How long should NHS supporting information be?

Long enough to cover every essential criterion with evidence. The form sets the limit. Aim for quality over length, and don't pad.

Can I attach a CV instead?

Usually not. Many NHS applications don't accept CVs, and shortlisters score only what's on the form.

Should I mention the NHS values by name?

You can, but always back them up with an example. Use the trust's own wording for its values where it has one.

What if I don't meet an essential criterion?

Be honest. Show the closest experience you have and how you'd close the gap, but expect it to count against you at shortlisting.

How to write NHS supporting information that gets you shortlisted

Updated 30 October 2026 · 3 min read

Most NHS application forms have one big free-text box called supporting information. It's the part that decides whether you're shortlisted. It isn't a cover letter: it's where you show, with evidence, that you meet the criteria in the person specification.

How NHS shortlisting works

Every NHS job comes with a job description and a person specification. The person specification lists the criteria for the role, split into essential and desirable, and usually grouped into things like qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge, and values.

Shortlisters read your supporting information with the person specification next to them and tick off each criterion you've shown evidence for. If an essential criterion isn't covered, you're unlikely to be shortlisted, however strong the rest is. Desirable criteria then separate the strong candidates from the rest.

The NHS values

Most trusts also look for evidence of values. Many base theirs on the six values in the NHS Constitution, though trusts often use their own wording:

Working together for patients
Respect and dignity
Commitment to quality of care
Compassion
Improving lives
Everyone counts

Find the trust's own values on its website and use its wording. A short example of a value in action is worth far more than saying you share it.

How to write it

Go through the person specification in order. Shortlisters tick criteria off as they read, so make it easy for them.
Cover every essential criterion first, then as many desirable ones as you honestly can.
Use short headings that match the criteria, like "Experience of working in a clinical setting". Check the form allows it; most do.
Give evidence, not adjectives. "I supported 12 patients a shift on a busy ward" beats "I'm a hard-working team player".
Use STAR for the bigger examples. The STAR method keeps them short and focused on what you did.
Weave in the values with real moments: how you protected someone's dignity, or raised a concern about care.
Keep to the limit. NHS Jobs and other systems cap the length, so check it before you start writing.

Example · Example: one criterion, answered“Essential: Experience of providing person-centred care.”

Experience of providing person-centred care For the last 18 months I've worked as a healthcare assistant on a 28-bed elderly care ward. I get to know each patient's routine and preferences in the first hours of their stay, and record them on the ward's "about me" board so the whole team can see them. One patient with dementia became distressed at mealtimes. I learned from her daughter that she'd always eaten alone, so I arranged for her to eat in a quieter side room with the same member of staff each day. Her food intake improved, and we stopped needing to record her meals as refused.

Why it works

Heading matches the criterion word for word
Specific setting and length of experience
Shows respect, dignity and compassion without naming them

Common mistakes

Pasting in the same generic statement for every job. Person specifications differ, even for the same band.
Listing duties without saying what you did or what happened as a result.
Skipping the values, or only saying you share them.
Leaving out essential criteria because they seem obvious. If it isn't written down, it can't be scored.

Once you've written strong evidence for the criteria that come up again and again, like communication, teamwork and patient safety, save each one. Next time a person specification asks for it, you'll adapt your best version instead of starting over.

Frequently asked questions

How long should NHS supporting information be?: Long enough to cover every essential criterion with evidence. The form sets the limit. Aim for quality over length, and don't pad.
Can I attach a CV instead?: Usually not. Many NHS applications don't accept CVs, and shortlisters score only what's on the form.
Should I mention the NHS values by name?: You can, but always back them up with an example. Use the trust's own wording for its values where it has one.
What if I don't meet an essential criterion?: Be honest. Show the closest experience you have and how you'd close the gap, but expect it to count against you at shortlisting.