Plot made to work, nurtured by criminal's patient approach? (7,6)
I believe the answer is:
bedside manner
'patient approach?' is the definition.
(a doctor's approach when dealing with a patient)
'plot made to work nurtured by criminal's' is the wordplay.
'plot' becomes 'bed' (bed is a kind of plot).
'to work' is an anagram indicator (letters worked into a new order).
'nurtured by' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are held or nurtured).
'criminal' becomes 'sinner' (someone who has done bad deeds).
'made' with letters rearranged gives 'dema'.
'dema' inserted into 'sinner' is 'sidemanner'.
'bed'+'sidemanner'='BEDSIDE MANNER'
(Other definitions for bedside manner that I've seen before include "Doctor's demeanour with patient" , "Doctor's way with patients" , "9 bearing" , "Doctor's people skills?" , "Doctor's approach or attitude to a patient" .)