Podiatry Support Assistant

NHS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Newcastle upon Tyne seeks a Podiatry Support Assistant for a part-time role (30 hours/week). This position involves supporting podiatrists in treating foot and ankle disorders, assisting patients during their visits, and managing clinic operations effectively. Ideal candidates will have minimum qualifications of 4 GCSEs including English Language and strong organizational skills. An opportunity to gain valuable experience in the clinical setting is offered.

Qualifications

• Understanding of confidentiality issues.
• Experience with computerized systems.
• Ability to manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support podiatrists in managing foot and ankle disorders.
• Assist patients in and out of clinics.
• Book and verify appointments.

Skills

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Flexibility

Education

Minimum of 4 GCSEs Level A-C including English Language

Job description

Go back The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Podiatry Support Assistant

The closing date is 29 September 2025

We would like to offer the opportunity to apply for a part time (30 hours) permanent position within the podiatry department at Newcastle Hospitals trust. The podiatry clinical support role will enable you to gain experience in the NHS, and give you a valuable insight into the varied work undertaken by the podiatry team. You will be supporting Podiatrists to manage the treatment of a range of disorders of the foot and ankle.

This opportunity would be an excellent starting position for anyone considering a future career in podiatry.

The role is primarily based in New Diabetes Centre based at the Freeman Hospital, but the department covers clinics across all of the Newcastle Hospitals sites, and community clinics. We are looking for an enthusiastic assistant to support busy podiatry clinics at the Newcastle Diabetes Centre, and occasionally community clinics. The assistant will help the Podiatrists, and the wider multi-disciplinary team to ensure clinics run safely and efficiently. Supporting patients through the clinics, helping patients into and out of clinics and removing wound dressings. Also assisting with booking appointments, ensuring stock and equipment are available and in good working order for each clinic, and assisting with documenting consultations.

• Interview Date Tuesday 14 October 2025
• 30 Hours/Week

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

This role is key to the smooth running of the department as the support required to podiatrists will vary depending on the changing needs of the service and individual patient needs.

Support and training will be provided to the successful applicant to become competent in various tasks. For example in the Diabetes centre you will be trained to support the clinician with clinical duties such as bandaging, removing plaster casts, fitting temporary footwear and record keeping in order to facilitate efficient running of clinics.

This role may also require you to occasionally assist the Podiatrist out on visits to patient7s homes and residential/nursing care homes.

Many of the patients you will be supporting are brought to the clinic by the Patient Transport Service. These patients are often elderly with poor mobility and require support into the clinics to keep them safe. A willingness to work with elderly patients is therefore desirable.

Clear communication with a range of staff and patients is essential to arrange appointments and book patient transport. You will be required to liaise with several specialities in order to co-ordinate patient care.

If you are considering applying for this role and keen to care for patients as part of a dedicated healthcare team then we would be pleased to consider your application.

If you have any questions about this role then please don't hesitate to contact the department.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospital

o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)

o Newcastle Dental Hospital

o Newcastle Fertility Centre

o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

o Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

The Podiatry Support Assistant role is varied depending on the needs of the service and may occasionally require covering clinic reception and supporting the admin office with appointment bookings. A range of IT skills and a willingness to learn new systems is essential to this role.

The assistant must be able to multi-task in a busy clinical environment and be able to facilitate the smooth running of the podiatry clinics, having the ability to work within a team but to prioritise their own work.

It is essential that the assistant has a clean driving licence and access to a car to travel to various clinics across the city on a daily basis.

Job Purpose

• To ensure the safety of podiatry patients whilst on NHS premises for podiatry.
• To give assistance to the patients, podiatrists and wider Diabetes Centre team, including Doctors, to allow the smooth and safe running of the department and clinical sessions.
• Working with a team of podiatry staff supporting the provision of foot and wound care at the Diabetes Centre.
• Provides assistance at podiatry transport clinics, ensuring the safety and security of the frail elderly people who attend.
• Provides clinical assistance to the Podiatrists undertaking complex wound care
• Deal with telephone enquiries promptly.
• To walk patients on and off ambulance and ensure their safety while on Trust premises.
• To assist patients to and from the waiting area to the podiatry chair
• To assist patients with socks / tights and shoes, and leaving clinical area.
• Communicate with patients regarding appointments at the request of podiatry staff.
• To assist clinicians after treatments are completed with appointments, samples and correspondence
• To check patients identity as they arrive by ambulance and liaise with driver and clinician to identify the most efficient order in which patients are to be seen.
• To book, and verify appointments
• To abide by Trust policies and procedures
• To be an effective part of the team contributing to the Departments objectives.
• Post holder will be expected to contribute to the housekeeping and other duties as required, e.g. general tidiness, ensuring pre-determined stock levels are met and Podiatry equipment is clean.

You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

• Minimum of 4 GCSEs Level A-C including English Language or NVQ level 2 or equivalent level qualification or relevant experience

Knowledge & Experience

• Understanding of confidentiality issues
• Good communication skills both written verbal and telephone skills
• Understanding of medical terminology
• Experience of use of computerised systems

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to be flexible and work part of a team
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to manage time effectively and work on own initiative

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.

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust