Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic person to join the Gateshead Podiatry Team working with high risk patients. The successful applicant will work within Gateshead, providing care to patients in a variety of settings. This role has a focus on assessment and treatment of patients with problems such as chronic wound care, using therapeutic reasoning and clinical skills. Alongside clinical work, we are looking for someone who will be involved in service improvement and staff development.
We are looking for someone with excellent clinical and interpersonal skills. Previous experience of working in the NHS and the use of EMIS patient record systems would also be desirable. We do provide an induction and ongoing support process to ensure clinicians meet the high standards expected from this service. As this is a community post, successful applicants must have the means and ability to travel across the whole of Gateshead independently in order to fulfil the needs of this role. Please see the job description for the definitive qualifications, knowledge and skills required for this post.
Main duties of the job
To provide community based podiatry care to a diverse range of patients who are deemed clinically 'at risk and high risk' within Gateshead, assessing and reviewing patients appropriately, developing and adjusting care packages relevant to patient's needs. Care is provided in a variety of settings including clinics, patients homes, residential and nursing homes and hospital inpatients.
Service improvement and staff development are an expectation. You will work along with the service professional lead to lead and be involved in activities including attendance at meetings and MDTs, assisting in service reviews, undertaking RCAs, audits and research. Undertaking staff appraisals, peer review, competency development and training delivery will also be an expectation.
About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patient care:
- To work within the podiatry team providing foot care to patients with current foot ulceration or deemed to be at high risk of developing foot ulceration. This may be in clinics, patients homes, or in the hospital setting.
- To liaise / take part in relevant MDT meetings for those patients that require an MDT approach (including Diabetologist, Vascular consultant, Vascular Nurse, Orthopaedics etc where appropriate).
- Provide Specialist Podiatry input in the care plan of patients with ongoing wound pathology, particularly in regard to debridement, antibiotics, dressings and offloading/pressure relief.
- Apply an integrated approach to patient care in line with local and national standards.
Leadership and staff development:
- To act as a leader and role model within the team, with junior staff and peers.
- Play a key role in staff development in a specialist area i.e. by providing expertise in the management of foot-related wound care.
- To facilitate clinical rotations, supervise staff and students, mentor staff, and provide clinical support in specialist area.
- To undertake leadership responsibilities such as appraisal and clinical supervision.
- To develop wound care protocols, clinical standards and pathways relating to speciality.
- To implement and maintain competency frameworks and rotations with staff.
- To deputise for the Team Lead as required.
Service Improvement:
- Work with senior staff to steer service improvement.
- Improve staff knowledge and raise the service profile via planning and delivery of foot care education to other healthcare professionals including formalized training and ad-hoc individualized training as identified.
- To undertake appropriate audits, RCAs, research etc within the service.
- To attend appropriate meetings and develop communication networks.
- To undertake other tasks and duties within the service as required.
- You will be accountable to the Podiatry Professional Lead and will be part of a highly dedicated and efficient team devoted to delivering specialist podiatry care to a wide range of patients.
For more detailed information re the main duties and responsibilities of this post, see the attached documents.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patient care:
- To work within the podiatry team providing foot care to patients with current foot ulceration or deemed to be at high risk of developing foot ulceration. This may be in clinics, patients homes, or in the hospital setting.
- To liaise / take part in relevant MDT meetings for those patients that require an MDT approach (including Diabetologist, Vascular consultant, Vascular Nurse, Orthopaedics etc where appropriate).
- Provide Specialist Podiatry input in the care plan of patients with ongoing wound pathology, particularly in regard to debridement, antibiotics, dressings and offloading/pressure relief.
- Apply an integrated approach to patient care in line with local and national standards.
Leadership and staff development:
- To act as a leader and role model within the team, with junior staff and peers.
- Play a key role in staff development in a specialist area i.e. by providing expertise in the management of foot-related wound care.
- To facilitate clinical rotations, supervise staff and students, mentor staff, and provide clinical support in specialist area.
- To undertake leadership responsibilities such as appraisal and clinical supervision.
- To develop wound care protocols, clinical standards and pathways relating to speciality.
- To implement and maintain competency frameworks and rotations with staff.
- To deputise for the Team Lead as required.
Service Improvement:
- Work with senior staff to steer service improvement.
- Improve staff knowledge and raise the service profile via planning and delivery of foot care education to other healthcare professionals including formalized training and ad-hoc individualized training as identified.
- To undertake appropriate audits, RCAs, research etc within the service.
- To attend appropriate meetings and develop communication networks.
- To undertake other tasks and duties within the service as required.
- You will be accountable to the Podiatry Professional Lead and will be part of a highly dedicated and efficient team devoted to delivering specialist podiatry care to a wide range of patients.
For more detailed information re the main duties and responsibilities of this post, see the attached documents.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- oRegistered with HCPC
- oBSc (Hons) Podiatric Medicine
- oPostgraduate study at Masters level (or equivalent)
- oCertificate of Competency in the Use of Local Analgesia
Desirable
- oCert Ed/Teaching Certificate
- oPrescribing qualification
- oClinical supervision or mentorship qualifications
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- oAdvanced post graduate clinical experience of Diabetes and management of the high-risk foot.
- oPrescription writing for casted / non casted foot orthoses
Desirable
- oFamiliar with imaging techniques, their clinical uses, choice of technique, and views
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills
- oPresentation skills
- oExcellent organisational skills, and ability to manage own time and caseload
- oAbility to manage challenging situations in a professional manner.
- oAbility to take instruction and work effectively as part of a team.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- oProfessionalism
- oFlexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the service
- oPunctuality / good timekeeping
- oAct in a way that supports equality and diversity
- oHave forward thinking abilities and a 'can do' attitude
- oMust be a car driver / owner with a valid driving licence and insurance.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- oRegistered with HCPC
- oBSc (Hons) Podiatric Medicine
- oPostgraduate study at Masters level (or equivalent)
- oCertificate of Competency in the Use of Local Analgesia
Desirable
- oCert Ed/Teaching Certificate
- oPrescribing qualification
- oClinical supervision or mentorship qualifications
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- oAdvanced post graduate clinical experience of Diabetes and management of the high-risk foot.
- oPrescription writing for casted / non casted foot orthoses
Desirable
- oFamiliar with imaging techniques, their clinical uses, choice of technique, and views
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills
- oPresentation skills
- oExcellent organisational skills, and ability to manage own time and caseload
- oAbility to manage challenging situations in a professional manner.
- oAbility to take instruction and work effectively as part of a team.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- oProfessionalism
- oFlexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the service
- oPunctuality / good timekeeping
- oAct in a way that supports equality and diversity
- oHave forward thinking abilities and a 'can do' attitude
- oMust be a car driver / owner with a valid driving licence and insurance.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
