NHS Band 3 supporting statement example

The supporting statement (sometimes called the personal statement) is arguably the most important part of any NHS job application. With hundreds of applicants for each job, your supporting statement is your biggest opportunity to stand out from the crowd. Some of the key considerations for this section are:

• Making it clear to the hiring manager how you meet the key parts of the person specification for the role
• Showing you understand the demands of the role and that you are aligned with the values of the organisation advertising the job
• Putting across your enthusiasm for working at the organisation you are applying for

The nhspayscales.co.uk team reviews thousands of applications each year, across a variety of different roles and specialities; we’ve used our insights to create an insider’s guide to writing a great NHS job application.

In this article, we’ve written a good (but not perfect!) supporting statement for a fictional Band 3 administrator role at Kettering General Hospital, and included some analysis about what makes it good (and where it could be improved).

NHS Band 3 administrator supporting statement example

Administrative staff are often the first point of contact for patients, and their professionalism, organisation and empathy can make a real difference to people who may feel anxious or uncertain.

At times, some of my own experiences of NHS administration have been disappointing. I have had to chase up appointments and test results, and the way that NHS services have communicated with me has been confusing. These experiences have made me reflect on the complex nature of administrative work in the NHS and motivated me to apply to this role to use my skills and enthusiasm to try and make a positive impact.

I believe I meet the core requirements outlined in the job specification for this administrator role, particularly strong organisational ability, good communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work reliably as part of a team.

In my current role working at Boots as a regional administrative assistant, I have developed experience managing emails, updating databases, handling telephone enquiries, and ensuring information is recorded accurately.

For example, I have led on compiling our month-end financial reporting for the past year. This involves managing and coordinating data from systems across 16 different local stores, checking the data thoroughly to ensure it is accurate, and liaising with colleagues from stores and head office to resolve any data quality or accuracy issues. Through improving our process for data collection and consistent communication, I have ensured that all data has been submitted complete and on time over the past 12 months. This has meant that financial forecasts can be completed accurately by head office, and reduced the amount of time in our team taken up with “chasing up” requests.

I am comfortable using Microsoft Office programmes including Outlook, Word and Excel, and I am confident learning new systems quickly; in my current role I use specialist accounting tools such as QuickBooks. I understand that Kettering General Hospital is currently making significant changes to its administrative systems, with the introduction of a new Electronic Patient Record system – which sounds like a promising development for the organisation and a great tool for improving patient care. I am excited for the opportunity to use these systems and develop my existing skills in administrative specialties I have already started to research such as patient communications and staff rostering.

I also believe I demonstrate many of the other qualities listed within the person specification:

• Communication skills: I communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues and members of the public, whether responding to emails, answering telephone enquiries or providing information in person. I am used to working under pressure (such as during month-end reporting) and maintaining a professional and approachable communication style.
• Team working: I enjoy supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive team environment. I believe my own values are aligned to Kettering General Hospital’s “one team” vision.
• Organisation and time management: I am able to manage competing priorities and remain organised when working in busy environments. In my current role I lead the management of 13 different databases, each of which involves different deadlines and milestones for completion – making it essential that I can manage my time well.
• Attention to detail and confidentiality/privacy: I check my work carefully and follow processes accurately, particularly when handling sensitive or important information. In my current role I am trusted to manage payroll information for more than 150 staff, and I have had enhanced training on data protection.

I believe now is an exciting time to be working within the NHS, with the government’s ambitious 10 Year Health Plan setting out a future for a health system that transforms care for patients. It is clear that Kettering General Hospital also shares these ambitions, with your recent strategy focusing on better use of digital technology and a more consistently good patient experience. Administrative roles like this one will play a key part in realising these goals – and I would love the opportunity to play a small but meaningful role in delivering a transformed hospital for our patients.

Strengths and weaknesses

Based on how a real NHS job application might be assessed, our team felt this application was likely to receive a good score overall for a Band 3 applicant. Some of its strengths were:

• Addressing the specific requirements of the person specification. The statement clearly explains how the candidate meets the criteria set out in the person specification, using similar language to ensure the hiring manager can make the connection back to the person specification document.
• Demonstrating the candidate has researched the organisation. Too many NHS job applications focus just on the candidate’s experiences and skills. NHS hiring managers want to see that you have researched the organisation (as well as the wider health and care system) and that you know about where you are applying for. This is a great way to show that you can use your initiative.
• Includes personal motivation for applying for the job. Everyone has their own personal connection to the NHS and their own experiences of healthcare. Hiring managers want genuinely motivated people; don’t be afraid to share some of your story in your supporting statement.

Where our hiring managers felt this application had some room for improvement was:

• Consistent use of examples and impact. Although there are a couple of really strong examples (such as around the month-end financial reporting process), some of the rest of the application does not include examples demonstrating how the candidate fits the criteria of the person specification. Saying that you are good at team working is a starting point; having an example to demonstrate this is better. Ideally, you should also try and show the impact of these examples – e.g. can you show you saved the organisation time, or improved outcomes for patients somehow?