CQC and Ofsted guide
CQC and Ofsted fit person interviews: what to expect and how to prepare
Who gets interviewed, what the regulator is really testing, the themes questions tend to cover and a practical plan for preparing.
For many new providers, the interview is the most nerve-racking part of registration. It is also the part where good preparation makes the biggest difference.
“Fit person interview” is the name most people use for the interviews CQC and Ofsted hold with the people who will lead a new service. The regulators use their own wording, but the purpose is the same: to find out whether the person is fit and ready to take on the role.
Who is interviewed?
| Regulator | Usually interviewed | Sometimes interviewed |
|---|---|---|
| CQC | The proposed Registered Manager | The Nominated Individual |
| Ofsted | The proposed Registered Manager and the Responsible Individual | Other people linked to the application |
CQC’s guidance for new managers says that, after a manager applies, CQC will contact them to arrange an interview.
Ofsted usually interviews the people linked to a Children’s Home application during the registration visit to the home, although interviews sometimes happen separately. Ofsted says its questions are tailored to each applicant rather than following a fixed format.
What is the regulator really testing?
An interview is not a memory test. The regulator wants to know whether you:
- understand the regulations that apply to your service
- know your own service: who it is for, how it will work and why
- know your own policies and could follow them under pressure
- understand your role and your legal responsibilities
- have the experience and judgement to keep people safe
The most convincing answers connect all three: the regulation, your policy and what you would actually do.
Themes questions tend to cover
Every interview is different, but questions usually fall into a handful of themes. The examples below are the kind of thing to be ready for. They are our illustrations, not an official question list.
Your service
- Who will you support, and what needs can you meet?
- What does your Statement of Purpose say, and how will you make sure the service sticks to it?
- Why is your service needed in this area?
Safeguarding
- What would you do if a member of staff raised a concern about a colleague?
- Who would you contact, and how quickly, if you suspected abuse?
- How will you make sure every member of staff knows the safeguarding procedure?
Leadership and oversight
- How will you know whether the service is safe and good, week to week?
- What audits will you carry out, and what happens to the findings?
- Which events must you notify the regulator about?
Staffing
- How will you make sure staff are recruited safely?
- What will induction, training and supervision look like?
- What will you do if you cannot cover a shift?
For CQC services
- How will you make sure care is given with consent, and what will you do if someone may lack capacity to decide?
- How will medicines be managed, and what happens after a medicines error?
- How will people and their families be able to complain, and what will you do with complaints?
For Children’s Homes
- How will the home meet the Quality Standards?
- What will you do if a child goes missing?
- How will you support positive behaviour, and when, if ever, would restraint be used?
- What did your location assessment find, and how will you manage those risks?
What to bring
Ofsted’s guidance says the Registered Manager and Responsible Individual should have original identity documents, qualification certificates and DBS certificates ready for the registration visit. If someone has changed their name, they need a clear record of the change.
For a CQC interview, check the invitation for anything you are asked to bring or send in advance.
In both cases, have your Statement of Purpose and key policies to hand, and know where to find things in them.
How to prepare
- Read every document in your application. The interviewer will have read them. If you cannot explain your own policy, it undermines the whole application.
- Know the regulations that apply to you. For CQC services, that means the fundamental standards. For Children’s Homes, the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards.
- Prepare real examples. Think of situations from your own experience that show how you handle safeguarding, staff issues, complaints and mistakes.
- Practise out loud. A mock interview with someone who knows the regulations is the best way to find gaps. Answering in your head is not the same as answering in a room.
- Be honest. If you do not know something, say so and explain how you would find out. Bluffing is easy to spot.
- Link your answers. Where you can, connect the regulation, your policy and what you would actually do.
What if it goes badly?
The stakes are real. Ofsted’s guidance explains that a manager who does not have the qualifications, skills and experience the regulations require will have their application refused. For Children’s Homes, a refusal also means the person is disqualified from managing or working in a Children’s Home unless Ofsted gives written consent.
CQC can also refuse a manager’s application if it is not satisfied they meet the requirements.
That is why preparation matters so much, and why it is worth choosing your Registered Manager and Responsible Individual carefully at the very start. If you have doubts about someone’s readiness, deal with them before you apply.
Get ready with a mock interview
We run realistic mock interviews for Registered Managers, Nominated Individuals and Responsible Individuals, based on your own service and documents, with written feedback on what to strengthen.
Official guidance
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Regulator guidance changes, so check the current position before you act, or talk to us about your plans.