Podiatrist (Development Role)

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:

• High Risk Diabetes
• Chronic Neuropathy
• Chronic disease e.g. rheumatoid Arthritis
• Vascular problems
• Wound management/tissue viability

Care will be provided in a range of settings which may include:

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

To be responsible for the assessment of new patients with subsequent production of individual care packages and provision of the appropriate foot care education advice to groups of patients. With the ability to use the decision-making process to identify when patients require the intervention of other professional and/or departmental specialist areas by following agreed departmental referral pathways e.g. acute Wound care/Biomechanics.

To participate in the departmental rota for nail surgery and ward rounds. To perform diabetic assessment review clinics in G.P Practices where duties will include: Diabetic Foot assessment using the appropriate equipment i.e. Thermometer, Doppler. To identify risk factors and categorise patients into appropriate risk banding.

To be responsible for the day-to-day planning of personal workloads for the completion of home visits and visits to Residential Homes for the Elderly and Rehabilitation Centres. To be actively involved in the provision of Foot Health Education advice to patients, relatives and carers and to participate in foot health training where appropriate for CHS, Primary Care and Social Services Staff.

To be actively involved in the development of departmental policies and procedures. To be responsible for the maintenance and security of stock. To follow departmental Policies, Procedures and Guidelines but have the discretion to make own clinical diagnosis and decisions within professional boundaries.

To have the capability to move and handle patients who may be immobile, wheelchair or bed-bound often in confined spaces. To be flexible and provide cover for other Podiatrists at short notice or during periods of absence. To complete the Band 6 competency-based learning programme.

Communication: To work effectively as a member of the multi-professional team. 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 computerised data collection. To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings. To ensure that all information relating to clients and staff gained through employment with the Trust is kept confidential. Disclosure to any unauthorised person is a serious disciplinary offence.

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 and Control of Infection. 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 findings 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 Professional Council (HPC). 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 ensure high quality delivery of the Podiatry service, and fulfil CPD requirements identified through the appraisal process. Staff will be expected to rotate into specialist areas within the department. To supervise Podiatry Assistants/Technical Grades and 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 participate in the planning in-service training.

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.