Advanced Podiatrist in Ewell

Surrey Downs Health & Care is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and forward-thinking Band 7 Team Lead Podiatrist to join our progressive and supportive community-based service in Surrey. The successful candidate will work across a variety of settings, including community clinics and domiciliary visits, managing a diverse caseload and providing treatment for a wide range of podiatric conditions.

This role offers flexibility to develop a specialist interest, whether in MSK, Wound care, Diabetes, Nail surgery, or General podiatry. In addition to clinical responsibilities, the role includes leadership duties such as teaching, mentoring and supervising both students and qualified podiatrists, as well as undertaking line management responsibilities.

We are looking for a candidate who is reliable, motivated and committed to ongoing professional development, with strong organisational and communication skills, excellent time management and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Applicants must have experience managing high-risk patients and a proven background in community podiatry services. Experience in nail surgery is desirable.

Main duties of the job:

• To lead and professionally support a team of podiatrists within Surrey Downs Health and Care.
• To lead in the evaluation, planning and implementation of service redesign and related policies and procedures, in liaison with podiatry clinical Lead and operational manager.
• To be integrally involved in supporting both clinical lead and operational management of the podiatry service, embracing evidence-based medicine and developments in podiatric practice.
• To lead podiatry team based continuous professional development (CPD) activities, participate in podiatry service wide CPD activities, and participate in the development of the podiatry service and co-owners as a team of managers.
• To lead on clinical audits, service pilots/projects and other research activities to support the development of evidence based practice.
• To act as a source of clinical expertise and be the clinical lead for nail surgery within the Podiatry department, ensuring an effective, co-ordinated podiatry service is provided throughout the Surrey Downs Health and care area.
• Provide highly specialist diagnostic assessment, treatment and advice, including surgical intervention for complex cases to maintain and improve patient’s mobility and independence and prevention of disability across the spectrum of podiatric care.

Working for our organisation, Surrey Downs Health and Care delivers care closer to people’s own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations. We have a track record of providing person-centred care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities include:

• To work as an integral member of the Podiatry team to deliver high quality, innovative and responsive programmes of Podiatric care to patients who have a high risk need.
• To provide early intervention whenever possible, to maintain mobility and independence, and prevent disability.
• To use complex assessments, diagnose, develop highly specialised treatment plans and provide effective podiatric treatments, using a problem-solving approach based on clinical need and evidence-based practice.
• To be responsible for a highly complex and specialised caseload involving the implementation and co-ordination of highly specialised treatment regimens involving the assessment, surgical intervention, post-operative evaluation as well as considering alternative management plans when surgery is inappropriate.
• To evaluate all surgical interventions using appropriate outcome measurements.
• To commit to the philosophy of care with an emphasis on patient empowerment and independence by providing education and information to help patients manage their own foot needs (including footwear advice).
• To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with Consultants, GP’s, & Allied Health Professionals and acting as a source of advice to patients, carers, GP’s and other health care professionals.
• To be highly proficient in comprehensive neurological and vascular assessment, wound debridement, advanced pathology, and gait analysis.
• To undertake diagnostic procedures effectively using appropriate equipment e.g. Doppler ultrasound, competently interpreting, recording, acting on and reporting the results.
• To provide services at a wide variety of sites including a patient’s home, clinics, GP practices, hospitals and in challenging conditions, frequently working in isolation.
• To obtain informed consent prior to treatment plans commencing.
• To ensure all patients are appropriately assessed prior to surgery.
• To carry out a thorough medical assessment to ensure suitability of local anaesthesia and minor surgery.
• To review and triage all patients assessed by colleagues for nail surgery, checking suitability for surgery and ensuring patient consent documentation is complete.
• To undertake specialist surgical intervention for complex nail pathologies, for example nail avulsions and chemical destruction of the nail matrix with local anaesthesia.
• To lead colleagues in the event of a clinical emergency during surgical sessions.
• To support the team with domiciliary visits within a geographical area.
• To maintain clear, comprehensive and accurate records.
• To update patient’s medical history, evaluate progression and work with the client to develop their treatment plan as required.
• To ensure best practice when exposed to unpleasant working conditions.
• To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and support a team of podiatrists in managing their identified risks.
• To provide emergency and annual leave cover for colleagues when required.
• To teach and assess colleagues, students, newly qualified podiatrists and podiatry assistants.
• To lead and educate the department on infection control issues.

Professional responsibilities include:

• To work as an autonomous clinician working within professional, departmental and SDHC guidelines.
• To keep up to date with clinical and professional developments and use evidence-based practice.
• To complete and maintain clinical competencies identified for the post.
• To maintain and update individual Professional Portfolio, and achieve statutory hours of CPD per year.
• To actively participate in personal development reviews (PDR’s) and lifelong learning.
• To lead, promote and participate in clinical support whilst facilitating team members to utilise reflective skills.