How much help does Lee want?
You are a support worker at Alderbank, a fictional adult support service in England.
The question
Lee asks for help finding a book on the community centre tablet. He has time to use it. Tamsin is the shift lead and can update any preference Lee asks the team to remember.
- Support noteAsk me one short question at a time and give me time to answer.
“Say how you would find out what Lee wants and how you would help.”
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A strong answer, step by step
Open each step in turn. This is one strong answer, not the only one.
Step 1: What would you ask first?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Begin the search for him.
Tempting, but it misses something. You have yet to check what part he wants to do.
Ask Lee one short question and wait for his answer.
The strong move. It uses the preference in the note and keeps the decision with Lee.
Ask another person what Lee usually needs.
Tempting, but it misses something. Lee can answer this question directly.
See how a strong candidate says it
“Which part would you like help with, Lee?”
Why it works: The request tells you he wants some help. Lee can tell you which part.
Step 2: What help can you offer?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Offer to show one search or do the search together.
The strong move. Both choices match the task and give Lee control of the help.
Offer to take over so the search is quicker.
Tempting, but it misses something. The brief gives Lee time. Speed does not tell you which help he wants.
Read every step aloud before asking.
Tempting, but it misses something. That adds information before you know what help he wants.
See how a strong candidate says it
“Would you like me to show one search, or would you like us to do the search together?”
Why it works: Two clear options help Lee say how much help he wants. He can ask for something different.
Step 3: What do you do after the example?
Lee says, “Show me once, then I want to tap it myself.”
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Finish the search while you have the tablet.
Tempting, but it misses something. Lee asked to do that part himself.
Show the whole task a second time.
Tempting, but it misses something. Lee asked to see it once. He can request more help if he wants it.
Show one search and give Lee the tablet.
The strong move. This follows the amount of help he asked for.
See how a strong candidate says it
“I’d show one search, then give Lee the tablet so he can tap it himself. I’d wait to see what he wants next.”
Why it works: Lee has asked for one demonstration and said which part he wants to do.
Step 4: What do you check with Lee?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Ask about more help and check what Lee wants the team to remember.
The strong move. It keeps his choice current and gives any note change to the lead.
Tell the team Lee always wants one demonstration.
Tempting, but it misses something. He made one choice for this search. He has yet to ask for a standing note.
See how a strong candidate says it
“Is there anything else you’d like help with? If there’s something you want the team to remember for next time, I can tell Tamsin.”
Why it works: Lee decides whether he wants more help or wants the team to remember a preference.
The answer, in short
- Decision
- Show one search and return the tablet to Lee.
- Because
- Lee has said which part he wants to do himself.
- What would change it
- If Lee asks for more help, check what he wants before giving it.
Common traps
- Assume you know how much help someone wants.
- Turn one choice into a standing instruction.
Check your answer
- I spoke directly to Lee.
- I made the options clear.
- I followed the amount of help he asked for.
- I checked before asking the lead to change a note.
Last reviewed Nov 11, 2026