Preparing for an NHS Consultant interview means doing more than knowing your portfolio, you also need to understand the organisation you’re applying to join. One of the most valuable tools for this is the CQC report, but candidates often wonder: Do I need to remember every detail? How much is enough?
In this podcast, Tessa Davis and Becky Platt break down exactly how to approach the CQC report strategically, what to focus on, and how to prepare for common interview questions.
Catch the Full Episode Here
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OzclmjKb2hr54XNkLKuT9?si=V9boDPL1Q0awzenm4JU7cw
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-prepare-for-your-nhs-consultant-interview-without/id1833792151?i=1000722312238
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/w1bkJxM8ioA?si=GJ7I-tCy3vz751Or
What to Focus on in the CQC Report – Full Transcript
Becky Platt: Can you please guide how much of the CQC report I should remember in terms of details? I read 152 pages and made notes on 11 of them, but I’m still struggling to keep it all in mind.
Dr Tessa Davis: This is a pretty common question, and everyone should read the CQC report for the job they’re applying for.
152 pages is hefty, I don’t think anyone is realistically going to remember that amount, or even 11 pages in detail.
The key is to focus on the sections relevant to your service or specialty. They’re unlikely to ask about another department unless there’s a direct connection or a major issue.
So, read the part about your hospital, look for anything significant, make notes on that, and, importantly, think about what you would do to address any issues.
What kind of questions do you think are likely to come up, Becky?
Becky Platt: Candidates often get asked:
“How would you address the findings in our recent CQC report?”
For example, if the report highlights patient safety concerns in A&E, like not consistently having a nurse in the waiting room, you might consider:
- What would you do as the Consultant in Charge to improve safety?
- What strategies is the trust already using?
- What practical steps could you take day-to-day?
Even basic actions show insight and initiative.
Dr Tessa Davis: Exactly. And when you attend pre-interview visits, you’ll get more insight into what the team is actively doing to address CQC findings. If something significant was raised, you can guarantee the team and execs are already working on it.
Common themes in CQC reports include:
- Staff not completing training
- Issues with medicines storage
These are common and probably won’t be big interview points unless they’re severe or directly relevant.
If there’s nothing relevant to your department, or the last report was years ago, it’s unlikely they’ll ask about it. But you can still drop into another answer that you read the report.
If something significant is in the report, it’s reasonable the panel may ask about it. And if you haven’t read it, you’ll feel unprepared. It’s easy to find – just search for your trust’s latest CQC report online.
Becky Platt: The other thing I’d do is quickly Google the trust and check news from the last week. You want to know if something major, good or bad, is happening.
Dr Tessa Davis: Yes, and if it’s negative, you don’t need to mention it, but you do need to be sensitive. Awareness and emotional intelligence matter. You don’t want to unintentionally say something tone-deaf if the team is dealing with something live and stressful.
Key Takeaways for Your Interview
- Don’t memorise the whole report, focus on your department
- Prioritise the sections relating to your specialty or service.
- Identify key issues and be ready to discuss how you’d respond
- Panels want your insight, not your memory.
- Attend pre-interview visits if possible
- You’ll get real-time info on how the team is addressing CQC findings.
- Stay aware of recent news about the trust
- Shows situational awareness and professionalism.
- If the report has nothing relevant, that’s fine – just know it
- You can still reference that you read it in another answer.
