You are working in the emergency department. A 3-year-old is brought in by his mother with a scald to both feet in a "stocking" distribution. The mother says he climbed into the bath, but the child is withdrawn and the burn pattern looks symmetrical and well-demarcated. What do you do?

Tips to guide your answer

- This tests your ability to recognise a safeguarding concern, the specific red flags for non-accidental injury (symmetrical "stocking" scalds with clear tide marks are classic for forced immersion), and your knowledge of the safeguarding pathway.

- Interviewers want to see that you prioritise the child's safety, that you know not to confront the parent aggressively (which could cause them to abscond), that you follow a structured safeguarding process, and that you treat the child's medical needs while the investigation proceeds.

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How to approach this Shared interview question

This prioritisation question is common in NHS interviews because it reveals how you think under interview pressure, not just what facts you can recall. Use "You are working in the emergency department. A 3-year-old is brought in by his mother..." as the anchor for a concise answer with a clear opening, a clinical or professional structure, and a reflective close.

What the panel is testing

A strong prioritisation answer makes risk visible. State what you would do first, what can wait, what can be delegated, and who needs to know. Panels want to hear escalation and reassessment, not just a ranked list. For shared NHS interview questions, keep the answer portable across roles. Use one relevant example, explain your reasoning, and make the link to safe patient care explicit.

Triage by acuity, time-critical risk, and what can safely be delegated or delayed.
Say who you would update, what information you need, and when you would escalate.
Keep the answer operational: document, hand over, review again, and avoid leaving hidden risk.

How to structure your answer

For a prioritisation prompt, aim for a short opening sentence, then two or three evidence-led points, then a final reflection. If you use STAR, keep the result and reflection as strong as the situation. If it is a clinical scenario, say what you would do now, what you would do next, and how you would keep the patient safe while help is coming.

Open by naming the main issue in the question.
Give a structured response rather than a memorised script.
End with escalation, documentation, learning, or follow-up.

Common mistakes to avoid

The weakest answers usually stay too vague, ignore the specific role, or miss the safety issue hidden in the question. Do not use this page to memorise a perfect paragraph. Use it to rehearse the shape of a safe answer, then adapt it to your own experience and the post you are applying for.

This tests your ability to recognise a safeguarding concern, the specific red flags for non-accidental injury (symmetrical "stocking" scalds with clear tide marks are classic for forced immersion), and your knowledge of the safeguarding pathway.
Interviewers want to see that you prioritise the child's safety, that you know not to confront the parent aggressively (which could cause them to abscond), that you follow a structured safeguarding process, and that you treat the child's medical needs while the investigation proceeds.