An FtP mentor is someone with experience of the Fitness to Practise process who helps you understand each stage, organise your evidence, get feedback on your reflection and cope with the stress. A mentor is not a lawyer and cannot guarantee an outcome, but structured support can help you engage well and present your insight clearly.
Key takeaways
- Mentoring is practical and emotional support, not legal advice.
- A mentor can give honest feedback on reflective statements and evidence.
- Preparation and composure help you present insight clearly.
- Use mentoring alongside union or legal representation, not instead of it.
Facing an NMC case alone is hard. A mentor who understands the process brings practical guidance and reassurance. It is worth being clear, though, about what mentoring is and is not, so you can use it well.
What does a Fitness to Practise mentor do?
A mentor helps you understand what is happening at each stage, plan what evidence to gather, and reflect honestly on the concern. Good mentoring is structured: regular sessions, clear actions, and feedback that is kind but candid.
- Explaining each stage in plain language and what decision-makers are looking for.
- Giving feedback on drafts of your reflective statement.
- Helping you identify targeted learning that relates to the concern.
- Helping you prepare for questions at a hearing or review.
- Being a steady voice when the process feels overwhelming.
What can a mentor not do?
A mentor is not a solicitor or barrister and cannot give legal advice, advise you on how to plead to charges, or represent you. A mentor cannot guarantee any outcome. And a mentor should never write your reflection for you: it has to be your own understanding, in your own words.
You do not have to face the process alone.
How does mentoring help with reflection?
Many registrants find their first draft reflective statement is either defensive or overly apologetic. A mentor can help you move from describing events to showing insight: what you understand about the impact, what you have done about it, and how your practice has changed.
See how to structure an NMC reflective statement for the framework mentors often work from.
How does mentoring help with wellbeing?
An NMC case can last many months. Talking regularly with someone who understands the process can make the uncertainty easier to live with, and helps you stay engaged rather than avoiding letters and deadlines. Being calmer also helps you present yourself clearly at a hearing.
Can a mentor come to my hearing?
You can usually bring someone for support, but whether they can sit with you, and in what capacity, depends on the hearing arrangements. Ask the hearings coordinator in advance. A supporter is not the same as a representative and does not address the panel on your behalf.
What should I look for in a mentor?
- Direct experience of the NMC Fitness to Practise process.
- Clarity about what they do and do not offer, including that they are not lawyers.
- Confidentiality.
- Honest feedback, not just reassurance.
- No promises about outcomes.
Our 1:1 mentorship is confidential and led by people with lived experience of Fitness to Practise; we have mentored more than 500 nurses and midwives and supported more than 50 hearings. It works alongside, not instead of, advice from your union or a regulatory solicitor (see do I need a solicitor?). You can read about our team or pair mentoring with the Rebuilding Confidence course.
Frequently asked questions
An FtP mentor explains the process, helps you plan evidence, gives feedback on reflection and supports your wellbeing. They do not give legal advice.
You can usually bring someone for support; check the arrangements with the hearings coordinator in advance. A supporter does not represent you.
They do different jobs. A solicitor gives legal advice and representation; a mentor supports reflection, preparation and wellbeing. Many registrants use both.
Our mentoring is confidential. Ask any mentor you consider how they handle your information.
