Podiatrist - GOLDEN HELLO £1500 in Lowestoft

An opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Podiatrist to join our dynamic team. The role will involve timely assessment and treatment of a wide range of conditions utilising specialist skill sets and provision of specialist advice. 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 podiatry presentations including acute and chronic pain patterns; significant physical impairments due to pain or injury and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner. The postholder will work with the Clinical Leads to further develop, in line with evidence-based clinical best practice, ECCH's integrated Podiatry 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.

Main duties of the job

• To carry and be responsible for own caseload.
• Assess, diagnose, develop and implement individualised care programmes for a caseload of patients who have complex Podiatry presentations including acute and chronic pain patterns; significant physical impairments due to pain or injury and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.
• To be a source of expertise for ECCH's integrated Podiatry service, facilitating an efficient and effective care pathway for patients.
• Access to arrange imaging, as appropriate.
• Developing individualised care and treatment programmes 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.
• 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 Leads for Podiatry to further develop, in line with evidence-based clinical best practice.

About us

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. 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.

Benefits

£1500 Golden Hello payment, paid in 2 instalments. This post attracts a 'Golden Hello' payment of £1500 (taxable): £1000 will become payable after 6 months in post and another £500 will become payable after 12 months in post (pro rata if applicable). Please note that the Golden Hello is not available to internal applicants.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties:

• To be responsible for the assessment diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of Podiatric care to a variety of patients with a wide range of clinical needs including:

• Acute conditions e.g. onychocryptosis (ingrowing toenails)
• High Risk Diabetes
• Chronic Neuropathy
• Chronic disease e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Vascular problems
• Wound management/tissue viability
• Terminally ill patients

• Hospital Clinics
• Hospital Wards
• Health Centre Community Clinics
• Residential Homes for the Elderly
• Patients Homes
• Care Centres for the Disabled and Learning Difficulties

• Diabetic Foot assessment using the appropriate equipment i.e., Doppler, Monofilament, tuning fork
• To identify risk factors and categorise patients into appropriate risk banding
• To refer to specialist services as required and to liaise with other Health Care professionals to enable optimum and seamless patient care.

Communication:

• To work effectively as a member, and liaise with other members of the multi professional team.
• To liaise with other agencies e.g. social services, hospitals.
• 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.
• 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.
• To ensure effective communication with other professionals in the necessary delivery of all aspects of patient care.

Health and Safety:

• To report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, Near Misses, and untoward incidents, following ECCH procedure.
• To ensure that Health and Safety Legislation is complied with at all times including COSHH, Workplace Risk Assessment, Control of Infection, CHS Sharps Policy and Lone Worker Policy.
• To attend all mandatory training sessions as required by ECCH.

Research and Development/Audit:

• To participate in audit activities and development of outcomes.
• To keep up to date with and apply relevant evidence-based research finding to practice.
• To be involved in research and development Department Programme, including possible new/alternative ways of working.
• To participate in the department's Clinical Governance initiatives and the development and implementation of standards, guidelines, policies and protocols.

Professional Development:

• To maintain Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• To work within the HPC code of Conduct, ECCH Policies and procedures, and adhere to the Patient's Charter.
• Actively participate in Continuing Professional Development to develop new skills, and maintain and update existing skills.
• To participate in individual Performance Review with the Professional and Clinical Head of Podiatry.
• To ensure high quality delivery of the Podiatry service, and fulfill CPD requirements identified through the appraisal process. Staff may be expected to rotate into specialist areas within the department.
• To supervise Podiatry Assistants/Technical Grades and Band 5 Podiatrists and may be required to take an active part in the training of students acting as a mentor where appropriate.
• To participate in the observational placements of Student Podiatrists.
• To act as a mentor to colleagues as part of peer review, clinical supervision and professional development.
• To participate in the planning and delivery of Departmental in service training.
• To share knowledge gained through external, professional and multi-disciplinary training at regular service meetings.

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

• Qualifications

• Registration to HPC
• Podiatry Diploma/Degree.
• Post-registration experience, including dealing with the 'at risk' foot and completing a Band 6 competency programme.
• Previous SystmOne Experience

• Worked in both a team and in isolation managing a caseload of "at risk" patients.
• Involvement in Health Education packages and departmental protocols.

• SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Good verbal and written communication skills, as they will be dealing with predominantly elderly patients, and also other health care professionals.
• Good organisational skills, as they will be managing their own caseload and also expected to accept responsibility for the day-to-day running of the clinics in which they work.
• Skills in managing a caseload with a high proportion of high risk.
• Ability to use vascular and sensory equipment.
• Produce, document, implement and evaluate care plans.
• Cope with unpredictable work patterns.
• Ability to prescribe orthoses and assess/evaluate footwear.

• Able to work under pressure and respond to change.
• Have a responsible and caring attitude.
• Able to work independently, but also as part of a Team when required.
• Flexible as changes in timetables can be made at short notice.
• 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.

• Experience in the field of biomechanics and gait analysis.

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.