Resources for Consultant Interview Preparation

The following resources are designed to help aspiring ICM consultants prepare for their interviews. They cover job planning, leadership development, clinical standards (including GPICS), research/audit, and professional networking. 

1) Finding and understanding roles

• NHS Jobs – consultant‑level posts and person specifications. Review job descriptions to understand role expectations and core competencies.

• BMJ Careers – UK medical job listings plus career advice and interview tips.

   

2) ICM‑specific standards and expectations

• FICM: Appointments to Substantive Consultant ICM Posts – Faculty position on consultant appointments and safe integration into teams.
• Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS) – definitive standards for commissioning and delivering UK adult critical care services; frequently cited at interview.

• ICS Guidance Library – ICS standards/guidelines relevant to ICU practice (e.g., delirium, tracheostomy care, SE management).

   

3) Consultant job planning (principles, process, templates)

• NHS Employers: A Guide to Consultant Job Planning (2011) – foundational best‑practice guidance on objectives, PAs, annualisation, appraisal links.
• BMA: Job Planning Overview (updated 2023) – what a job plan should include (DCC/SPA split, on‑call, external duties), and how the process should work.
• FICM: Job Planning in ICM – specialty‑specific context and examples of dual job plans; links onward to BMA/NHS guidance.

Interview tip: Be ready to justify your proposed SPA allocation (education, QI, governance, research) and on‑call arrangements against local service needs and GPICS‑aligned staffing.

4) Medical Leadership and Management 

• Faculty of Medical Leadership and Managemenet (FMLM): Leadership and management skills are essential for ICM Consultants. FMLM offers guidance and resources to develop these capabilities, including workshops and online resources tailored for senior medical professionals.
  • Leadership and Management Standards: FMLM’s standards outline the behaviours and skills expected of medical leaders across four domains:
    • Self – Self-awareness, integrity, and continuous improvement
    • Team – Leading and supporting effective teams
    • Organisation – Contributing to strategic and operational goals
    • System – Driving improvement across healthcare systems
  • FMLM Courses: Explore leadership development programmes designed for senior doctors.
• NHS Leadership Academy: Edward Jenner Programme – flexible online modules that build foundational leadership skills; widely used across health and care.

Consider how you will evidence leadership impact (teamworking, service improvement, MDT collaboration) in interview stations. The Leadership Academy programmes are a recognised route to structured development. 

 

5) Research, audit, and quality improvement

• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) – funding, training, and evidence summaries to align your practice with current research; useful talking points for “evidence into practice” questions.

• UK Critical Care Research Forum (UKCCRF) – networking with researchers, trialists and allied professionals; forum content can inform your interview examples.

   

6) Interview skills & coaching (independent providers)

The Faculty does not endorse commercial providers. Examples below are for awareness only; assess value, cost, and relevance to your needs.

• Medic Footprints: offers personalised career caoching and mock interviews to prepare for consultant roles. Focuses on confidence building, answering complex clinical questions, and refining your communication style.

• BMJ Learning / Oxford Medical Training / Medibuddy / ISC Medical – generic medical interview courses and coaching services. (Use judgement; check faculty requirements in your Trust/Health Board.)

   

7) Key UK clinical guidance (frequently referenced)

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – national clinical guidelines relevant to ICM (e.g., sepsis, ventilation, sedation).

• GPICS – service standards and MDT expectations; often used by interview panels to frame questions about safe staffing, pharmacy support, and infrastructure.

   

8) Clinical governance & quality improvement

• NHS Learning Hub – e‑learning resources on governance and QI.

9) Professional networking and mentoring

• British Medical Association (BMA) – networking, mentoring and job planning resources for consultants.

   

10) Books and journals (optional reading)

• “The Consultant Interview” (Watkin & Dunlop) – practical preparation guide for interview structure and common scenarios. 

These resources are intended to support your transition into a substantive consultant role in Intensive Care Medicine. Always align preparation with local job descriptions, GPICS standards, and Trust/Health Board policies.