Specialist Podiatrist in Cheshire, Warrington

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a community specialist podiatrist to join the Halton Podiatry service to provide high quality clinical assessment and interventions to the population of Halton. We are looking for a well-motivated and dynamic clinician who possesses the appropriate level of professional knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, implement, and evaluate individual care plans for high-risk patients. You will work across the community and in acute settings, providing podiatry to patients both in in-patient and community clinics and in their own homes. You will also use your specialist knowledge and skills to provide advice, support and training to podiatry colleagues and other health care professionals in relation to high-risk foot care.

Main duties of the job

• You will be responsible for the delivery of foot care education and advice to patients, patient groups, relatives, carers, and other health care professionals.
• The role will specifically be involved on a day-to-day basis of the following clinical inputs:
• To undertake routine podiatry clinics to patients deemed high or medium risk.
• To be responsible for carrying out assessment of increased and high risk patients to include full medical, neurological and vascular assessment with formulation of appropriate treatment plans and referrals.
• To be responsible for the assessment, and setting of appropriate treatment plan for High and Increased risk patients with foot ulceration.
• To be responsible for the completion of visits to patients' homes and specialist centres.
• To carry out nail surgery procedures where the need has arisen.
• To manufacture and fit chair side appliances e.g. insoles and biomechanical devices.
• To carry out biomechanical assessments on high-risk patients with a view to off load where deemed necessary.
• Follow up and action any arranged investigations ensuring appropriate care and treatment is arranged.
• To have the ability to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation including the drawing up and administration of adrenalin for anaphylactic shock, if required.
• To provide supervision, advice, and education to students, exposing them to high-risk care.

About us

Flexible working will be considered for all roles. North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region. Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services with inpatient and elective care, we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose: The purpose of this post is to provide high risk foot care by way of specialised podiatric input both in clinical and domiciliary settings. The post will involve sessions of Nail surgery, biomechanics and assessment.

• To hold a high risk and high risk domiciliary caseload, working at all times unsupervised and in line with departmental, professional and Trust protocols.
• To undertake specialist podiatry assessment and wound care clinics following the Diabetes foot care pathway.
• To undertake complex biomechanical assessments and reviews, prescribing appropriate orthotics where indicated.
• To provide a comprehensive podiatry service to people with diabetes including initial assessments, treatment/care planning, preventative, palliative, surgical and corrective care supported by appropriate health education, reviewing and evaluating as necessary.

Communication

• To work, communicate, and liaise closely with others in the diabetes multidisciplinary team to provide seamless and timely interventions for high-risk patients.
• To provide podiatric health education and health promotion including individual foot health advice to patients/clients, providing advice on specialisms e.g. diabetes where necessary.
• To lead and participate in group presentations and multi professional training relating to Diabetes care.
• To effectively communicate with patients complex information such as assessment outcomes and treatment plans with whom understanding may be difficult because of barriers such as old age, infirmity, hearing loss and learning difficulties.

Management/Supervision

• To delegate appropriate work to, and supervise the podiatry technicians and basic grade staff.

Research

• To audit and research areas of diabetes service in both primary and secondary care as and when required for both Care pathway work and Trust agendas.

Person Specification

• Experience
• Essential: Post graduate clinical experience in advanced Diabetic foot care.
• Desirable: Primary Care Diabetes Diploma or equivalent experience.
• Qualifications
• Essential: Diploma/Degree in Podiatric Medicine, Certificate in L.A.V300 NMP qualification or willing to undertake.
• Desirable: Masters Degree or equivalent level of CPD/experience, or willingness to undertake.
• Job Specific Requirements
• Essential: The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs, Ability to travel independently throughout the trust.
• Skills and Attributes
• Essential: Sound practical and theoretical knowledge of management of the high-risk and diabetic foot, Advanced wound management skills, Sound knowledge of Diabetes NSF and Regional Foot care pathways, Research skills, Audit experience and analysis.
• Desirable: Exemplary practical and theoretical knowledge of management of the high-risk and diabetic foot, Excellent knowledge of Diabetes NSF and Regional Foot care pathways.