Question 1

What questions are asked in an NHS Physiotherapy Assistant interview?

Accepted Answer

NHS Physiotherapy Assistant interviews usually mix values-based questions with scenarios specific to the role. Typical themes include motivation for physiotherapy support work, working under delegation, NHS values and the NHS Constitution, NHS priorities and rehabilitation, mobilising patients after surgery and postural hypotension and the unwell patient. Every interview panel writes its own questions, so practise the themes rather than memorising answers. The 8 free questions on this page cover a spread of them.

Question 2

What band is an NHS Physiotherapy Assistant job?

Accepted Answer

The questions on this page are pitched mainly at Band 3 to Band 4 posts. The band for any job depends on the trust and the responsibilities of the post, so always check the advert and job description. Higher bands bring more questions on leadership, supervising others and improving the service.

Question 3

How should I prepare for an NHS Physiotherapy Assistant interview?

Accepted Answer

Read the job description and person specification closely, then prepare five or six real examples you can tell using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result). Revise your regulator's standards (such as the HCPC or GPhC), consent and capacity, safeguarding, caseload management and patient safety. Research the trust's own values and the service you would join, and practise your answers out loud before the day.

Question 4

Which NHS values and standards should I mention in a Physiotherapy Assistant interview?

Accepted Answer

Link your examples to the NHS values from the NHS Constitution, such as compassion, respect and dignity, and working together for patients. For this role, panels will also expect you to understand your regulator's standards (such as the HCPC or GPhC), consent and capacity, safeguarding, caseload management and patient safety. Show these through what you actually did rather than reciting lists.

Question 5

Are these real NHS Physiotherapy Assistant interview questions?

Accepted Answer

No. They are original practice questions written to reflect how NHS Physiotherapy Assistant interviews are typically run. Healthcare Interview Prep is independent and not affiliated with the NHS, and nobody can promise which questions you will be asked. Use the model answers to learn structure and content, then build answers from your own experience.

Question 6

What do I get if I unlock the full Physiotherapy Assistant question bank?

Accepted Answer

You get all 40 Physiotherapy Assistant practice questions. Each one has what the panel is assessing, a model answer, why the answer works, key points to include, common mistakes and the NHS values it links to. It is a one-off payment of £4.99 for 12 months' access, with no subscription.

Question 7

Why do you want to work as a physiotherapy assistant?

Accepted Answer

I think it started when my nan broke her hip. She was in hospital for a few weeks and I visited most evenings. What I noticed was that the days she'd seen the physio team were the days she seemed like herself again. There was an assistant who came most afternoons to walk her to the bay window and back with her frame. It was only a few metres at first, but she'd talk about it all evening. By the time she went home she was making her own cup of tea, and I remember thinking that somebody had given her that back. Since then I've worked as a carer in the community, and the part of the job I always enjoyed most was when someone was getting stronger. Helping a man practise standing from his armchair so he didn't need two carers any more felt more rewarding than anything else I did. I wanted a job where that is the main focus rather than something squeezed in at the end of a call. I know it isn't glamorous. It's a lot of walking, a lot of encouraging people who are sore or scared, and progress can be really slow. Some patients won't get back to where they were, and part of the job is helping them adjust to that. I'm also clear that I'd be working under the direction of a registered physiotherapist, carrying out plans they've set and feeding back what I see. I like that structure, because it means I can put my energy into the patient while knowing there's a qualified person making the clinical decisions. So for me it's about helping people get their independence back, one small step…

Question 8

You are walking a patient on day one after a hip replacement. As they stand from the chair they go pale, sweaty and say they feel faint. What would you do?

Accepted Answer

Before I'd even got to this point, I'd have done my checks. I'd read the plan from the physio, checked the weight-bearing status and any hip precautions, looked at the latest observations and spoken to the nurse about whether the patient had had pain relief and was well enough. I'd check the lines too, so the catheter bag, any drain and the drip, and make sure they're secured and moved with the patient. I'd usually have a second person and the frame and chair ready. If they go pale and say they feel faint as they stand, my first job is to stop them falling. I'd tell them calmly to sit straight back down, and because the chair would still be right behind them, I'd guide them back into it. If they were too far from the chair or going down, I'd lower them as safely as I could rather than trying to hold their full weight. Then I'd stay with them and call for help, either with the call bell or by asking my colleague to get the nurse. Once they're seated I'd keep talking to them, check whether they can answer me properly and watch their colour and breathing. If they stay faint, it may be safer to get them back onto the bed and lying down with help, using the right equipment. The nurse would do a set of observations, including a lying and standing blood pressure if that's local practice, and if they're unwell the nurse would escalate to the medical team. Feeling faint the first time someone stands after surgery isn't unusual, but it can also be a sign of something more serious…

Question 9

Which of the NHS values matters most to you as a physiotherapy assistant, and how have you shown it?

Accepted Answer

The NHS values are working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care, compassion, improving lives, and everyone counts. In physiotherapy, the one I'd pick is respect and dignity, because so much of what we do is physical and close up. When you're helping someone stand or practise walking, they're often in a hospital gown, they might have a catheter bag, and they're in front of a whole bay of other people. In my care job I looked after a retired headteacher who'd had a stroke. He was a proud man and he hated people seeing him wobble. Before we practised anything I'd ask him how he wanted to do it, whether he'd like the curtains drawn first, and I'd make sure he had trousers and proper footwear on rather than slippers and a gown. Small things, but he told me once that I was the only one who asked. I also think respect means not talking over people. If the physio and I are discussing how someone is doing, I try to include the patient in that conversation rather than talking across them. It links to improving lives too, because people are more willing to have a go when they feel respected. That patient walked further with me than he would with anyone who rushed him, and I think that's because he trusted me not to make him look foolish.

Question 10

What does working under delegation from a registered physiotherapist mean to you, and how would you know a task was outside your limits?

Accepted Answer

To me, delegation means the physio has assessed the patient, set a plan and decided that a specific part of it is safe for me to carry out. They're responsible for deciding it's appropriate to hand that task to me. I'm responsible for doing it competently, following the plan, and telling them if anything changes or if I'm not confident. In practice it might be something like, walk Mrs A twice today with a frame and one person, and go through her bed exercises sheet. I'd make sure I understood exactly what was wanted, including how far, what level of help and anything to watch out for. If I'd never used that type of equipment or wasn't trained in it, I'd say so before I started rather than trying to work it out on the patient. I'd know something was outside my limits in a few ways. If I'm being asked to decide something that needs clinical judgement, like whether someone is safe to go home or whether to change their exercises, that's the physio's call. If the patient doesn't match what's in the plan, for example they're much drowsier or more breathless than described, I'd stop and check. And if I've not been signed off as competent in something, I don't do it, however busy the ward is. I think a good assistant is someone the physio can trust to say no when they need to. I'd always rather go back and say, I didn't do it because this didn't look right, than carry on and have a patient come to harm.

Question 11

An older patient on a medical ward tells you there is no point getting out of bed because they are only in hospital for a few days. How would you explain why moving matters?

Accepted Answer

I'd start by sitting down next to them rather than standing over the bed, and asking how they're feeling. Sometimes there's a reason behind it. They might be in pain, worried about falling, embarrassed about a catheter, or just exhausted. If it's pain I'd check with the nurse about pain relief and come back. If it's more that they don't see the point, I'd try to explain it in a way that matters to them. I might say something like, a few days in bed can make your legs much weaker than you'd expect, especially as we get older, and that can make it harder to manage at home. Getting up and sitting in the chair, or walking to the bathroom, helps keep your strength up so you can go home doing what you could before. I'd ask what they want to be able to do when they leave, like getting up their stairs or into the garden, and link it to that. I'd offer small, manageable steps. Maybe just sitting on the edge of the bed today, or getting dressed in their own clothes. People often feel more like themselves once they're out of a nightie or pyjamas. If they still said no, I'd respect that. They have the right to decline. I'd let them know I'd come back later, tell the physio and the nurse, and write it in the notes. If they seemed confused or I was worried about whether they understood, I'd raise that too, because it might need a capacity assessment by the right person rather than just being written down as a refusal.

Question 12

In an outpatient back class, a woman has bruises on her upper arms. She says she walked into a door, but her partner always waits outside and answers questions for her. What would you do?

Accepted Answer

I'd take it seriously, because bruising on the upper arms can be from someone gripping, and a partner who always stays close and speaks for her is something I've been trained to notice. I wouldn't jump to conclusions, but I wouldn't ignore it either. The most important thing is her safety, so I wouldn't say anything in front of the partner or challenge him. If there was a natural moment where she was on her own, like going to the changing area or at the end of class while the partner was still outside, I'd find a private space and ask gently and openly. Something like, I noticed some bruising on your arms, and I just wanted to check you're okay and feel safe at home. I'd listen without pushing, and if she didn't want to talk I'd let her know she can always come to us. Whatever she said, I'd speak to the physio leading the class and the safeguarding team the same day. If she did disclose something, I'd be honest that I can't keep it secret if someone is at risk, but that we'd involve her in decisions where we can. Specialist staff can carry out a risk assessment and talk to her about support and options. If there are children at home, or she's at serious risk, information may need to be shared even without her agreement, and that decision would be made with the safeguarding team. I'd write factual notes in her record about what I saw and what was said, in her own words, and I'd be careful nothing went onto anything the partner might see, like a letter or text, without…

Question 13

The physiotherapist has asked you to issue a walking frame to a patient. How would you check it is the right height and that the patient can use it safely?

Accepted Answer

First I'd check the plan so I know exactly what's been prescribed, whether that's a wheeled frame, a pulpit frame or something else, and the level of help the patient needs. Choosing the type of aid is the physio's decision, so I'd stick to that. Before I give it to the patient, I'd check the frame itself. I'd look at the ferrules or wheels to make sure they're not worn, check the legs are all set to the same height and the push buttons are fully clicked in, and make sure there's no damage or sharp edges. If it's from the equipment store I'd check it's been cleaned. For the height, I'd have the patient standing as upright as they can with the frame in front of them, wearing the shoes they'll actually walk in. With their arms relaxed by their sides, the handgrips should usually come to about the crease of the wrist, so that when they hold the frame their elbows are slightly bent. If they're stooped, or they can't stand straight enough for me to measure, I'd ask the physio to check rather than guess. Then I'd teach them to use it in simple steps. Frame forward first, then the weaker leg if they have one, then the other leg, and keep the frame close rather than pushing it out too far. I'd watch them walk, check they're not leaning too far forward, and practise turning and sitting down, reaching back for the chair rather than holding the frame while they sit. Finally, I'd document what was issued and the height, and feed back to the physio if they had any difficulty.

Question 14

How do you see the physiotherapy assistant fitting into the wider ward team?

Accepted Answer

I see the physio assistant as a bit of a bridge. The physios assess and plan, but they can't be with every patient every day for as long as they'd like. A lot of the regular practice, the walking, the exercises and the repetition that actually builds strength, is done by assistants. Because of that, we often spend more time with the patient than the physio does, so we notice things. That means good communication is a big part of the job. If I see a patient is walking more steadily, I tell the physio so the plan can move on. If they're more confused than yesterday or their breathing seems worse, I tell the nurse and the physio straight away. I also think we work closely with the nursing team and healthcare assistants. If I've practised a transfer with a patient using a frame and one person, it helps if the night staff do it the same way, so the patient isn't getting mixed messages. I'd make sure the mobility information on the board or care plan was up to date and have a quick word at the nurses' station. Then there's the occupational therapists, discharge teams and doctors. We might not lead those conversations, but what I've seen in sessions can help with discharge planning, so it needs to be in the notes clearly. Families are part of the team as well, especially when they're going to support someone at home. In the end the patient gets better faster when we're all pulling the same way, so I see my job as being reliable, sharing what I notice and making it easy for others…

Physiotherapy Assistant Interview Questions & Answers

Quick answer

Free NHS interview questions and model answers

Question 1: Why do you want to work as a physiotherapy assistant?

Question 2: You are walking a patient on day one after a hip replacement. As they stand from the chair they go pale, sweaty and say they feel faint. What would you do?

Question 3: Which of the NHS values matters most to you as a physiotherapy assistant, and how have you shown it?

Question 4: What does working under delegation from a registered physiotherapist mean to you, and how would you know a task was outside your limits?

Question 5: An older patient on a medical ward tells you there is no point getting out of bed because they are only in hospital for a few days. How would you explain why moving matters?

Question 6: In an outpatient back class, a woman has bruises on her upper arms. She says she walked into a door, but her partner always waits outside and answers questions for her. What would you do?

Question 7: The physiotherapist has asked you to issue a walking frame to a patient. How would you check it is the right height and that the patient can use it safely?

Question 8: How do you see the physiotherapy assistant fitting into the wider ward team?

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About this NHS interview question bank

Physiotherapy Assistant NHS interview: frequently asked questions