Specialist Podiatrist

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 05 May 2025

Job summary

We are happy to accept applications from final year Podiatry students & provide a preceptorship/development post.

If you are newly qualified or have not yet achieved band 6 competencies in Diabetes and the At- Risk foot you will initially join us as a band 5 working in a development post. You will be fully supported to achieve your band 6 competencies via probation, preceptor and mentoring programmes (usually within 18-24 months of your successful recruitment.)

Please note that this post is countywide

Previous unsuccessful applicants need not apply

Interviews will be held on 12th May 2025.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for a specialised caseload involving the implementation and coordination of specialised treatment regimens involving specialist podiatric care and patient management programmes.

The post holder will have knowledge in the specialist area and possess a high level of clinical competence and clinical diagnostic skills, whilst treating a varied clientele including children with learning difficulties and anyone with limb / foot deformities which affects mobility and function.

The post holder will possess excellent communication skills and have the ability to work across professional boundaries to ensure best care for patients with specialist podiatric care needs. The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner with well-developed clinical skills and maintain a high level of knowledge and experience whilst treating complex foot problems.

And provide the highest quality of podiatric care to those patients whose feet are assessed as being "at risk" (in line with departmental guidelines). This may require the post holder to use their own judgement to alter the treatment plan to suit individual patient's needs. If problems arise beyond the scope of this post the patient must be referred to a more experienced podiatrist.

This service provides care to the patient with predominantly high risk feet.

About us

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Date posted

08 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £44,962 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

203-SS1089

Job locations

Rugby

Orchard Centre Lower Hillmorton Road

Rugby

CV21 3SR

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

To prioritise and evaluate patient referrals to the podiatry service, for their appropriateness and to identify to the principal podiatrist any deficiencies.

To be responsible for the assessment and review of patients with specialist podiatric care needs to plan and manage own caseload and that of junior staff and podiatry assistants.

To identify any concerns or training requirements of staff in specialist podiatric care to the principal podiatrist and to help develop and provide these training needs appropriately.

To develop treatment plans in consultation with the patient. This is to include exercise programmes and / or orthotic provision.

To maintain the podiatry departments policies and procedures with regards to this specialist area.

To ensure current best practice is included and updated in all clinical policies in this specialist area.

To make the principal podiatrist aware of any issues / problems regarding service delivery in this specialist area.

To assist in the monitoring of referral & treatment statistics, ensuring the service is delivered in a cost-effective efficient manner.

To act as a resource for clinicians within the department and deliver training programmes as necessary in this specialist area.

To be able to undertake a detailed podiatric assessment and, diagnose and formulate specialised treatment regimens for all patients referred and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment given.

To assist in the development of protocols for treatment of common conditions within the speciality.

To liaise with other health professionals in primary care i.e. physiotherapists, Orthotists

To be responsible for mentoring / training students, junior staff and colleagues who are on rotation / placement

General Clinical Duties

To lead Podiatry clinical sessions in accordance with SOCAP Minimum standards for clinical practice.

To cover other specialist podiatry clinics containing a wide range of patients, including: high risk diabetics, chronic neuropathy, chronic diseases i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, vascular problems, wound management / tissue viability, and terminally ill patients.

To use highly developed physical skills, precision hand eye co-ordination in safe and effective scalpel technique when debriding ulcers and callosities, involving highly unpleasant substances i.e., body fluids.

To provide care in a range of primary and secondary care settings most of which are in isolation. Often working in difficult conditions, which involve the moving and handling of patients who may be immobile, wheelchair or bed bound.

To provide nail surgery assessments and procedures under local anaesthetic with use of phenol, and re-dressings, necessitating the need for a certificate in local anaesthesia.

To be responsible for prioritising patients according to their medical and podiatric needs, into low / medium / high / urgent risk categories in order to supervise their level of care / speciality into the service.

To plan, organise and undertake a home visiting caseload and health education talks, and facilitate discharge planning of patients.

To maintain accurate records of all patient consultations and related work.

To facilitate and present the podiatry patient education talks that will influence patients attitudes and change their historical mind set towards their foot health and evaluate these sessions.

To ensure the maintenance and security of clinical stock, IT equipment, all health promotion and educational resources.

To ensure effective communication of complex information to patients and their relatives and carers to bring about a change in attitude and patient empowerment, utilising excellent negotiation and interpersonal and have the ability to deal sensitively with angry /distressed clients and diffuse potentially volatile situations. This may involve giving unwelcome news to patients or carers about the deterioration of foot pathology.

To work within infection control guidelines to ensure that therapy/treatment/care does not constitute a risk of infection either to the healthcare professional to the client or to any persons visiting/working in NHS premises. To work in clinics, which may be isolated, hospitals, residential homes, and patients homes, liaising with other health care professionals involved with the patient whenever necessary.

Professional Duties

To maintain a registration with the Health Care Professional Council.

To work within the HCPC code of conduct, SWFT. Policies and procedures, with awareness of all government NHS agendas and National Service Frameworks.

To develop and maintain further competencies in the field of Diabetes care & vascular care in the Podiatry department in developing & implementing vascular clinics within a podiatry setting.

Commitment to CPD and lifelong learning is essential in the regular attendance at recognised conferences and courses as well as mandatory training / updates and staff meetings.

To keep up to date with advances in Diabetes care/ Vascular Care and to disseminate such knowledge to other care staff and members of the podiatry department.

To attend, present at and represent the department at meetings to raise the profile and market podiatry services when required to do so.

To adhere to trust policies and procedures at all times and make suggestions and comments where appropriate.

To take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination.

To comply with the Trust policy on confidentiality, and the data protection act of 1998 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems.

To respect the confidentiality, equality, diversity and privacy of clients and staff at all time.

To participate in a Personal Development Plan with the advanced podiatrist.

To carry out personal development review of podiatrists where appropriate.

To initiate and undertake regular audit review programmes to ensure delivery of best practice.