Podiatry

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

As part of Oxford Health NHS FT Podiatry Service to act as a qualified podiatrist with HCPC registration to provide reflective assessment, diagnosis and treatment for conditions of the foot, ankle and related structures to improve mobility, reduce pain and maintain tissue viability of patients eligible for NHS podiatry in Oxfordshire.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

BROAD OUTLINE OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

To provide specialist podiatry services. To assess, diagnose and manage the on-going primary care of patients with at risk foot health status (deficiencies in circulatory and neurological supplies and reduced tissue viability); patients at high risk of ulceration or with painful callus/corns (through assessment and the prescription/manufacture of offloading orthoses and patients with onychocryptosis and pathological toenail problems (through the use of local anesthetics and toenail surgery).

To manage an identified caseload of patients and undertake all associated communication and liaison with other health care professionals.

MAIN AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Key Task Professional

• To manage a specialist community caseload, demonstrating skills in current assessment techniques (inc use of monofilaments, ABPI, Doppler etc), treating At Risk patients (inc. wound care), carrying out nail surgery and using evidence-based MSK skills to offload the At Risk Foot.

The post holder is expected to identify the local need for podiatry services, evaluate priorities and deliver care accordingly, managing capacity and demand within contractual agreements.

To work in partnership with patients and other service users and communicate effectively to meet the needs of the recipient in maximising their understanding of information about their (foot) health. To empathetically convey potentially distressing information.

To maintain standards of professional practice through a programme of continuing professional development (CPD); identify, implement and review a personal development plan.

To work to the standards and guidelines set by the podiatry department, with specific reference to;

(i) The full and proper use of the patients record card to demonstrate active progress with treatment plans.

(ii) The active and participative management of caseloads.

(iii) The active management of waiting lists.

To work closely and effectively with other health care professionals in securing high standards of care for all patients, including

(i) Referral onward

(ii) Antibiotic cover

(i) Specialist footwear prescriptions

(ii) Recommending further tests and investigations

To supervise work with and for Foot Care Assistants and assist with their training and development.

To train/advise others (inc. students, community nurses, practice nurses, volunteers etc) in delivering appropriate foot care.

Undertake Foot Health Promotion presentations as required; in addition to incorporating advice to all registered patients as part of their treatment plan.

Key Tasks Quality

To participate and contribute to departmental quality initiatives.

To comply with and maintain an awareness of nationally set expectations and standards.

To work as required by departmental and other nationally and locally set standards.

To routinely participate in audit and participate in research as required.

Key Tasks Organisational

To record accurate information on activity in accordance with the current data capture system.

To act as clinic monitor; managing administration and operation of an allocated clinic.

Attendance at staff meetings as required.

To support the Team Leader and other staff in the organisation and delivery of the service.

To manage a caseload consistent with safe and effective patient care.

To be responsible for the cost effective and appropriate use of all supplies.

To undertake other work or duties across the whole service, as directed by the Team Leader.

To liaise closely and work effectively with job share partner (where applicable

Key Tasks - Health and Safety

To be familiar with and act in accordance of all current H&S policies.

To participate in the Trusts incident reporting system and to participate in and comply with the procedures and techniques for managing risks.

To ensure a safe environment is maintained for staff and patients, through appropriate infection control measures, including the correct handling and disposal of infected/contaminated human tissue/fluids and dressings and disposable instruments.

To be responsible for the safe handling and storage of materials as required by COSHH regulations.

To ensure that equipment is maintained in a safe and presentable manner and to report deficiencies immediately.

To attend annual mandatory training including fire awareness, CPR and manual handling lectures.

This job description outlines the roles, duties and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended to detail all specific tasks.

Key Values:

In addition to undertaking the duties as outlined above, the post holder will be expected to fully adhere to the following:

To enshrine the principles of Improving Working Lives to support staff in developing an effective work/life balance.

To ensure that all staff undergo an annual performance review in line with the Trust Policy and have an up to date Personal Development Plan.

To be responsible for own professional development and to participate in the Trust Performance Review Process.

To enshrine the principles of the NHS Code of Conduct for Managers in undertaking all aspects of your role.

Equal Opportunities/Diversity

The Oxford Health NHS FT is committed to an Equal Opportunities Policy which affirms that all staff should be afforded equality of treatment and opportunity in employment irrespective of sex, sexuality, age, marital status, ethnic origin or disability. All staff of the trust are required to observe this policy in their behaviour to their behaviour to other employees and service users.

Health & Safety

The post holder is required to take responsible care for the health & safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by their omissions at work. The post holder is also required to co-operate with the trust to ensure that statutory and departmental regulations are adhered to.

Infection Control

Infection Control is everyones responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non clinical, are required to adhere to the Trusts Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA.

All staff employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust have the following key responsibilities:

Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical areas and/or between each patient contact.

Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided for them by the Trust.

Confidentiality and Data Security

All employees are required to comply fully with the duties and responsibilities outlined in the trust Information Governance Policy. You are required to preserve the confidentiality of any information regarding patients, staff records in your area (in connection with their employment) and the trust business and this obligation shall continue in perpetuity.

You have a responsibility to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, NHS Confidentiality guidelines (e.g. Caldicott, GMC.) and any code of practice on Confidentiality and Data Protection, as accepted by the trust. Departmental codes of practice and procedures for confidentiality are available from the head of department. In addition:

To be responsible for addressing all security and confidentiality training needs of all your staff. This should be done on induction and then on an annual basis to update the staff.

Should you have any matters of concern, you are welcome to, and encouraged to, raise your concerns with your Manager/Director.

You are required to ensure that all information collected, stored and used is done so in compliance with the above Act and any relevant Trust Policy.

Personal Development

All staff are required to participate in the trust Knowledge & Skills Framework and Appraisal processes. This includes attendance at mandatory training sessions and any other supervisory session or training module which line management believes will contribute to personal and/or to team growth.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Podiatry (or diploma in Podiatric Medicine with equivalent experience)
• HCPC registration

Desirable

• Relevant postgraduate certificates or postgraduate diploma (or to be achieved within agreed timescale)

Experience

Essential

• BSc Podiatry (or diploma in Podiatric Medicine with equivalent experience)
• HCPC registration with local anaesthetic annotation
• Accurate assessment, testing and diagnosis of complex foot pathologies within the specialist eligibility criteria of the service and field of practice
• Evidence of treatment planning/patient management
• Effective communication and partnership working with patients/the general public, especially in respect of foot health education
• Working with other health care professionals ideally NHS

Desirable

• Relevant postgraduate certificates or postgraduate diploma
• Working in a multidisciplinary team
• Working within the NHS

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Professionals Limited

Address

Townlands Hospital

Oxford

RG9 2EB

Employer's website

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