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NHS Volunteer Interview Questions: What to Expect at Your Informal Chat

What happens at an NHS volunteer interview or informal chat, the questions often asked, advice for young volunteers, an example answer and how to prepare.

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Created by a practising NHS doctor · Independent of the NHS

Quick answer

What questions are asked at an NHS volunteer interview?

NHS volunteer interviews are usually informal chats. Expect questions on why you want to volunteer, what you hope to gain, your availability, which roles interest you, how you would talk to anxious patients or upset visitors, confidentiality, boundaries and reliability. Use short examples from school, work, caring or community life, be honest about your time, and show you understand volunteers support staff rather than give clinical care.

Key takeaways

  • Most volunteer interviews are relaxed, two way chats.
  • Be honest and realistic about your availability.
  • Show you understand confidentiality and boundaries.
  • Young volunteers can use school and home examples.
  • Checks and training usually follow before you start.

NHS volunteer interviews are usually relaxed, informal chats rather than formal panels. You are often asked why you want to volunteer, what you hope to gain, what time you can give, how you would talk to patients and visitors, how you would keep information confidential and what you would do if you were unsure. The coordinator mainly wants to find the right role for you and check you understand the commitment.

This guide covers hospital and community volunteering, including young volunteer programmes. It explains what usually happens, gives practice questions, an example answer, common mistakes and how to prepare. Processes vary by trust, health board and UK nation, so check the information you are sent. The questions here are practice examples, not questions from any real interview.

 

In this guide

  • What questions are asked at an NHS volunteer interview?
  • Is an NHS volunteer interview formal?
  • What do NHS volunteers actually do?
  • Can I volunteer for the NHS at 16?
  • How do I answer "Why do you want to volunteer in the NHS?"
  • How should I prepare for an NHS volunteer interview?
  • Practice questions for NHS volunteer roles
  • Common mistakes at NHS volunteer interviews

 

What questions are asked at an NHS volunteer interview?

Most volunteer interview questions focus on your motivation, availability, people skills and common sense. Here are practice questions to think through before your chat.

  • Motivation: Why would you like to volunteer with us?
  • Goals: What are you hoping to gain from volunteering?
  • Availability: How much time can you give, and when?
  • Role preference: Which areas or roles interest you, and are there any you would prefer to avoid?
  • People skills: How would you approach a patient who seems lonely or anxious?
  • Difficult situations: What would you do if a visitor became rude or upset with you?
  • Confidentiality: What would you do if you recognised someone you knew on a ward?
  • Boundaries: A patient asks you to help them out of bed. What do you do?
  • Teamwork: Tell us about a time you worked with others to get something done.
  • Reliability: What would you do if you could not make a shift?
  • Experience: Have you done any volunteering, caring or customer facing work before?

 

Is an NHS volunteer interview formal?

Usually not. Many trusts call it an informal chat or meeting with the voluntary services team, often lasting 20 to 30 minutes, either in person or by video call. It is a two way conversation, so you can ask questions too.

After the chat there are usually checks before you start. These often include references, an occupational health questionnaire and, for some roles, a criminal record check. The type of check depends on the role and the nation: DBS checks in England and Wales, PVG in Scotland and AccessNI in Northern Ireland. Most volunteers then complete an induction and role specific training. Timescales vary, so ask the team what to expect.

 

What do NHS volunteers actually do?

NHS volunteers support patients, visitors and staff in non clinical ways. Knowing the roles helps you answer "Which role interests you?" with confidence.

  • Ward volunteers: chatting with patients, helping at mealtimes where trained, and fetching drinks or reading material.
  • Welcome and wayfinding: greeting visitors at entrances and helping them find clinics and wards.
  • Patient experience: collecting feedback, supporting surveys or helping with activities.
  • Specialist areas: such as dementia care, end of life care, chaplaincy or children's areas, often with extra training.
  • Community roles: supporting clinics, transport schemes, phone befriending or health promotion, depending on the area.
  • Volunteers do not replace paid staff or give clinical care, and a good answer shows you understand this.

 

Can I volunteer for the NHS at 16?

Many trusts and health boards welcome young volunteers, often from 16, and some run special programmes for people aged 16 to 18 or younger. The minimum age and the roles available vary, so check your local trust's volunteering page.

Young volunteers are asked similar questions, but the coordinator will expect examples from school, clubs, sport, caring at home or part time work. They may ask how you will balance volunteering with exams, whether you are thinking about a healthcare career, and whether a parent or carer needs to give consent. Being honest about your availability is more important than offering lots of hours.

 

How do I answer "Why do you want to volunteer in the NHS?"

Give a short, genuine answer that links a personal reason with what you can offer patients and staff. If you have a relevant example, use the STAR structure: situation, task, action, result.

This example is a model to adapt, not a script.

 

Example answer: why I want to volunteer

Situation: Last year my grandad spent several weeks in hospital, and I noticed how much it helped when a volunteer stopped to chat with him because he often had no visitors during the day.

Task: I wanted to find a way to give the same kind of support to other patients, and I also wanted to find out whether a career in healthcare suits me.

Action: I started volunteering at a lunch club for older people near my school, where I help serve food, set up activities and talk with people who live alone. I have learned to be patient, to listen and to check with the organiser if someone needs more help than I can give.

Result: The organiser told me people look forward to my visits, and I have become much more confident talking to people I do not know. Reflection: I would like to bring this to a ward or welcome role, and I understand my role would be to support patients and staff, not to give care.

 

How should I prepare for an NHS volunteer interview?

Prepare by reading the role description, thinking honestly about your availability and having two or three short examples of when you have helped people, worked in a team or stayed calm.

  • Read the trust's volunteering pages and the role description you applied for.
  • Know your realistic availability, including term times or work shifts.
  • Think of examples from school, work, caring, clubs or community groups.
  • Learn the trust's values and think about what kindness and respect look like in practice.
  • Prepare a couple of questions, such as what training is provided and who you would report to on a shift.
  • Practise with a friend, family member, teacher or careers adviser if you feel nervous.
  • Have identity documents and referee details ready if the invitation mentions them.

 

Practice questions for NHS volunteer roles

If you like to practise with written questions, Healthcare Interview Prep, an independent site created by a practising NHS doctor, has a volunteering sector with original practice questions and full written model answers. The first 8 questions per role are free to read, and the full bank is a one off £4.99 per role. It is a self study resource, not live coaching or mock interviews, and many people find the free material and their local voluntary services team are enough for an informal chat.

 

Common mistakes at NHS volunteer interviews

  • Overpromising time: offering more hours than you can give leads to missed shifts later.
  • Expecting clinical tasks: volunteers support staff and patients but do not give clinical care.
  • Only talking about your CV: it is fine to mention career goals, but show you care about patients too.
  • Forgetting confidentiality: never share what you see or hear, including on social media.
  • Not asking questions: the chat is also your chance to check the role suits you.
  • Treating it too casually: it is informal, but being on time and polite still matters.

 

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to start volunteering at an NHS hospital?

It varies widely. After your informal chat, most trusts need references, an occupational health check and, for some roles, a criminal record check before you can start, followed by induction and training. Depending on demand and how quickly checks come back, this can take a few weeks or several months. Ask the voluntary services team for their usual timescale and keep in touch politely if you hear nothing.

Do NHS volunteers need a DBS check?

Many volunteer roles involve a criminal record check, especially those with contact with patients, children or vulnerable adults, but not every role needs the same level. The scheme also differs across the UK: DBS in England and Wales, PVG in Scotland and AccessNI in Northern Ireland. The trust usually arranges and pays for the check. Ask the volunteering team which check applies to your role.

What should I wear to an NHS volunteer interview?

Smart casual is usually fine for an informal volunteer chat. Clean, tidy clothes such as trousers or a skirt with a plain top or shirt work well, and comfortable shoes are sensible in case you are shown around. You do not need a suit. If the chat is by video, choose a quiet spot, check your connection and dress as you would in person.

Can NHS volunteering help me get into nursing or medicine?

Volunteering can help you understand healthcare, build communication skills and show commitment, which can support applications for nursing, medicine and other healthcare courses or jobs. Admissions teams and employers usually care more about what you learned than how many hours you did. Keep a short reflective diary, without patient details, so you can talk about real experiences at a future interview.

Can I be turned down after an NHS volunteer interview?

Yes, it can happen, but often it is because there are no suitable roles or shifts at that time rather than anything about you. Coordinators may also suggest a different role, a waiting list or another organisation. If you are not offered a place, ask politely for feedback, and consider community volunteering or charities, which can build similar skills and experience.

 

Practice question banks for related NHS roles

 

Practise with NHS interview questions for your role

Each NHS role on this site has 40 original practice questions with full model answers. The first 8 are free to read, and the rest of a role's bank costs £4.99 with 12 months' access and no subscription.

 

More NHS interview guides

 

Healthcare Interview Prep is an independent NHS interview preparation website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the NHS. Example questions and answers are original practice material, not official or leaked interview questions.

Healthcare Interview Prep: practice questions and model answers for 471 NHS roles across 11 sectors, created by a practising NHS doctor.

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