Specialist Musculoskeletal Podiatrist

NHS; Lowestoft; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

A dynamic healthcare provider seeks a Band 7 Podiatrist to join its Musculoskeletal team in Lowestoft. The role involves overseeing patient caseloads, providing specialist assessments, and implementing treatment programs. Candidates should have a Podiatry degree, HCPC registration, and experience in clinical settings. Flexible hours are available, with a commitment to professional development. This position presents opportunities for collaboration and growth within a supportive healthcare environment.

Benefits

Opportunities for professional development

Employee benefits aligned to NHS terms

Shareholder opportunities for staff

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge in Musculoskeletal podiatry.
• Previous experience in audit and research.
• Ability to prescribe orthoses.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage a designated caseload of patients.
• Provide clinical assessment and implement treatment plans.
• Teach and supervise other professionals and students.

Skills

Musculoskeletal podiatry expertise

Effective communication skills

Ability to work independently

Critical appraisal skills

Presentation skills

Competent use of IT

Education

Diploma / Degree in Podiatry

Current HCPC registration

Completion of relevant postgraduate specialist training

Job description

Job Summary

An opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Podiatrist to join our dynamic Musculoskeletal (MSK) team within the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Area. The role will involve timely assessment and treatment of a wide range of conditions utilising specialist skill sets such as orthotic prescription, exercises therapy and provision of specialist advice. It also involves collaborative working with Norfolk Community Health and Care (NCHC) biomechanics as well as the Musculoskeletal Assessment and Triage Service (MATS) within ECCH and NCHC.

Main duties of the job

The post will be based in a clinical setting and the postholder will carry and be responsible for their own caseload. They will assess, diagnose, develop and implement individualised care programmes for a caseload of patients who have complex musculoskeletal presentations including acute and chronic pain patterns; significant physical impairments due to pain or injury and psychological issues and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.

The postholder will work with the Clinical Co-ordinator for Musculo-skeletal Services and MSK team leads (Physiotherapists and Podiatrists) to further develop, in line with evidence-based clinical best practice, ECCHs integrated MSK Service.

ECCH is committed to offering opportunities for further development, where possible, through a combination of in-service training and external courses. The successful candidate would be expected to participate and contribute towards this.

To carry and be responsible for own caseload. Assess, diagnose, develop and implement individualised care programmes for a caseload of patients who have complex musculoskeletal presentations including acute and chronic pain patterns; significant physical impairments due to pain or injury and psychological issues and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner, this will include provision of bespoke orthoses and exercise programmes.

To be a source of expertise for biomechanics to ECCHs integrated MSK service, facilitating an efficient and effective care pathway for patients.

Access to arrange imaging, as appropriate, either independently or through our MATs service/physiotherapy leads.

To provide bespoke orthotic prescription using a variety of materials ranging from EVA to carbon fibre through external orthotic manufacturers.

Developing individualised exercise programme with suitable progression in line with patient expectation and ability.

Ensure effective communication to enable patients to achieve their maximum potential for self‑management particularly where this is impaired due to pain and / or fear.

A high standard of communication skills and clinical work is required which will also include teaching and supervision of other health professionals, non‑registered staff and students.

Work with the Clinical Co-ordinator for Musculo-skeletal Services and MSK Physiotherapists to further develop, in line with evidence‑based clinical best practice.

About us

This post is 22.5 hours but full time would be considered.

ECCH is well established health care provider and has been successfully delivering NHS care within the community since 2011. We provide a range of NHS, community health and social care services predominantly across the easterly region of the Norfolk/Suffolk borders.

We are aligned to NHS terms and conditions, and offer many employee benefits, to find out more about us visit our website - www.ecch.org. We are a social enterprise and staff owned organisation which means staff can opt to be shareholders and have a real say in how ECCH is run and evolves to deliver healthcare for the future.

At the heart of our ambition, we work in partnership with and for the community to become the provider and employer of choice for community healthcare.

We encourage you to apply as early as possible as this job may close earlier than the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.

We recognise that AI tools are increasingly used in professional settings. While we encourage strong applications, we value authenticity and an accurate reflection of skills and experience.

Applicants must declare if AI has been used to complete their application, including responses that are directly copied or significantly shaped by AI tools.

By submitting this application, you confirm that all information provided is a true and accurate representation of your own skills, knowledge, and experience.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties:

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients who have complex biomechanical problems, and to organise this efficiently and effectively regarding clinical priorities and use of time. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management, and those of other staff.

To undertake comprehensive specialist assessment, treatment, and evaluation of outcomes of MSK patients, with a variety of presentations. This will include investigation and analysis of complex facts in order to formulate individual MSK treatment plans. The work will be carried out in the clinics, and hospital setting.

To make direct referrals to diagnostic services, to interpret results and make onward referrals to secondary care services, or to other providers.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching, and instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals, to ensure the aims of MSK services are met and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. This requires a high level of interpersonal and communication skills.

To provide in-house training and support to the Podiatry Service to embed core biomechanical skills into wider clinical practice.

To recognise when patient needs could be more appropriately met by a member of staff of a lower band, and to refer on as appropriate.

To receive and provide complex, sensitive information. In communicating effectively with patients and carers, skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent will be used. Barriers to effective communication will be evident with some patients e.g., impaired hearing, altered perception, speaking a language other than English, pain and fear. Patients may lack the ability to consent to treatment.

To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, and to support other staff likewise.

To maintain clinical records in line with Organisational Policy and Professional Standards. To ensure that ECCHs clinical system, SystmOne, is maintained accurately so as to optimise patients care along treatment pathways.

Communication:

To work effectively with other members of the multi‑professional team to ensure seamless communication of complex information and delivery of seamless high quality patient care.

To liaise with other agencies and services both within ECCH and other external agencies including health and social care organisations.

To ensure effective communication of complex and changing disease process / foot health issues with patients, relatives and carers where there may be barriers to understanding.

To maintain accurate records of all patient consultations and related work carried out at each clinical session, including data collection.

To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings and in‑service training.

To ensure that all information relating to clients and staff gained thorough employment with ECCH is kept confidential. Disclosure to any unauthorised person is a serious disciplinary offence.

All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role.

Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.

Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four Signature Behaviours are: Compassion – We Listen, We Learn, We Lead | Action – My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect – Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone – Work Together, Achieve Together.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Identify and evaluate opportunities for improvement, implement and evaluate change
• Self‑Directed learning
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to pass on skills / knowledge to other clinicians within both formal and informal environments, and to evaluate the application to practice
• Specialist knowledge of Musculoskeletal podiatry, and ability to identify and address poor practice
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Critical appraisal skills
• Previous experience in Audit and Research
• Presentation skills
• Competent use of IT
• Highly developed Podiatry skills, and excellent knowledge of Musculoskeletal practice
• Cope with unpredictable work patterns
• Ability to prescribe a range of orthoses and assess / evaluate footwear

Desirable Skills and Knowledge

• Injection skills

Essential Personal Attributes

• Able to work collaboratively within a team
• Able to work independently
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure
• Able to maintain motivation, drive, enthusiasm; confident
• To communicate at all levels relaying often sensitive and emotional information. Be responsive to patient and service needs
• Flexible working
• Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours: Compassion – We Listen, We Learn, We Lead | Action – My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect – Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone – Work Together, Achieve Together
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required

Desirable Personal Attributes

• Teaching experience
• Leadership experience

Essential Qualifications

• Diploma / Degree in Podiatry
• Current HCPC registration
• Completion of relevant post graduate specialist training at master's level
• Evidence of other continuing professional development

Desirable Qualifications

• Teaching qualification

Essential Experience

• Worked in a variety of specialities as a qualified clinician, gaining specialised experience
• Worked in the NHS or Private Sector in the UK providing a specialist Musculoskeletal biomechanics service
• Provision of clinical supervision
• Demonstrates clinical leadership in biomechanics within local services
• Knowledge of audit processes

Desirable Experience

• Direct referral to diagnostics
• Previous work in an integrated Musculoskeletal service

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

East Coast Community Healthcare CIC

Kirkley Mill Health Centre

Kirkley Mill Surgery, Kirkley Rise, Clifton Road

Lowestoft

Suffolk

NR33 0HF

Employer's website

https://www.ecch.org/ (Opens in a new tab)