Senior Community Podiatrist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A community healthcare provider in Barnsley is seeking a Senior Community Podiatrist to manage complex patient care across various podiatric sub-specialties. The role includes responsibilities in High-Risk Foot care, biomechanics, and minor surgery. Candidates should have substantial experience, a degree in Podiatric Medicine, and must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The position offers opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a significant impact in community health care.

Benefits

Regular one-to-one supervision

Personalized development plan

Annual CPD funding

Dedicated S.P.A.R.E time for supporting professional activities

Qualifications

• Experience working at a band 5 level or above in a community setting.
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively.
• Experience assessing and managing a wide range of patients.

Responsibilities

• Assess, treat, diagnose, and manage all triaged patients.
• Support patients in High-Risk Foot care with complex needs.
• Rotate through minor surgery suite and perform nail surgeries.

Skills

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Clinical reasoning

Time management

Education

BSc Degree in Podiatric Medicine

Health and Care Professions Council Registered

Certificate of Local Anaesthesia

Membership to appropriate governing body

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Senior Community Podiatrist

The closing date is 18 December 2025

Our Podiatry team is embracing change – and we're looking for a Senior Community Podiatrist (Band 6) who shares our passion for delivering outstanding care to the people we serve.

We believe that diversity of ideas, experiences and perspectives makes us stronger, and we welcome individuals who bring creativity, curiosity, and fresh thinking to our service.

As a Senior Community Podiatrist, you'll work across all areas of our service, including Nail Surgery, High Risk Foot, Biomechanics/MSK, and Core Podiatry. Our intention is to allow you to discover all aspects of our autonomous profession and to be in control of building your career.

You'll receive regular one‑to‑one supervision, a personalised development plan, access to annual CPD funding, opportunities to undertake Masters modules such as Non‑Medical Prescribing, and be given the newly created, dedicated S.P.A.R.E time for supporting professional activities.

If you'd like to learn more about our team, arrange an informal chat, or visit us, we'd love to hear from you.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to our team.

Interviews will take place on: 13th January 2026

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 to protect patients.

Main duties of the job

We're proud of our history, and today our team is shaping the service for modern needs and the future. We don't expect you to arrive ready on day one. With coaching, mentoring, and ongoing development, you'll grow into a confident, capable Senior Community Podiatrist with the freedom and support to work across all areas of practice.

In MSK and Biomechanics you will develop hands‑on skills in our own manufacturing facility, creating custom and semi‑custom orthoses. Advanced clinicians in biomechanics, paediatrics, and adult therapy will guide your learning and help arrange investigations such as X‑rays or ultrasound when needed.

In High‑Risk Foot care, you will support patients with complex needs, working toward PGD training so you can supply prescription‑only medicines. Our advanced clinicians experienced non‑medical prescribers will train and support you as you progress toward independent prescribing.

You will rotate through our dedicated minor surgery suite, performing nail surgery and assessing suitability for procedures.

Our Core Podiatry service uses clear inclusion criteria, focusing care on those who genuinely need it. We are moving toward a more preventative model, freeing clinicians to use their full podiatric skill set.

We are not perfect, and we do not pretend to be. We are working toward something better through trial, error, collaboration, and growth. When we get there, we hope you'll feel real purpose and pride in what we've built together.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a Foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To act as a senior community podiatrist within the community setting of Barnsley. This senior community podiatrist role is designed to assess, treat, diagnose, manage and discharge all appropriately triaged patients across all sub‑specialities of Podiatry which include Wound Care, MSK/Biomechanics, Nail Surgery and Core Podiatry.

To work as an autonomous podiatrist, working collaboratively with other members of the Podiatric and wider NHS community services to deliver and sustain high‑quality care, against national standards and frameworks.

To assist and work alongside other advanced clinical podiatrists of all sub‑specialities, in planning, developing and implementation of podiatry care strategies in line with national and local targets, guidelines and frameworks.

To actively engage and participate in clinical supervision, appraisals, student supervision and teaching.

To participate in evidence‑based research opportunities, deemed appropriate for the role.

KEY RESULT AREAS

The postholder will:

• Comply with the Royal College of Podiatry and the Health Care Professions Council code of ethics and professional conduct and adhere to national and local policies and procedures.
• Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients with complex needs.
• Discharge a duty of care specific to each patient, relevant to their medical, social and ethical needs and requirements.
• Conduct assessments of patients as an autonomous practitioner, using clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence‑based practice, and specialised podiatric expertise to determine appropriate care plans.
• Provide clinical interventions to patients for the management of common, multi‑factorial, lower limb pathologies across clinical and domiciliary settings.
• Exercise podiatric skills and knowledge in the care of the patient with a lower limb active pathology across all sub‑specialities of Podiatry.
• Undertake appropriate core podiatry treatment according to the Trust inclusion criteria.
• Undertake assessment and treatment of high‑risk wounds deemed appropriate for the role.
• Undertake assessment and treatment of MSK/Biomechanical pathologies, including assessment, provision and/or manufacturing of orthotic devices.
• Undertake assessment and treatment of patients requiring nail surgery, obtaining informed written consent in line with the trust‑approved guidelines.
• Access prescription‑only medication via appropriate legal avenues such as GP, PGD or POM‑A/S, in line with Trust policy.
• Organise supporting interventions and liaise regularly with other professions, including specialist nurses, consultant AHPs and medics, orthotic appliances, and primary‑care clinical staff.
• Manage conditions using specialist clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflection, and analysis to support assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, referring appropriately for specialist care such as Diabetology, Vascular, Orthopaedic and podiatric surgical intervention.
• Communicate all necessary information, providing specialist knowledge efficiently and effectively with colleagues, carers and patients.
• Develop, create and deliver specialised teaching to peers, podiatry staff and students.
• Participate in education and development of health‑care professionals from other disciplines.
• Attend delegated and post‑appropriation meetings as a representative of the Podiatry and Foot Protection Service, promoting its values, culture and ethos.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management relevant to the role.
• Participate in strategic and operational planning, policy implementation and service development within a designated service.
• Monitor efficacy of specialist patient services using clinical audit and implement changes where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate written records in line with legal and Trust requirements, including timely diagnoses, progress and discharge reports.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive professional podiatric records for all direct and indirect patient contact, in line with Trust policy and HCPC and professional standards.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers and other professionals using appropriate and flexible communication skills, such as motivation, negotiation, explanation and persuasion.

Maintain confidentiality consistent with Trust policy.

Collaborate with associated specialists within either a hospital or community setting and participate in training, workshops, and seminars within the multidisciplinary team.

To be aware of up to date evidence‑based practice in the specialist area by use of relevant reading, attendance at in‑service training, external courses and database searches.

To participate in research and development delegated by an advanced clinical podiatrist.

To regularly audit, to a high standard, the effectiveness of own specialist post and service.

To work in collaboration with management and external agencies to identify research priorities and develop an ongoing quality assurance programme within the clinical area.

To participate in the clinical mentoring programme of staff members and student podiatrists through clinical supervision, appraisals and mentorship.

To attend regular department team meetings and delegated speciality meetings to share information on needs and initiatives and support the development of the Podiatry and Foot Protection Team.

To assist in the efficient day‑to‑day management of the podiatry department.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Able to provide effective communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills to all levels in the organisation.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with other healthcare professionals, service users and carers.
• Ability to write accurate reports on patient health and care needs to other health professionals.
• Have effective organisational skills.
• Willing to learn and progress within post.
• Ability to participate in discussion and sharing of information.
• Ability to use effective time management in a highly demanding service.
• Able to work autonomously in clinical situations and make decisions based on clinical skills, experience, policies, procedures and best practice.
• Able to assess, analyse and investigate complex facts, situations, risks and/or podiatric problems, use interpretation, judgement on both the clinical and social findings to provide and plan effective treatment.
• Good dexterity, hand‑eye and sensory coordination skills for use of fine tools and machinery.
• Basic keyboard skills.
• Flexible working to meet the demands of the service.

Qualifications

• BSc Degree in Podiatric Medicine or Diploma (if qualified before 1992).
• Health and Care Professions Council Registered.
• Certificate of Local Anaesthesia.
• POM‑A and/or S.
• Membership to appropriate governing body.
• Non‑Medical Prescribing (v3.00).

Personal Attributes

• Flexibility of working times and practice including out of hours/weekend work when necessary.
• Must be able to undertake travel duties associated with this post including patients' homes, other hospitals and community venues.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Physical Attributes

• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• Good dexterity, hand‑eye and sensory coordination skills for use of fine tools and machinery.

Experience

• Experience of working at a band 5 level or above in a community setting with an independent caseload.
• Experience of working autonomously and collaboratively within multidisciplinary and inter‑disciplinary settings.
• Experience of assessing, diagnosing and managing a wide range of patients with common comorbidities.
• Accessing prescription‑only medication via appropriate legal avenues.
• Awareness/experience of setting & maintaining clinical standards and clinical audit.
• Evidence of contribution to change within the workplace.
• Understanding of the role of podiatry within current evolving health environment.

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust