The NMC's context form lets you explain anything that contributed to the concerns: what was happening at the time, factors outside your control and how you escalated them, contributing factors, whistleblowing, and personal factors such as health. Keep it factual and professional, acknowledge your own part, show what you have learned, and take advice before you submit it.
Key takeaways
- Context helps the NMC judge risk and the likely outcome accurately.
- Stay factual: explain what happened and how you escalated it, without shifting blame.
- Tell the NMC if you are a whistleblower and what you raised.
- Context is not an excuse: acknowledge where you went wrong and what you would do differently.
Early on in your referral you will usually be asked to complete a context form. It is your chance to explain anything you feel contributed to the referral and the situation you found yourself in. The NMC uses it to assess accurately whether there is a risk to the public that needs further investigation, and what the likely outcome might be if it does investigate.
What context should I include?
1. What was happening at the time
Explain the situation clearly: workload, patient acuity, the environment, urgency, or anything else that influenced what happened. Keep it factual, not defensive.
2. Anything outside your control
Shift patterns, poor staffing levels, staff sickness, your health, lack of training or lack of access to the right equipment. The NMC will want to know how you escalated these things, not just that they existed. This helps them assess your professional judgement.
3. Contributing factors
This can include pressure, bullying, communication issues, lack of experience or unclear guidance. Was there anything unusual that made the situation worse? Be careful not to shift blame, and acknowledge your own role.
4. Whistleblowing
If you were referred by your employer and you had raised concerns, make sure the NMC knows. Set out clearly what you raised, why it mattered (for example the impact on patient safety) and what the impact on you was.
5. About you
Was there anything about your health that may have contributed? Do you have protected characteristics that affected your actions, or meant you didn't get the right support? Were things happening at home that affected your concentration, such as lack of sleep, relationship problems or domestic abuse?
Context is not an excuse
Context is important, but it doesn't excuse poor care. You still need to acknowledge where you went wrong, even if some things were outside your control. Reflection is a core part of giving context well.
Learning from missed opportunities
Perhaps you didn't raise concerns at the time, but since your referral you can see that you should have. Saying so, and explaining what you would do now, can show the NMC strong insight and a commitment to improving your practice.
Looking forward
Even with the context explained, show the NMC what you have learned, what you will do differently and how you will reduce the risk of it happening again. It is unrealistic to say you will never work in that situation again; what the NMC wants to see is that if the same issue arises, you are better prepared for it.
Context can be a really valuable addition to your case, but make sure it is logical, clear and professional, and seek advice before you submit it.
The biggest mistake we see is people rushing to tell everything, every tiny detail of every event, without thinking about the consequences. Talk it through first with someone who understands the process, such as your representative.
Use our NMC context form planner to organise your thoughts before you write, and keep a timeline of events alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
Not if it is factual and you acknowledge your own part. Context explains; it should not excuse or blame.
The NMC regulates individual registrants and decides what to investigate. Focus on explaining your situation accurately rather than on what happens to others.
No, but it often helps the NMC assess your case accurately. Take advice on what to include.
You can dispute facts and still show you understand why the concern matters, how it relates to the Code and what good practice looks like.
