Job summary
Within the Foot Health department at NCH&C we have an amazing opportunity for a suitably qualified, enthusiastic individual to undertake a Podiatry degree through an apprenticeship scheme running in collaboration with the University of East London starting in September 2021.
The Apprenticeship is four years in duration and will allow you to progress into a HCPC registered Podiatrist role with NCH&C, on successful completion.
Podiatrists are registered healthcare professionals specialising in the lower limb (feet, ankles, legs), providing high quality hands on clinical care. Podiatrists work with people of all ages and provide advice, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of problems affecting the foot and lower limb.
For more information about Podiatry as a career, see:
https://cop.org.uk/become-a-podiatrist/what-is-a-podiatrist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxGLx6qwZOs
Please see Supplementary Information document for more details of this role.
Main duties of the job
The Podiatrist Apprenticeship combines full-time employment, work-based learning and academic study at Foundation Degree level (Level 5). Apprentices will work in a supported learning environment with our friendly supportive team to develop their clinical competencies and knowledge related to the role of a Podiatrist. You will be patient facing from the very start so that you can apply and develop your new knowledge and skills with increasing confidence. Your days within the clinical placement will be diverse and you can explore speciality areas that interest you the most.
As an apprentice, you will spend a minimum of 30% of your time doing off the job training. This means that you will spend time on day release at UEL (University of East London Stratford Campus) where you will attend lectures, tutorials and practical classes. The rest of your time you will spend working for NCH&C where you will put into practice what you have learnt at University.
About us
Wage: Annexe 21 pay arrangement whereby Band 5 funding will be held for this post and the candidate will receive the following salary:
Year 1: 60% of a Band 5 salary
Year 2: 65% of a Band 5 salary
Year 3: 70% of a Band 5 salary
Year 4: 75% of a Band 5 salary
Guaranteed B5 Podiatrist role on successful completion of Apprenticeship and End Point Assessment. At the end of the apprenticeship you will agree to work for the Trust for at least two years to consolidate training. If this condition is not fulfilled, the apprentice may be liable to pay back any employer related costs incurred for clinical placement activity during the apprenticeship programme as defined in the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules. As a benefit, you will leave the training programme without the usual student loans - a comparable saving of approximately £29,000 against full time entry route students. Training costs will be covered by the Apprenticeship Levy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a developmental role over 4 years in compliance with the Podiatry (Integrated Degree)
Apprenticeship standard (Ref ST0493). The post holder will work towards successful
completion of a BSc (Hons) degree in podiatry and recognition by the Health Care Professions
Council (HCPC). The post holder will be an employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care
NHS Trust The funding for the training element of this post comes from the apprenticeship
levy.
The Podiatry Apprenticeship Programme combines and integrates academic and work-based
learning through close collaboration between employers and education providers. The post
holder can expect to spend the majority of their time learning on the job, with the remainder off
the job. Whilst undertaking this training the post-holder will work within the service as a
Podiatry Apprentice, where the role will reflect current learning and experience.
The post-holder will work in a variety of clinical/healthcare settings, enabling them to develop
and maintain relevant knowledge, skills and competencies in order to fulfil the requirements of
the BSc (Hons) Podiatry programme.
The academic part of the training will be provided by the University of London (UEL) where the
following modules will be undertaken:
Professional practice and mental health
- Anatomy and physiology
- Podiatric practice, pathology, pharmacology,
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) assessment and management
- Clinical reasoning and research methods
Key areas of practice-based learning for Podiatry students include:
Problems related to endocrine & rheumatological function
Problems related to MSK function and sporting activities
Problems related to neurological function
Problems related to dermatological function
Problems that require nail surgery
Job description
Job responsibilities
This is a developmental role over 4 years in compliance with the Podiatry (Integrated Degree)
Apprenticeship standard (Ref ST0493). The post holder will work towards successful
completion of a BSc (Hons) degree in podiatry and recognition by the Health Care Professions
Council (HCPC). The post holder will be an employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care
NHS Trust The funding for the training element of this post comes from the apprenticeship
levy.
The Podiatry Apprenticeship Programme combines and integrates academic and work-based
learning through close collaboration between employers and education providers. The post
holder can expect to spend the majority of their time learning on the job, with the remainder off
the job. Whilst undertaking this training the post-holder will work within the service as a
Podiatry Apprentice, where the role will reflect current learning and experience.
The post-holder will work in a variety of clinical/healthcare settings, enabling them to develop
and maintain relevant knowledge, skills and competencies in order to fulfil the requirements of
the BSc (Hons) Podiatry programme.
The academic part of the training will be provided by the University of London (UEL) where the
following modules will be undertaken:
Professional practice and mental health
- Anatomy and physiology
- Podiatric practice, pathology, pharmacology,
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) assessment and management
- Clinical reasoning and research methods
Key areas of practice-based learning for Podiatry students include:
Problems related to endocrine & rheumatological function
Problems related to MSK function and sporting activities
Problems related to neurological function
Problems related to dermatological function
Problems that require nail surgery
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above, or Level 2 Functional Skills English and Maths
- 120 UCAS points including: Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits overall (including 45 level 3 credits at Distinction which must include Biology and Chemistry) or three A levels (BBB) which must include Biology and Chemistry
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Clear understanding of profession / role
Desirable
- Previous experience in a healthcare role
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Linked to Level 4 / 5 / 6 of academic learning
- Able to convey tasks and actions to colleagues and service users.
- Ability to assist patients to achieve safe working environments for treatments to be carried out.
- Ability to perform treatments in a variety of settings such as clinics, residential homes, patients own homes and nursing care sites.
- Fine motor dexterity which will become more advanced throughout the apprenticeship to enable use of fine instruments in podiatry treatment
- Sufficient keyboard skills for data input and letter writing and ability to use MS office or similar internet and email
- Ability to use patient information systems to input data and clinical treatment.
- Ability to plan, organise and coordinate work under own initiative, be flexible and prioritise competing demands for attention to provide best care available to patients in case which may involve changing plans where necessary.
- Ability to drive, access to own transport, current driving license, transporting equipment required for patient care and education sessions in and out of a car.
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills in written and verbal English Language
- Confident, articulate and able to tailor and judge communication according to situation
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate, caring and empathetic. Considerate of an individual's needs.
- Polite, courteous and friendly.
- Team player
- Curious. Questions appropriately.
- Able to problem solve and be mentally agile
- High standards of professional ethics and behaviors
Other
Essential
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Podiatrist and Podiatry Assistant / Technician in context of the team
- Ability to develop & maintain positive working relationships with professionals and nonprofessional colleagues & clients
- Ability to hear distressing news from patients when discussing treatment plans and during consultations when patients share their life experiences
- Ability to empathise and sympathise with a diverse range of people remaining professional at all times.
- Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to reflect and evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
- Ability to develop skills needed to provide direct patient care, with frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions (ulcer debridement, tissue breakdown and body fluids, dusts and adhesives)
- The post holder will need to be passed fit to perform full duties of the post through occupational health with any reasonable aids and adaptations if necessary.
Desirable
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Podiatrist and Podiatry Assistant / Technician in context of the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above, or Level 2 Functional Skills English and Maths
- 120 UCAS points including: Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits overall (including 45 level 3 credits at Distinction which must include Biology and Chemistry) or three A levels (BBB) which must include Biology and Chemistry
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Clear understanding of profession / role
Desirable
- Previous experience in a healthcare role
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Linked to Level 4 / 5 / 6 of academic learning
- Able to convey tasks and actions to colleagues and service users.
- Ability to assist patients to achieve safe working environments for treatments to be carried out.
- Ability to perform treatments in a variety of settings such as clinics, residential homes, patients own homes and nursing care sites.
- Fine motor dexterity which will become more advanced throughout the apprenticeship to enable use of fine instruments in podiatry treatment
- Sufficient keyboard skills for data input and letter writing and ability to use MS office or similar internet and email
- Ability to use patient information systems to input data and clinical treatment.
- Ability to plan, organise and coordinate work under own initiative, be flexible and prioritise competing demands for attention to provide best care available to patients in case which may involve changing plans where necessary.
- Ability to drive, access to own transport, current driving license, transporting equipment required for patient care and education sessions in and out of a car.
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills in written and verbal English Language
- Confident, articulate and able to tailor and judge communication according to situation
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate, caring and empathetic. Considerate of an individual's needs.
- Polite, courteous and friendly.
- Team player
- Curious. Questions appropriately.
- Able to problem solve and be mentally agile
- High standards of professional ethics and behaviors
Other
Essential
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Podiatrist and Podiatry Assistant / Technician in context of the team
- Ability to develop & maintain positive working relationships with professionals and nonprofessional colleagues & clients
- Ability to hear distressing news from patients when discussing treatment plans and during consultations when patients share their life experiences
- Ability to empathise and sympathise with a diverse range of people remaining professional at all times.
- Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to reflect and evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
- Ability to develop skills needed to provide direct patient care, with frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions (ulcer debridement, tissue breakdown and body fluids, dusts and adhesives)
- The post holder will need to be passed fit to perform full duties of the post through occupational health with any reasonable aids and adaptations if necessary.
Desirable
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Podiatrist and Podiatry Assistant / Technician in context of the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
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).
Additional information
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).
