Podiatrist

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 5 podiatrist to join an autonomous and innovative team specialising in foot and lower limb pathologies. You will use clinical reasoning and develop individualised care programmes for patients with varied podiatric needs across clinical, domiciliary, hospital and community settings.

You will undertake nail surgery assessment and surgery, follow care plans, and elevate referrals when deterioration occurs.

Qualifications

• Undertake and complete the Band 5 competency programme with mentorship
• Demonstrate ability to manage podiatric problems across settings
• Use evidence-based material to assess, treat, implement and document podiatric provision
• Support and supervise healthcare assistants and junior colleagues

Responsibilities

• Assess new and existing patients with podiatric problems including systemic, vascular, neurological and dermatological conditions
• Plan and provide nail surgery assessment and surgery
• Carry out general podiatry sessions and domiciliary visits
• Develop care plans and refer on appropriately
• Coordinate multidisciplinary care and ensure timely discharge where indicated

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Team collaboration

Nail surgery knowledge

Wound management

Education

Band 5 competency programme

Tools

Nail surgery instruments

Biomechanical assessment tools

Job description

To work as part of an autonomous and innovative team specialising in foot and lower limb pathologies

To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking, analysis and reflection to support assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning and to develop and implement individualised care programmes for patients with foot pathology and medical need. This will include patients with a wide range of clinical need, including neuropathy, chronic diseases, vascular impairment and wound management.

To provide general care in a range of locations including clinical, domiciliary, hospital, nursing homes and other external settings

To commit to a philosophy of patient centred care with emphasis on patient empowerment

To work as a highly motivated team member to achieve the best patient outcome

To undertake and complete the band 5 competency programme. Mentorship and supervision will be provided to support this

To undertake nail surgery assessment and surgery

To follow care plans written by band 6 podiatrists and elevate and refer on where deterioration in the patient’s foot health, e.g. provision of wound care for stable neuropathic patients

To undertake basic biomechanical assessment and management for patients presenting with simple pathomechanical conditions, e.g. heel pain

To provide generalised clinics and domiciliary visits. To develop care plans for healthcare assistants to follow and provide support for assistant staff

To be responsible and accountable for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of new and existing patients with a wide range of podiatric problems including:

• Systemic diseases
• Vascular and neurological disorders
• Immunosuppressive disorders
• Dermatological disorders
• Chronic pathologies
• Emergency treatments
• Simple stable wound management
• Basic biomechanical conditions
• Paediatric conditions
• Nail and skin pathologies

To utilise evidence based material to assess, treat, implement, evaluate and document podiatric provision

To treat a wide range of patient groups including those with barriers to communication and vulnerable groups

To provide tailored podiatric care plans to the patients’ medical need with regular review and ability to identify where further intervention is required. To ensure timely and appropriate referral to other specialists, facilitating safe and appropriate discharge where indicated

To undertake general podiatry sessions. Duties will include:

• Assessment of new patients
• Following care plans written by specialised podiatrists
• Writing care plans for healthcare assistants to follow
• Arranging timely referral and escalation where deterioration in foot health

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"

International applications are encouraged and if successful at interview a competitive relocation support package is available. If you require any more information on the support available then please contact us to discuss further.

To be responsible and accountable for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of new and existing patients with a wide range of podiatric problems including:

• Systemic diseases
• Vascular and neurological disorders
• Immunosuppressive disorders
• Dermatological disorders
• Chronic pathologies
• Emergency treatments
• Simple stable wound management
• Basic biomechanical conditions
• Paediatric conditions
• Nail and skin pathologies

To utilise evidence based material to assess, treat, implement, evaluate and document podiatric provision

To treat a wide range of patient groups including those with barriers to communication and vulnerable groups

To provide tailored podiatric care plans to the patients’ medical need with regular review and ability to identify where further intervention is required. To ensure timely and appropriate referral to other specialists, facilitating safe and appropriate discharge where indicated

To undertake general podiatry sessions. Duties will include:

• Assessment of new patients
• Following care plans written by specialised podiatrists
• Writing care plans for healthcare assistants to follow
• Arranging timely referral and escalation where deterioration in foot health

To carry out biomechanics assessment and management for simple biomechanical conditions. Duties will include:

• The prescription, fitting and evaluation of insoles/ orthotics
• The prescription and evaluation of appropriate exercise and stretching regime

To work as a band 5 podiatrist under the line management of a band 6 specialist podiatrist, providing support and clinical guidance to healthcare assistants within the service

To undertake and complete the band 5 competency programme. Mentorship and supervision will be provided to support this

To undertake nail surgery assessment and surgery

To mentor healthcare assistants through competency programmes and training. To mentor student podiatrists on placement within the trust

To utilise the support of more senior staff in specialist areas of practice when required and clinically indicate

To support specialist caseloads at times of increased service pressures as indicated in the service BIA and resilience

To regularly attend and actively contribute to departmental team meetings, 1:1 meetings, appraisal and in service and mandatory training

To have highly developed physical skills, precision hand/ eye coordination requiring frequent concentration for prolonged periods, e.g. skilled debridement techniques

To have the necessary skills to assess and where appropriate move and handle patients who may be immobile, wheelchair or bed-bound, often in confined spaces

To plan and manage a house bound high risk caseload with responsibility for prioritising need and co-ordinate involvement of other healthcare professionals, social services, adult safeguarding and voluntary services where need is identified

To perform regular and on-going risk assessment of working environments

To actively participate in and meet the requirements of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) of continual professional development

To participate in extended hours working if required to do so.

To support other areas of the trust at times of increased pressures, e.g. NEEP 4. This may involve working in areas outside of normal working practice and job description

Demonstrate commitment to IWL principles and flexible working patterns, to meet the needs of the service and staff

Tackle discrimination and harassment, and promote equality and diversity in the workplace

Reduce sickness absence; work place accidents; and promote zero tolerance on violence against staff

Take responsibility for personal development and education and the development of a Personal Development Plan

Carry out regular appraisals for staff, ensuring business goals are clearly communicated and linked to objectives

Review training and development of all staff, so all staff have a personal development plan, and support staff in reaching their full potential as identified through the appraisal process

Control of Infection

Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene. To undertake annual training/updates in infection prevention and control.