Apprentice Podiatrist

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the Podiatrist in the treatment of clients as required

To hold responsibility for own caseload, as delegated by an HCPC registered therapist, working without immediate supervision. This may include sessions with individual patients or group classes.

To provide rehabilitation as part of a patient-centred treatment plan, agreed and documented by the Podiatrist.

To assist the Podiatrists with challenging clients or those with complex needs who require more than one person to treat.

Instruct clients and carers, providing direction and guidance on a range of Podiatry interventions independently where directed by a Podiatrist.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with clients, relatives, and carers. This will include clients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating

Gain informed consent from the patient prior to undertaking any intervention and seek guidance from an HCPC registered therapist if there are any concerns about the patients capacity to do so.

Use skills of tact, diplomacy, and gentle persuasion to enhance patients compliance in treatment programmes.

To deal sensitively with patients, both in person and over the telephone, taking their personal circumstances into consideration and demonstrating appropriate empathy.

Continually monitor and re-assess allocated patients and report any concerns to the therapist or other appropriate health care professional.

To monitor the progress of allocated patients against identified goals, reporting back to the therapist according to agreed caseload review arrangements

Be responsible for the discharge of patients upon completion of the therapy episode of care, following discussion with an HCPC registered therapist.

To access relevant IT systems to establish or confirm client information and become proficient in the use of patient electronic record system; EMIS

To submit accurate records of sickness, lieu time, study and annual leave.

To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in reviewing and updating as required.

Represent your patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, including discussion of patient care, progress and discharge planning.

To carry out activities with moderate physical effort daily.

The job may involve the manual handling of wheelchairs, beds, hoists and furniture and the movement of equipment from one place to another, sometimes in a confined environment and working in shared treatment areas.

To always comply with Trust manual handling policy and local handling guidance.

To deal sensitively with clients who may have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, dementia, mental health issues or limited mobility.

The job involves exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular basis, e.g. bodily fluids including wound exudate, smells, smoky environments, infectious diseases and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

To keep accurate records of work undertaken in client notes

To document client contacts in line with Trust and Podiatry standards.

To occasionally be involved with departmental audits as required.

To liaise with the Podiatrist and other team members as appropriate concerning client care, highlighting any concerns about the outcome of treatment.

Assist in maintaining standards of cleanliness of treatment areas including security of equipment used.

To correctly use all Personal Protective Equipment and Security devices as instructed.

To actively participate in own development and review to identify personal development plans and training needs.

To monitor and develop own performance, aiming to achieve and maintain a high standard of practice.

To attend team meetings / podiatry governance days on a regular basis.

Maintain compliance with mandatory training as stipulated by the Trust.

Participate in Trust induction, the staff appraisal scheme and be responsible for completion of the care certificate within the specified time frames.

Engage with clinical supervision in the form of clinical reasoning sessions, peer review and case reflections.

Maintain a continuing professional development portfolio as evidence of lifelong learning.

To read, understand and adhere to Trust and departmental policies.

To ensure Health and Safety requirements are upheld, reporting accidents and near misses to your line manager andcomplying with Trust/ departmental policies regarding incident reporting.

To arrange appointments for out-patient Podiatry by telephone or letter as required.

To assist in the organisation of study days at the request of qualified staff.

To manage and prioritise own client caseload as delegated by Podiatrist.

To assist in administrative duties as required by the department.

To manage own time effectively to ensure optimum balance of all allocated duties.

Assist in ordering and monitoring stocks of equipment and other patient appliances.

To be responsible for the care of equipment, checking it is safe to use on delivery and issue, reporting faults appropriately and ensuring records are up to date.

To assist with any mail and telephone enquiries to the service and completion of any relevant paperwork.

To assist with collection of personal and service data for monthly reports as required.

To prepare and maintain equipment, identifying any defects, hazards or damage and notifying your line manager and estates where necessary.

To maintain the safety of designated clinical environment according to local policy and Health and Safety regulations.

Person Specification

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Previous healthcare experience
• Working within a team

Desirable

• oPreviously worked as a Podiatry Support Worker or within therapy

QUALIFICATIONS/ ATTAINMENTS

Essential

• GCSE Maths (grade C/4 or above) or Maths Functional Skills Level 2
• GCSE English (grade C/4 or above) or English Functional Skills Level 2

Desirable

• o NVQ level 3
• o A LEVELS including Biology

SKILLS/ KNOWLEDGE/ APTITUDE

Essential

• oGood interpersonal skills
• oGood communication skills both written and verbal
• oConfidant to work without supervision where necessary
• oIT literate

Desirable

• o Good knowledge of the Podiatry role
• o Experience of managing wounds

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential

• oApproachable
• oMaintain confidentiality
• oAble to work with distressed patients
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning
• Good personal organisational skills including time management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to use initiative / work independently

OTHER FACTORS

Essential

• oAble to work contracted hours but be flexible to meet the needs of the service
• oAble to work weekends on a rota basis

Desirable

• Full/clean UK driving licence with access to a car for work purposes

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Whinney Heys Road

Blackpool

FY3 8NR

Employer's website

https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)