I’m about to have my interview for a fit person application to become a registered manager. Please can you provide me advice on what I should read up on prior to the interview and how best to prepare?

Answered by Sheila Scott

I receive this question quite often.

At the interview you will need to demonstrate that you have the experience, expertise and knowledge to manage a very important service.

CQC will have accepted your application form and when they interview you they will want to be sure that you have the expertise and knowledge to be able to manage the service.

The knowledge you demonstrate will be the key and you should be able to base that around the five fundamental standards:

Is it Safe?

Is it Effective?

Is it Caring?

Is it Responsive?

Is it Well-Led?

You can find the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) on the CQC website. You need to be sure that you understand all of these and particularly you should be sure that you understand the requirements for a Well-Led service.

The KLOEs demonstrate what CQC believes a good service looks like.

I would also suggest that if you haven’t got the expected management qualification you should do some research into what the qualification entails so that you can speak with confidence about how you intend to achieve any such qualification.

If you have the knowledge, experience and expertise then your interview should go well.

As I said at the beginning, I regularly receive questions about this interview from prospective Registered Managers. I am very pleased to say that only very occasionally have I received questions when an interview has gone badly, so I do believe that if you are well prepared, have the necessary knowledge and are confident that you have the required skills your interview will go well.

Best wishes.

Sheila