Applying through Trac: writing your NHS supporting information on a Trac application form

Updated · By the Tick the Spec team

Trac is a recruitment system used by many NHS employers. You may find a job on NHS Jobs and then be sent to a Trac application form, or apply on an employer's own Trac jobs site. The form looks different from NHS Jobs, but shortlisting works the same way: the panel scores what you write against the person specification. On Trac you usually write your evidence in a single supporting information section rather than separate boxes, so structure matters even more. Follow the person specification's order, use its headings, and check any character or word limit shown on the form.

How a Trac application is usually laid out

Each employer configures its own form, so sections vary, but most Trac application forms include:

  • Personal details, right to work and contact details
  • Education, qualifications and professional registration
  • Employment history, with gaps explained
  • Supporting information (sometimes called a supporting statement)
  • References, declarations and equal opportunities monitoring

Trac lets you save your details and reuse them across applications. That saves time, but it also makes it easy to send an old supporting statement to a new job by mistake. Always rewrite the supporting information for each person specification.

Length and limits

There is no single Trac limit you can rely on: limits are set by the form and can differ between employers. If the form shows a counter, use it as your guide. If there is no visible limit, about one to two sides of A4 (very roughly 500 to 1,000 words) is a sensible range for most posts up to Band 5; senior posts with long person specifications may need more. Draft in a word processor first, keep a copy, and paste in, because sessions can time out.

A structure that suits Trac's single box

  1. Opening (two or three sentences): the post you are applying for and the most relevant thing about you.
  2. Qualifications: confirm each essential qualification and registration status.
  3. Experience, knowledge and skills: one short section per criterion, in the person specification's order. Use the criterion as a plain-text heading on its own line.
  4. Values: many trusts list their values in the advert. A short example of each value in action is more convincing than repeating the words. See how to show NHS values.
  5. Desirable criteria you meet.
  6. Close: one or two sentences, plus anything practical the advert asks you to confirm.

Rich formatting may not survive pasting, so avoid tables, bullet symbols and bold that depends on your word processor. Short paragraphs and headings on their own line work everywhere.

Worked example (fictional)

Invented applicant, trust and figures, for a Band 4 Medical Secretary post. Only two criteria are shown.

Experience of audio typing medical correspondence
For two years I have worked as a secretary to two orthopaedic consultants in an independent hospital, typing clinic letters, operation notes and discharge summaries from digital dictation. I produce around 40 letters a week, check spellings of drug names and procedures against the British National Formulary and our terminology list, and return letters to the consultant for approval within our five-working-day target.

Ability to manage a diary and prioritise a varied workload
I manage both consultants' clinic and theatre diaries. When one consultant was unexpectedly off for a week, I worked through his clinic list with the booking team, moved urgent follow-ups to his colleague's clinic with her agreement, and rebooked routine patients within three weeks, contacting each by phone. No urgent patient waited longer than planned.

For more on this role, see our medical secretary guide.

Before you submit

  • Check the job title and employer name in your supporting information match this advert.
  • Check every essential criterion assessed at application has evidence.
  • Read the AI declaration if the form has one, and answer honestly.
  • Check your employment history explains any gaps; panels and pre-employment checks look for them.
  • Make sure you have not submitted the same application twice.

Common mistakes

  • Reusing saved supporting information without tailoring it.
  • A wall of text: without headings, panels struggle to find evidence for each criterion.
  • Relying on formatting that disappears when pasted.
  • Leaving the box until last and running out of time before the closing date. NHS adverts can close early when they receive enough applications.
  • Repeating your employment history instead of giving examples.

Whatever system you apply through, the panel scores you against the person specification. Tick the Spec's free shortlisting sheet lists each criterion from the job pack and shows which ones your CV already evidences, so you can see the gaps before you start typing into Trac.

Sources

All guides