The main differences for Physiotherapy Interviews for Bands 5, 6, 7, 8!
If you get the Steps reference in the Title, Yesss you are in the right place! Jokes aside, each time you interview for the next band up there are small changes in where the focus of your answers needs to be. In my experience, when you are interviewing for the first time at a new band, those who are unsuccessful often lack the clarity of the difference between their current role and their new one. This post will also be useful to help place yourself, for those of you who have not worked within the UK system before. I’ve put together a small list of themes to point you in the right direction and I’ve added alternative titles for those of you not applying to NHS roles. So let's begin 5, 6, 7, 8!
The main differences for Physiotherapy Interviews for Bands 5, 6, 7, 8!
1. Band 5 Themes (Newly Qualified/Entrance Level/ Junior)
2. Band 6 Themes (Intermediate Experience/ Senior)
3. Band 7 Themes (Highly Experienced/ Team Leader/ Senior)
4. Band 8 Themes (Clinical Specialist/ Manager)
Band 5 Themes (Newly Qualified/Entrance Level/ Junior)
The themes for Band 5 questions are largely checking that you have some student experience or awareness of each area that you will be working in. You should be able to demonstrate that you will be safe when at work and that you are aware of your own limitations. A large emphasis on your ability to communicate, manage your own time and work within a team is often tested.
2. Band 6 Themes (Intermediate Experience/ Senior)
The themes for Band 6 questions often ensure your knowledge of assessment and treatment of basic pathology whilst giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your handling of complex situations. The same still applies that the questions will check that you are safe when practising and are able to identify your own limitations. This is very important because at this level you are expected to work without supervision.
3. Band 7 Themes (Highly Experienced/ Team Leader/ Senior)
The themes for Band 7 roles can vary depending on the role that you apply for. For example some roles can be heavily clinical whilst others can be mainly managerial, or a mix of the two. Regardless of the mix, the focus is on how you can make a contribution to the development of the service through your patient contact, colleague support and clinical knowledge. Your focus should be on how your actions affect your patients, your team and your wider organisation.
4. Band 8 (Clinical Specialist/ Manager)
Again, at this level the roles can be extremely varied. The focus however is on your ability to lead a service but your focus may be clinical or managerial. You will need to demonstrate your ability to have a vision and see it through to completion. You will need a broad understanding of both national and local initiatives and how you are able to deliver service improvements in relation to the initiatives and wider demands.
Having all the key themes written down in one place really shows the progression through a career in Physiotherapy and how the focus and responsibility shifts with each role. When preparing answers it is always good to have the overarching theme in the back of your mind so that each answer you provide is creating a vision of who you would be in this new role.
If you are reading this post in preparation for an upcoming interview, make sure you read my post: 5 Tips for Physiotherapy Interview Preparation and download my FREE Physiotherapy Interview Checklist!
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What are your thoughts on the themes of each role? Do you think there are any more key themes of each role? What questions have you been asked before? Let me know in the comments below, I love to hear from you!
About the Blogger:
Hi, I’m Rebekah.
I’m a Physiotherapist with a passion to support others to get to where they want to be. I love to organise and plan which, comes in handy for my mission to empower others to achieve their Physiotherapy career goals.
