Specialist Podiatrist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties

To prioritise and evaluate patient referrals to the podiatry service, for their appropriateness and to identify to the principal podiatrist any deficiencies.

To be responsible for the assessment and review of patients with specialist podiatric care needs to plan and manage own caseload and that of junior staff and podiatry assistants.

To identify any concerns or training requirements of staff in specialist podiatric care to the principal podiatrist and to help develop and provide these training needs appropriately.

To develop treatment plans in consultation with the patient. This is to include exercise programmes and / or orthotic provision.

To maintain the podiatry department’s policies and procedures with regards to this specialist area.

To ensure current best practice is included and updated in all clinical policies in this specialist area.

To make the principal podiatrist aware of any issues / problems regarding service delivery in this specialist area.

To assist in the monitoring of referral & treatment statistics, ensuring the service is delivered in a cost-effective efficient manner.

To act as a resource for clinicians within the department and deliver training programmes as necessary in this specialist area.

To be able to undertake a detailed podiatric assessment and, diagnose and formulate specialised treatment regimens for all patients referred and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment given.

To assist in the development of protocols for treatment of common conditions within the speciality.

To liaise with other health professionals in primary care i.e. physiotherapists, Orthotists

To be responsible for mentoring / training students, junior staff and colleagues who are on rotation / placement

General Clinical Duties

To lead Podiatry clinical sessions in accordance with SOCAP Minimum standards for clinical practice.

To cover other specialist podiatry clinics containing a wide range of patients, including: high risk diabetics, chronic neuropathy, chronic diseases i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, vascular problems, wound management / tissue viability, and terminally ill patients.

To use highly developed physical skills, precision hand eye co-ordination in safe and effective scalpel technique when debriding ulcers and callosities, involving highly unpleasant substances i.e., body fluids.

To provide care in a range of primary and secondary care settings most of which are in isolation. Often working in difficult conditions, which involve the moving and handling of patients who may be immobile, wheelchair or bed bound.

To provide nail surgery assessments and procedures under local anaesthetic with use of phenol, and re-dressings, necessitating the need for a certificate in local anaesthesia.

To be responsible for prioritising patients according to their medical and podiatric needs, into low / medium / high / urgent risk categories in order to supervise their level of care / speciality into the service.

To plan, organise and undertake a home visiting caseload and health education talks, and facilitate discharge planning of patients.

To maintain accurate records of all patient consultations and related work.

To facilitate and present the podiatry patient education talks that will influence patients’ attitudes and change their historical mind set towards their foot health and evaluate these sessions.

To ensure the maintenance and security of clinical stock, IT equipment, all health promotion and educational resources.

To ensure effective communication of complex information to patients and their relatives and carers to bring about a change in attitude and patient empowerment, utilising excellent negotiation and interpersonal and have the ability to deal sensitively with angry /distressed clients and diffuse potentially volatile situations. This may involve giving unwelcome news to patients or carers about the deterioration of foot pathology.

To work within infection control guidelines to ensure that therapy/treatment/care does not constitute a risk of infection either to the healthcare professional to the client or to any persons visiting/working in NHS premises. To work in clinics, which may be isolated, hospitals, residential homes, and patient’s homes, liaising with other health care professionals involved with the patient whenever necessary.

Professional Duties

To maintain a registration with the Health Care Professional Council.

To work within the HCPC code of conduct, SWFT. Policies and procedures, with awareness of all government NHS agendas and National Service Frameworks.

To develop and maintain further competencies in the field of Diabetes care & vascular care in the Podiatry department in developing & implementing vascular clinics within a podiatry setting.

Commitment to CPD and lifelong learning is essential in the regular attendance at recognised conferences and courses as well as mandatory training / updates and staff meetings.

To keep up to date with advances in Diabetes care/ Vascular Care and to disseminate such knowledge to other care staff and members of the podiatry department.

To attend, present at and represent the department at meetings to raise the profile and market podiatry services when required to do so.

To adhere to trust policies and procedures at all times and make suggestions and comments where appropriate.

To take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination.

To comply with the Trust policy on confidentiality, and the data protection act of 1998 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems.

To respect the confidentiality, equality, diversity and privacy of clients and staff at all time.

To participate in a Personal Development Plan with the advanced podiatrist.

To carry out personal development review of podiatrists where appropriate.

To initiate and undertake regular audit review programmes to ensure delivery of best practice.