Midwife interviews, whether for a newly qualified role or a return to practice, tend to follow a recognisable pattern because most NHS trusts use a values-based recruitment approach built around the NHS Constitution and the 6Cs. This guide gathers the questions that come up most often, grouped by theme, with STAR-formatted example answers for the ones candidates find hardest to structure on the spot.
We also explain what values-based interviewing actually looks like in practice, and what to bring with you on the day, from your portfolio to your NMC PIN if you already hold one.
What is values-based interviewing?
Values-based recruitment is the standard NHS approach to interviewing for clinical roles, including midwifery. Rather than testing only technical knowledge, panels use structured questions to assess whether a candidate’s personal values align with the values patients and colleagues can expect to experience in care.
In practice, this means many questions will ask you to describe a real situation and how you behaved in it, rather than asking you to describe midwifery theory in the abstract.
Sample midwife interview questions by theme
The questions below are grouped into the six areas that come up most consistently across NHS trust midwifery interviews.
- Motivation: Why do you want to be a midwife? What first drew you to midwifery rather than nursing more broadly?
- Values and the 6Cs: Tell me about a time you showed compassion to a patient or family under pressure. Describe a time you had to be courageous in raising a concern.
- Safeguarding: What would you do if you suspected a woman in your care was experiencing domestic abuse? Talk me through your understanding of safeguarding responsibilities in midwifery.
- Evidence-based practice: How do you keep your clinical knowledge up to date? Describe a time you changed your practice based on new evidence or guidance.
- Scenario and emergency response: Talk me through how you would recognise and respond to a suspected postpartum haemorrhage. What would you do if you encountered shoulder dystocia during a delivery?
- Teamwork and communication: Describe a time you disagreed with a colleague or obstetrician about a care decision. How do you communicate difficult news to a family?
STAR-formatted example answers for the top five questions
The STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helps structure answers to behavioural questions clearly and concisely, which matters because panels are often scoring answers against specific criteria.
| Question | STAR structure to use |
|---|---|
| Tell me about a time you showed compassion under pressure | Situation: describe the clinical context briefly. Task: explain what was needed from you. Action: describe specifically what you said or did. Result: explain the outcome for the woman or family and what you learned |
| Describe a time you had to raise a concern (courage) | Situation: the circumstance that concerned you. Task: your responsibility to act. Action: exactly how you raised it and with whom. Result: what changed, and how you would approach it again |
| How would you respond to a suspected postpartum haemorrhage? | Situation: set the clinical scenario if drawing on real or simulated experience. Task: your role in the response. Action: the specific clinical steps you would take, in order. Result: the expected outcome and escalation point |
| Describe a disagreement with a colleague about care | Situation: the clinical disagreement. Task: your responsibility to the woman in your care. Action: how you communicated your view professionally. Result: how the disagreement was resolved and any learning |
| Why do you want to be a midwife? | Situation: what first drew you to the profession. Task: how you have tested that motivation (placements, volunteering, research). Action: concrete steps you have taken to prepare. Result: what you now understand about the role and why you are ready |
Clinical scenario questions: what panels are really testing
Scenario questions, particularly around emergencies such as postpartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia or neonatal resuscitation, are not usually testing whether you can recite a full clinical protocol from memory. Panels are generally looking for a clear sense of priority, an understanding of when and how to escalate, and calm, structured thinking under pressure.
Safeguarding and the NMC Code
Safeguarding questions are near-universal in midwifery interviews because midwives are often uniquely placed to notice early warning signs in pregnant women and families. Interviewers want to see that you understand your professional duty to act, not just recognise a general concept of safeguarding.
- Be ready to describe your understanding of mandatory reporting duties and local safeguarding procedures
- Reference the professional standards set out in the NMC Code, particularly around raising concerns and prioritising people
- Use a real or plausible example, even from a placement, to show how you have actually applied safeguarding awareness rather than only describing it in theory
What to bring and how to prepare on the day
- A professional portfolio, if you have one, showing reflective accounts, feedback and evidence of clinical hours or placements
- An up-to-date CV, even if you have already submitted one with your application
- Your NMC PIN, if you are already registered as a midwife or nurse returning to practice
- Confirmation of your DBS check status, since most NHS midwifery roles require an enhanced DBS check as standard
- Two or three well-prepared STAR examples that can flex to answer several different questions, since the same strong example can often answer a compassion, teamwork or courage question with small adjustments
Prepare for a midwifery career at Lift
If you are working towards a midwifery career, Lift’s Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) is designed to prepare adult learners for university-level midwifery study and the wider values and knowledge base that midwifery interviews test.