A character reference is a short, signed statement from a credible professional who knows how you behave at work—ethics, teamwork, reliability, discretion, communication—not your technical skills. In Gulf healthcare, some private hospitals and clinics ask for two professional references; one may be an employment (duties) reference and the other a character or conduct reference. It complements, but does not replace, employer references, Good Standing from your regulator, or DataFlow/PSV.
Goal: demonstrate trustworthiness and professionalism in environments where privacy, escalation discipline, and patient safety are non-negotiable.
When a character reference is requested
Late-stage hiring before contract issuance
Visa/HR onboarding alongside background checks
Unit-sensitive roles (UHNWI home-care, theatres, ICU, paediatrics, concierge medicine)
Internal transfers into leadership or charge positions
Who should (and should not) write it
Appropriate signatories
Current/most recent line manager (e.g., Nurse Manager, Medical Director, Lead Physiotherapist)
Consultant/Attending you reported to
Matron/Chief Nursing Officer or HR Business Partner who knows your conduct
Avoid: family members, personal friends, peers without authority, and personal email addresses.
What a pass-ready character reference must include
Issued on official letterhead, dated within the last 3–6 months
Full legal name as per passport (include previous names if any)
How long / in what context the referee knows you
Specific conduct signals: discretion, patient-privacy, handover & escalation discipline, teamwork, communication, reliability, punctuality, no active disciplinary findings
Referee’s name, title, department, official email & phone, signature and organisation stamp
Copy-paste templates (edit the brackets, then print on letterhead)
A) Standard Character Reference (clinical unit)
[Organisation Letterhead] [Date: DD/MM/YYYY] Re: Character reference – [Passport-exact FULL NAME] I have known [FULL NAME] in a professional capacity as [his/her/their] [line manager/consultant] in the [Unit/Department] at [Organisation], [City, Country], from [MM/YYYY] to [MM/YYYY or PRESENT]. During this time, [FULL NAME] demonstrated consistently professional conduct: respect for patient privacy and confidentiality, calm communication with patients and families, punctuality and reliability, disciplined handovers (SBAR) and timely escalation of concerns, teamwork across nursing/medical/allied teams, and adherence to infection-control and medication-safety policies. There are no known outstanding disciplinary actions. Based on my direct experience, I consider [FULL NAME] to be a trustworthy clinician who upholds our standards of safety, discretion and professionalism. Signed, [Name], [Title] [Official Email] | [Direct Phone] [Stamp/Seal]
B) Character Reference for UHNWI/Home-Care/Concierge Settings
[Organisation Letterhead] [Date] Re: Character reference – [Passport-exact FULL NAME] I supervised [FULL NAME] in settings requiring heightened discretion and professional boundaries: [home-care / VIP outpatient / theatres / ICU] at [Organisation], [City, Country], [MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY]. [FULL NAME] maintained privacy at all times, limited disclosure to clinical need-to-know, and handled sensitive information appropriately. Handover was structured and precise; escalation was timely. Interactions with security teams, families and external staff were calm, courteous and policy-aligned. I endorse [FULL NAME] for roles requiring discretion, reliability and mature judgment. Signed, [Name], [Title] [Official Email] | [Direct Phone] [Stamp/Seal]
Formatting rules that prevent HR callbacks
Keep to one page; write in neutral, policy language
Use colour PDF scans with clear stamp/signature
Ensure passport-exact name and dates align with CV and employer references
Provide official contact (no personal Gmail/Hotmail)
Save using a clean filename:
Surname_Name_CharacterReference_2025.pdf
Special cases (prepare evidence early)
Career gaps: one-line explanation in your CV; referee can confirm overall reliability during employed periods
Name changes: attach official change document; ensure all documents use the current passport name and note previous names in the letter
Closed facility/retired manager: seek a senior colleague with formal authority or HR records office to issue on letterhead
Pre-submission audit (copy/paste)
Letter on letterhead, signed, stamped, dated ≤ 6 months
Full legal name as per passport; previous names noted if relevant
Context and dates known specified; conduct signals listed
Official email & phone of referee present
CV and employer reference dates match this letter
Saved as high-quality PDF
Quick FAQs
Is a character reference the same as a Good Standing Certificate?
No. Good Standing comes from your professional regulator; a character reference comes from a manager/clinician who knows your conduct.
Can a university tutor write it?
For early-career applicants, yes—ideally a clinical educator who can speak to professional behaviour.
Do I need both employer and character references?
Many Gulf employers request two references; at least one should cover duties/dates (employment reference). The other can focus on conduct (character reference).
Will HR call my referee?
Often yes. Make sure the contact details are active and the referee expects the call/email.