Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent band 5 Podiatrist to join the Podiatry service based within the East Lancashire Locality. The post offers the fantastic opportunity for you to further develop your clinical and leadership skills in the role of band 5 Podiatrist.



The ELHT Podiatry service provides a dynamic, flexible, responsive and solution focused holistic service for a patient caseload including patients with Diabetes, Rheumatology, Vascular, Connective Tissue Diseases, Tissue Viability and Wound care conditions.



The successful candidate requires a positive attitude to personal and professional development for themselves and the Podiatry Service.



The working hours may be worked over 7 days between the hours of 8am-8pm.



The Podiatry Service works very closely with primary and secondary care and social care and works with a wide range of health care professionals including Consultants, GPs, Social Services, District Nurses, Treatment Room staff, Nursing Staff.



The Podiatry Service undertakes primarily high risk clinical work including wound care, nail surgery, biomechanics, and emergency clinics. The Podiatry Service does not provide a social nail cutting service.



Responsibilities would also include supporting and mentoring more junior members of staff and participating in wider service development.



You should be aware of professional and national guidelines, be up to date with current best practice and be able to demonstrate your interest in continued professional development and clinical audit. Applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of recent learning and examples of continued professional and clinical development.



You will be an enthusiastic, motivated, conscientious and flexible team player is being sought with good clinical, communication and organisational skills.



As we are a community based service it is essential that you are a car driver with access to a vehicle for work purposes.



You will receive excellent training and development opportunities and receive support from Clinical Specialist Podiatrists and your locality Team Leader and will be part of a wider East Lancashire Hospitals Podiatry Team. You will receive regular clinical supervision and have an annual PDR from your designated mentor. You will also take part in the clinical supervision of junior staff within the Podiatry Service.



The successful applicant will have a corporate and local departmental induction with a dedicated mentor and will have a 6 month Preceptorship period during which they will complete a competency framework.



The Podiatry service offers a comprehensive programme of supervision and clinical training opportunities and has a proactive approach to service development activities, in line with the trusts, divisional and service level objectives. Staff would be supported and encouraged to work closely together in order to deliver a holistic approach to patient care, following the six key elements of Care, Compassion, Courage, Competence, Communicating effectively and Commitment.



To work as part of the Podiatry locality team providing assessment and treatment planning / delivery to patients within agreed Podiatry Service access criteria.



To be responsible for the management and treatment of a caseload of patients, providing a comprehensive assessment of podiatric need, relevant health education, planned podiatric care packages and referral to other health care professionals as required.



To take responsibility for the continuing podiatric care of patients with a variety of needs e.g. diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis.



To work as a member of the locality team participating in the nail surgery rota and provide aftercare following nail surgery.



To be responsible for undertaking biomechanical treatment and appropriate prescription of orthotics and provision of chairside orthotics.



To undertake Level 2 diabetes foot screens for patients with diabetes.



To undertake domiciliary visits at patients homes/ nursing / residential homes.



To assess patients suitable for discharge following departmental access criteria.



To provide appropriate Podiatry health education and advice to patients on a 1:1 basis.



As we are a community based service it is essential that you are a car driver with access to a vehicle for work purposes.