Adult Social Worker Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Before your Adult Social Worker interview, it helps to see the questions from the interviewer's side. We have picked eight from our set of 16 and added the reason each one gets asked.

Eight Adult Social Worker interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. How do you carry out a best interests decision under the Mental Capacity Act when someone lacks capacity?

Why they ask: Capacity and best interests are everyday decisions for an adult social worker.

2. What is the strengths-based approach in adult social care and how does it change your practice?

Why they ask: Strengths-based working is now the expected approach and many councils use the Three Conversations model.

3. How do you manage a safe and timely hospital discharge for an older person?

Why they ask: Hospital social work and discharge work are core to adults' teams.

4. What are the Liberty Protection Safeguards plans and what do you do now about deprivations of liberty?

Why they ask: They test whether you know current law and apply DoLS properly.

5. An older woman with mild dementia is being coerced by her grandson to give him large sums of money, but she insists she wants to help him. What do you do?

Why they ask: Tests balancing capacity, autonomy and financial abuse.

6. How does NHS Continuing Healthcare work, and what is your role as a social worker in the process?

Why they ask: CHC decisions affect funding and disputes are common.

7. Tell me about a time you worked with someone whose views differed from their family's and how you made sure their voice was heard.

Why they ask: Person-centred advocacy is core to adult social work.

8. What do you think are the most important qualities of an adult social worker, and what keeps you motivated?

Why they ask: They want to understand your values and resilience.

A sample answer to question 1

How do you carry out a best interests decision under the Mental Capacity Act when someone lacks capacity?

I start by confirming a decision-specific capacity assessment has been properly done, using the two-stage test: is there an impairment of mind or brain, and does it mean the person cannot understand, retain, weigh or communicate the decision. I presume capacity and take all practicable steps to support it first. If they lack capacity, I identify the decision-maker, which might be me, and consult widely: the person themselves, family, attorneys, advocates such as an IMCA where there is no one appropriate, and professionals. I consider their past and present wishes, values and beliefs, and weigh the options, looking for the least restrictive one, as section 4 and section 1(6) of the Act require. I record each step, who I consulted, the options and my rationale, so it is defensible. If there is serious disagreement or a significant deprivation of liberty, I would take it to my manager and consider an application to the Court of Protection.

Common mistake to avoid: Treating an unwise decision as lack of capacity; skipping the consultation record

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 16 questions are on the Adult Social Worker interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.