How to Write a Supporting Statement for a Specialty Doctor Post (with Examples)
Specialty doctor posts are one of the most popular routes into the NHS for experienced international doctors. They are permanent, they value the experience you already have, and you do not need to be in a training programme. But because so many experienced doctors apply, the supporting statement is often what decides who gets shortlisted.
Here is how to write one that shortlisters can score easily, with example paragraphs you can learn from.
What shortlisters are looking for
A specialty doctor works at a middle-grade level. The person specification usually asks for a minimum number of years of postgraduate experience, several of them in the specialty, plus evidence that you can work with a degree of independence, supervise juniors, teach, take part in audit and quality improvement, and understand clinical governance.
Shortlisters read your statement with the person specification next to them. For each criterion they ask one question: has this doctor shown me evidence? If they cannot find it quickly, you lose the mark, even if you have the experience.
New to person specifications? Start with our guide NHS person specification explained.
A simple structure that works
Opening: who you are, your grade and years in the specialty, and why this post.
Clinical experience: the level you work at, your on-call responsibility and the skills the post asks for.
Supervision and teaching: juniors and students you have supervised and taught.
Audit and quality improvement: one project, what changed, and what you learned.
Clinical governance and patient safety: incidents, guidelines, risk.
Communication and teamwork: a short example with the multidisciplinary team.
Closing: why this Trust and how you will contribute.
Use the same order as the person specification where you can. It makes the shortlister's job easy.
Example paragraphs
These are examples to learn the style from. Never copy them. Your statement must describe your own experience, in your own words.
Clinical experience
"For the past four years I have worked as a middle-grade doctor in general psychiatry, responsible for an inpatient ward of 20 beds and the first on-call rota for the emergency department. I independently assess and manage acute presentations, including risk assessments and Mental Health Act assessments under consultant supervision, and I lead the daily ward round when the consultant is in clinic."
Teaching and supervision
"I supervise two foundation-level doctors on the ward, review their clerkings daily and give feedback. I also deliver a monthly teaching session for junior doctors and medical students on risk assessment, and I collect written feedback after each session to improve the next one. I completed a course on teaching skills for doctors to strengthen how I plan sessions and give feedback."
Course that helps: Teaching Skills for Doctors (free).
Audit and quality improvement
"I led an audit of physical health monitoring for patients starting antipsychotic medication against the local guideline. Compliance with baseline ECGs was low, so I introduced a simple admission checklist and presented the results at the departmental meeting. A re-audit three months later showed a clear improvement, and the checklist is now part of the ward's admission process."
Course that helps: Clinical Audit and Quality Improvement (free).
Clinical governance
"I report incidents through the hospital's reporting system and take part in the monthly morbidity and mortality meeting, where I presented a case review on a delayed escalation. I understand that clinical governance is about learning from what goes wrong and improving care, not about blame."
Course that helps: Clinical Governance (free).
Common mistakes
Writing a life story. Shortlisters want evidence, not your biography.
Listing duties without results. "I did ward rounds" says little. "I led the daily ward round for 20 inpatients" says a lot.
Ignoring the desirable criteria. They often decide between two good candidates.
Using the same statement for every job. Each person specification is slightly different. Match it.
Generic or AI-sounding text. Shortlisters read hundreds of statements and notice when nothing personal is in them.
Strengthen your evidence before you apply
If you are missing evidence for teaching, audit, governance or leadership, our free online CPD courses explain each topic simply and show you how to write about it in your own words. Each one ends with a verifiable certificate you can list on your CV.
Browse the free CPD courses or read our full guide on how to write an NHS supporting statement as an IMG. For more example paragraphs, see our free NHS supporting statement examples.
Want us to write it with you?
Our £35 CV Review & Rewrite Package includes a complete CV review and professional rewrite, two supporting statements for NHS posts you choose, and guidance on adapting your statement to each person specification in future. Everything is done by email. Visit our Services page or email cvreviewexperts@gmail.com. We are independent and cannot guarantee shortlisting.
Frequently asked questions
Is a specialty doctor post a training post?
No. It is a permanent, non-training middle-grade post. Many doctors use it to build experience and some later apply for training or the specialist grade.
Can I apply for a specialty doctor post as an IMG without NHS experience?
Often yes, if you meet the years of experience and other essential criteria. Check whether NHS experience is listed as essential or only desirable for each post.
Should I mention CPD courses in my supporting statement?
Yes, briefly, and always link them to what you learned or changed in your practice. The course itself matters less than how you used it.
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