Why pre-screen occupational therapists before the interview
The difference between therapists shows up in the goal-setting. A generic programme delivered competently produces adherence for two weeks; a goal the patient actually wants, broken into steps that fit their home and their support, produces change. Therapists worth hiring can describe a plan they abandoned when it was not working. A short screen asks for that, alongside how families are involved.
What actually matters when screening Occupational Therapist candidates
- 01
Clinical competence
Check registration (HCPC, NBCOT or state licence) and depth with standardised tools: COPM, AMPS, MoCA, FIM. Ask which caseloads they carried: neuro, hand therapy, paediatrics, community.
- 02
Patient safety and protocol
Probe moving and handling competence, falls risk screening, pressure care, and how they document contraindications. Ask about a home visit where they judged discharge unsafe.
- 03
Patient communication
Assess how they explain fatigue management, joint protection or splint wear to patients with aphasia, dementia or low motivation, and how they set goals collaboratively.
- 04
Working in a clinical team
Look for work with physiotherapists, social workers, OT assistants and equipment suppliers; ask about MDT rounds, discharge planning meetings, and delegating to rehab support workers.
Pre-screening questions to ask Occupational Therapist candidates
12 questions grouped by what they test. Ask the same set in every screen and score answers on a consistent scale, or send them as an async video screen and compare answers side by side.
Caseload they carried
3 questions01Can you discuss your experience conducting patient assessments?
Listen forStandardised assessments used alongside observation in the patient's own environment where possible.
Assessment limited to a form, or the patient's home and routine never considered.
02How do you build treatment plans tailored to a patient's needs and abilities?
Listen forGoals agreed with the patient in their own terms, broken into steps that fit their daily life.
Plans built from assessment scores alone, or the same programme applied across a caseload.
03Do you have experience with specific patient populations?
Listen forPopulations named with the particular demands of each described, matching your service needs.
All populations claimed equally, or no experience with the group your service actually serves.
Goals the patient owns
3 questions04Have you used assistive devices in treatment, and which ones?
Listen forDevices matched to the person and their setting, with follow-up on whether they were actually used.
Equipment prescribed without follow-up, or devices recommended that the home cannot accommodate.
05What is your approach to developing home programmes for patients?
Listen forProgrammes short enough to be done daily, built around equipment and support the patient has.
Long programmes handed over on paper, or adherence assumed without ever checking.
06Can you discuss adjusting a treatment plan mid-course?
Listen forA plan changed because progress stalled, with the reasoning and the patient involved in the change.
Plans continued unchanged despite no progress, or lack of progress attributed to the patient.
Adapts when stuck
3 questions07Can you describe a challenging case and how you addressed it?
Listen forA complex case with the reasoning described, including an outcome that was only partly successful.
Only successful cases described, or complexity attributed to the patient's attitude.
08How do you handle a patient who is resistant to treatment?
Listen forReluctance explored as useful information, with goals renegotiated rather than adherence simply demanded.
Resistance treated as non-compliance, or patients discharged for lack of engagement.
09Do you have experience with patients who have chronic conditions or severe disabilities?
Listen forRealistic goal setting around maintenance and quality of life, not only functional improvement.
Success framed only as recovery, or maintenance goals treated as failure.
Family and team involved
3 questions10Are you experienced in teaching family members or carers to support patients?
Listen forCarers taught practically with their capacity considered, and technique checked before handover.
Instructions given verbally once, or carer capacity and their own health never considered.
11How do you work with other healthcare professionals on a patient's care?
Listen forActive communication with the wider team, with their contribution coordinated rather than parallel.
Working in isolation, or handovers that consist of a note in the record.
12What documentation and record-keeping are you familiar with?
Listen forRecords written contemporaneously to professional standards, including what did not go to plan.
Notes completed at the end of a week, or omissions where an outcome was poor.
How to score responses
Score every candidate on the same four criteria immediately after the screen. At this stage you are shortlisting for panel interviews, not making the final call.
Clinical competence
35%5Names specific assessments used weekly, explains scoring and how findings translated into graded activity plans and measurable functional goals.
Patient safety and protocol
30%5Describes concrete risk assessments completed, escalation to MDT or safeguarding leads, and equipment prescribed to remove a named hazard.
Patient communication
20%5Gives real examples of reframing goals around what the patient values, with evidence of improved engagement or adherence.
Working in a clinical team
15%5Cites specific handovers and joint sessions, shows they chased funding or equipment delivery to keep a discharge date.
A generic programme produces two weeks of adherence. A one-way video screen asks how goals actually get set.
Try it on HirevireScreening FAQ
Process basics
How long should a pre-screening round for this role take?
Ten to fifteen minutes across eight to ten questions, answered async. Enough to establish caseload and populations, test their assessment approach, and hear how they work with families.
What should I verify alongside the screen?
Current registration with the relevant professional body, plus any specialist training that your caseload needs. Registration status is a hard requirement rather than a preference.
Evaluating answers
What is the strongest signal when screening this role?
A treatment plan they changed mid-course. Experienced therapists describe noticing it was not working and why. Anyone whose plans always worked has not treated many complex cases.
How do I judge their goal setting?
Ask how a goal gets agreed. Real answers start from what the patient wants to be able to do. Anyone whose goals come from an assessment score alone will get poor engagement.
Go deeper on this role
Sanat has been hiring since 2012 and watching the recruitment industry change up close ever since, and turned that screening process into Hirevire's video screening platform. LinkedIn
