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The interview
This guidance focuses specifically on interviews conducted as part of the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) process, however the information and advice provided may also be helpful in preparing for and navigating interviews undertaken as part of local Trust reviews or investigations by other external bodies. The aim is to help you to understand what to expect and to feel better prepared and supported throughout the process.
Interview Preparation
MNSI decide which members of the team they wish to interview. Your governance team will usually notify you if MNSI intend to speak to you about your involvement. It is usual that the interview is conducted at a mutually agreeable time. Please speak to your line manager who will support you with the time to attend at work if necessary. Interviews are usually conducted via TEAMS.
You will be asked to provide consent for the interview prior to the meeting.
You should be allowed time to review the clinical records and reflect on your involvement. Being prepared beforehand can help you process your thoughts and emotions; particularly as revisiting events may evoke an emotional response.
These interviews can be stressful, and Trusts offer debriefing or counselling. If needed, please express any concerns about the impact of the interview process on your well-being to your line manager so that steps can be taken to support you.
The Interview Environment
You can choose to be interviewed in a location that is suitable for you.
If your interview is taking place via Microsoft Teams, you are welcome to choose a location that feels comfortable and appropriate for you. If you’re at work and not in a private space, it may be helpful to display a “Do Not Disturb” sign to ensure privacy and minimise interruptions.
During your interview it may help you to:
- Have a drink nearby which will help if your mouth is dry
- Have access to the clinical records and/or any notes you made when you were preparing for the interview
- Ask someone you trust and can speak open and freely with to accompany you. For example, you may not be able to do this if you take your line manager but that depends on your relationship.
Interview Content
The interviewers from MNSI will try and make you feel relaxed, and their style of interviewing is not interrogating. MNSI will already have read the clinical records and may refer to them during the interview and you will be asked about your role in the event. MNSI will ask about other contributing factors that may have led to the event such as;
Organisational Factors – staffing, guidelines, culture.
Tools and Technology – Did you have the right equipment to be able to perform your role effectively.
Person – What were the contributing personal factors to the event. This may include asking about your training and if there were any maternal and neonatal risk factors.
Environment – What was the environment like, was it suitable, if not why.
Tasks – How you perform your clinical duties/tasks. They may enquire if there are barriers to you undertaking these and what went well.
This is because the work system can impact on patient safety and MNSI will use this to understand why the safety event occurred. Their role is to use information to understand why the patient safety event occurred and not attribute blame.
Answer the questions to the best of your ability based on your memory and the clinical records. If you need further clarity on what you are being asked, let them know and if you don’t know the answer do not worry, honesty is best.
Confidentiality and Transparency
The content of the interview is treated confidentially unless there is something that requires escalation. The interview is usually recorded so that MNSI can refer to it when compiling the report.
MNSI report
You will be provided with the opportunity to comment on the draft publication. Your governance teams will let you know when this is published and collate the comments from everyone who was interviewed by MNSI. This is your chance to challenge the content pre-publication.
Once the report is finalised your governance team will share the final copy with you. They will then develop an action plan based on safety prompts and learning identified within the report. Most Trusts also share the learning and a summary of the report with the wider team.
Visit the MNSI website for further guidance MNSI