Podiatry Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

CPD opportunities

Staff benefits

Job summary

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an entry-level Podiatry support post in the Newcastle Podiatry department. Core duties include basic foot care under podiatrists' direction, annual diabetic foot screening, and wound care across hospital, community and home settings.

You will travel by car between clinics, care homes and patients’ homes, supporting teams to run clinics smoothly and progress via a possible degree apprenticeship.

Qualifications

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organisation skills.
• Good typing and IT skills, including electronic patient record and booking systems.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Manual dexterity.
• Skills in managing non-compliance and occasional confrontation.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic foot care to patients under the direction of podiatrists.
• Carry out annual diabetic and other foot screening assessments following the Newcastle foot care pathway.
• Assist with foot and wound care, including removing and redressing wounds.
• Deliver foot and wound care across Diabetes Centre, outpatient clinics, wards, community clinics and domiciliary settings.
• Support podiatrists, the Diabetes Centre, inpatient and vascular teams, and doctors so clinics and sessions run smoothly and safely.
• Run own community clinics and visit patients in care homes or their own homes.
• Manage own domiciliary caseload.
• Travel between clinics, care homes and patients' homes by car.
• Be trained to manage some basic foot problems.
• Keep patient records and carry out organisational administration.
• Maintain clinical equipment and prepare clinical areas in line with infection control guidelines.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisation

IT skills

Teamwork

Manual dexterity

Managing non-compliance

Education

NVQ 3 or A levels or equivalent

Tools

Electronic patient records

Job description

A support post in the Newcastle Podiatry department at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for candidates starting out in podiatry. Core work is basic foot care under podiatrists' direction, annual diabetic foot screening and wound care across hospital, community and home settings. It stands out for car-based travel to clinics, care homes and a personal domiciliary caseload, with a possible route to a degree apprenticeship. Agencies are not considered; applications are made through Trac.

What the job involves

• Provide basic foot care to patients under the direction of podiatrists
• Carry out annual diabetic and other foot screening assessments following the Newcastle foot care pathway
• Assist with foot and wound care, including removing and redressing wounds
• Deliver foot and wound care across the Diabetes Centre, outpatient clinics, wards, community clinics and domiciliary settings
• Support podiatrists, the Diabetes Centre, inpatient and vascular teams, and doctors so clinics and sessions run smoothly and safely
• Run own community clinics and visit patients in care homes or their own homes
• Manage own domiciliary caseload
• Travel between clinics, care homes and patients' homes by car
• Be trained to manage some basic foot problems
• Keep patient records and carry out organisational administration
• Maintain clinical equipment and prepare clinical areas in line with infection control guidelines

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or A levels or equivalent qualification or experience

Experience

• Experience and aptitude for working in a healthcare or caring setting
• Experience of working under pressure and responding to change
• Aptitude for working with older people

Skills & knowledge

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Good organisation skills
• Good typing and IT skills, including electronic patient record and booking systems
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Manual dexterity
• Skills in managing non-compliance and occasional confrontation

Checks & eligibility

• Current clean driving licence
• Willingness to use a car for work

Nice to have

• College of Podiatry training certificate and/or CACHE apprenticeship, or willingness to work towards one
• First aid training
• Health promotion certificate
• Evidence of CPD portfolio or self-directed learning
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of using computerised systems
• Awareness of the ageing process and human biology
• Knowledge of departmental, Trust and NHS policies and procedures

What’s offered

• Flexible working, with arrangements discussed with the successful candidate
• Possible progression to a degree apprenticeship in conjunction with a national school of podiatry or university
• Training and CPD opportunities
• Staff benefits offered by the Trust