 01Your presentation: what would you change in your first 100 days, and how?
- 02How would you manage staff sickness and a high vacancy rate on your unit?
- 03Tell us about a service improvement you led from idea to result.
- 04How do you make sure your area meets CQC standards?
- 05How would you handle a formal complaint from a family?
- 06How would you manage a budget overspend on bank and agency staff?
Think like a manager
Talk about systems, not single shifts: rotas and skill mix, recruitment and retention, governance meetings, risk registers and how you share learning. Show you balance patient safety, staff wellbeing and money, and that you involve your team and patients in change.
Nailing the presentation
Keep to time (usually 10 minutes), use three clear points, link each to patient outcomes and the trust's strategy, and finish with how you'd measure success. Expect follow-up questions on anything you mention, so only include what you can defend.