Describe your ideal manager.
The interviewer is trying to determine your preferred style of management. In some cases, the person interviewing you could be your potential manager, and this question will help them understand if you would align well with them. Be sure you research the NHS's values and culture and, if possible, research the background and education of the person you're interviewing with.
Consider past employers and the best leader you had. Think about what traits or habits they demonstrated that made them someone you enjoyed working with. In your response, explain some of the qualities you're looking for in a leader but also mention that you're flexible and work under different management styles.
"My ideal manager genuinely cares about their employees and their success. I once had a manager who, in our regular check-ins, always started by asking how my family was, and that meant a lot. He would also ask what was going well and what wasn't and wanted to help me be successful. I also value a manager with good communication skills. I appreciate when updates and changes are communicated, and my manager follows up when they say they will."
