This lesson provides a practical overview of how the NHS is organised, because interview panels occasionally test your understanding of the broader system. More importantly, understanding the structure helps you give more sophisticated answers to questions about service improvement, governance, and “why this trust.”
Key organisations: NHS England (national commissioning and oversight), Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) replacing the old CCGs, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts (hospital providers), CQC (Care Quality Commission — the independent regulator that inspects and rates trusts), NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence — clinical guidelines and technology appraisals), GMC (professional regulation of doctors).
CQC ratings: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate. Know the rating of the trust you are interviewing at — this is basic preparation. If the trust is rated “Requires Improvement,” be prepared to discuss how you might contribute to improvement efforts, not to criticise.
Trust values: Every NHS trust has its own set of values (usually 4–6), published on their website. These are different from the national NHS Constitution values. Before any interview, memorise the trust’s specific values and prepare examples of how you demonstrate them.