Worked Examples: Witnessing Unprofessional Behaviour by a Colleague

Witnessing a colleague behave unprofessionally is one of the most uncomfortable SJT scenarios — and one of the most commonly tested. These questions assess whether you understand your duty to uphold professional standards, even when it means having a difficult conversation or raising a formal concern.

This lesson works through detailed scenarios involving different types of unprofessional behaviour.

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The Core Framework

When you witness unprofessional behaviour, the SJT expects you to consider:

Factor	Question to ask
Severity	How serious is the behaviour? Does it affect patient safety?
Immediacy	Does someone need to act right now to prevent harm?
Pattern	Is this a one-off lapse or a recurring pattern?
Your relationship	Are they a peer, a junior, or a senior?
Setting	Did this happen in front of patients, staff, or privately?