Health care assistant job interview questions and answers

Getting an interview is great news. However, it is only the beginning! When it comes to answering healthcare assistant interview questions, you can expect the interviewer to focus on your ability to handle pressure.

During the interview, the hiring manager will try to ascertain whether you’re a good fit for the job and company.  They want to know that you can provide the care that people need under any circumstances.

When you get to this stage in the job-seeking process, it is a clear sign that the employer is interested in taking you on. Yet the company is also looking at several other candidates with a similar level of qualifications and skill.

This guide looks at common interview questions and provides you with a few useful answers. 

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Table of contents (skip to section)

Why Do You Want to be a Healthcare Assistant?
What Types of Specific Care Might You Provide for an Elderly Client?
Tell me About Your Experience Caring for Someone
How Do You Maintain a Client’s Dignity and Respect When Providing Personal Care?
What Are the Three Most Important Qualities of a Good Carer?
How Would You Handle a Health Crisis?
Do You Stay Up-To-Date with Healthcare Advancements? How?

Why Do You Want to be a Healthcare Assistant?

In general, this is specific to the role you choose. The hiring manager wants to know your motivation for becoming a healthcare assistant. You may find that an anecdote works best here.

Being a healthcare assistant is challenging, but I had wanted to do it since I saw my father get sick when I was young. Back then, I vowed to help other people and find that the healthcare assistant’s position offers the ideal opportunity.

What Types of Specific Care Might You Provide for an Elderly Client?

Someone with experience in the industry is well aware of the differing needs of clients. Helping elderly clients is a prime example. You may need to get assistance to help them complete daily tasks while also ensuring you keep their mood elevated.

I’m well aware that helping elderly clients is a very different scenario than younger adult clients or children. In terms of emotional assistance, I will do my utmost to ensure they never feel alone in my presence. I will also help with specific physical needs whenever I am required.

Tell me About Your Experience Caring for Someone

Although qualifications are essential, companies are keen to understand how you go about the process of helping someone. You need to outline your experience in the field and show that helping people comes as second nature. In this instance, outline how you helped a client and made them feel special.

I have previously worked in a care home for the elderly. One gentleman who had dementia continually asked me for help. As he had severe memory loss, he would forget what he wanted when I got there. Nonetheless, I always showed patience and kindness. The client recognised this, and when he moved to the house of a family member, he specifically requested me to be his caregiver. I worked with him for another 18 months before he sadly passed away.

How Do You Maintain a Client’s Dignity & Respect When Providing Personal Care?

One of the most important skills a healthcare assistant has is the ability to show empathy for clients. This involves open and honest two-way communication. This enables you to help the client but also provides them with the independence they crave.

No matter what illness a client has, they are still a human being. As a result, they tend to want to enjoy a little bit of independence and freedom, which I provide to them whenever appropriate. Also, I focus on caring for the whole person, irrespective of what issue the client has.

What Are the Three Most Important Qualities of a Good Carer?

This is a tricky question to answer, so don’t rack your brains trying to think of the ‘right’ answer. The truth is, there aren’t three specific qualities that the hiring manager is seeking. Your best bet is to think of three crucial healthcare assistant qualities that apply to you and use them in your answer.

I find it difficult to condense such a complex role into three specific qualities. However, I believe a healthcare assistant must be respectful and treat clients, especially elderly ones, as adults. I think it is essential to show empathy because this is a valuable tool in connecting with a client and helping them through rough times. I also think patience is critical. There are times when seemingly simple tasks become difficult for clients. A good healthcare assistance knows this and helps the client on their terms rather than getting frustrated.

How Would You Handle a Health Crisis?

Dealing with crises is a regular occurrence when working as a healthcare assistant. You have to demonstrate your ability to stay calm and make the right decision under pressure. Ideally, you can draw on previous experience and tell the story of how you handled it.

During my spell at the ACME care home, I worked a night shift with an inexperienced colleague. One client suddenly had heart palpitations and collapsed. My colleague, unfortunately, panicked and had no idea what to do. I helped guide her into assisting the client while I phoned for an ambulance. Then I fell back on my training and kept the client calm and in the right position. The ambulance arrived, and I was later told that my actions helped save the client’s life. Her family wrote me a wonderful thank you letter which I had framed.

Do You Stay Up-To-Date with Healthcare Advancements? How?

A failure to keep up-to-date on industry knowledge is an opportunity missed. As well as ensuring you have the best training, it is also a clear indication that you are serious about your role.

There is a perception that healthcare assistants can ‘get by’ on old-fashioned methods. I’m afraid I have to disagree. I think that knowledge is power in our field and gives us the tools we need to provide clients with the best possible service. Personally, I use a tool called Feedly that pulls information from a group of websites I selected. It helps me monitor what’s relevant to my field and ensure I don’t miss any exciting developments.

Hopefully you’ll feel more prepared after reading these Healthcare Assistant interview questions.

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