First Contact Podiatrist in Hastings

We are looking to recruit a part time (18.75 hours) First Contact Podiatrist to join our established and experienced team. First Contact Podiatrists (FCPs) are autonomous practitioners working within GP practices who can assess, diagnose, treat, and manage lower limb and foot conditions, including undifferentiated presentations. They provide rapid, accurate diagnosis and management plans, streamline patient pathways, and play a key role in reducing GP workload. Patients can access FCPs directly via self-referral or be directed by practice staff.

Are you ready to transform MSK care at the frontline of Primary Care? Do you want to:

• Work for the only MSK organisation in the UK certified as a Great Place to Work
• Receive 12.5+ days per year of protected CPD and supervision time
• Access funded training opportunities, including injection therapy and independent prescribing
• Be part of a fast growing, award winning clinical organisation that puts people first

Please note: the postcode listed in the advert is for reference only. This PCN operates across multiple GP practices, offering flexibility in work location.

Main duties of the job

To apply, you must be a HCPC and CoP registered Podiatrist with a minimum of five years postgraduate experience, including at least three years of relevant clinical practice aligned with HEEs Roadmap to Practice. You should be a confident clinician and communicator who enjoys working with a wide range of colleagues both within Promni Health and across the GP practice multidisciplinary teams you'll be integrated into. You should be driven, motivated, and passionate about developing your clinical skills to become the strongest diagnostic clinician you can be. You should be adaptable to the fast-paced, evolving nature of primary care and able to rise to the challenges it presents. You should be naturally innovative, value the role of digital solutions in healthcare, and enjoy seeking opportunities to improve services and support Promni Health in delivering evidence-based best practice.

About Us

Promni Health delivers fully managed clinical services embedded across Primary Care Networks, community services, and neighbourhood health systems, working exclusively within the NHS. Delivering at National Scale, Promni Health supports NHS organisations across England through a scalable, nationally coordinated delivery model:

• 200+ NHS Primary Care Networks
• 33 Integrated Care Boards
• 1,000+ GP Practices
• 1 million+ appointments delivered per year
• 370+ directly employed clinicians

Our national footprint enables consistent mobilisation, shared best practice, and reliable service delivery aligned with local system priorities.

Job responsibilities

First Contact Podiatrists (FCPs) are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners working in GP practices who can assess, diagnose, treat, and manage lower-limb and foot problems, including undifferentiated conditions, and where appropriate, discharge a person without a medical referral. FCPs are key members of the multidisciplinary team in primary care and support the reduction of GP workload. Patients can access FCPs directly via self-referral, or practice staff can direct patients to them to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan to streamline pathways of care.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• Assess, diagnose, triage, and manage patients, taking responsibility for a complex caseload.
• Progress and request investigations when trained to do so (e.g., X-rays, blood tests) and make referrals to support diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Develop and utilise your full scope of clinical practice, including skills relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy, and investigations when trained.
• Manage complex interactions, including working with patients with psychosocial and mental health needs, referring to social prescribing where appropriate.
• Deliver programmes of supported self-management that facilitate behavioural change, optimise physical activity, mobility, independence, and minimise reliance on pharmacological interventions.
• Provide care tailored to individual needs, including appraising the impact of clinical status on general health, wellbeing, and employment.
• Support patients to set their own goals and build confidence in self-management.

Evidence, Research, and Development

• Develop relationships and collaborative working across the PCN, supporting pathway integration in primary care.
• Work as part of an MDT in a patient-facing role, using expert knowledge of lower limb issues to strengthen links with wider foot and ankle services through clinical leadership, teaching, and evaluation.
• Support research and audit programmes to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the FCP service.
• Streamline pathways by providing a responsive service that ensures timely access to care.

Leadership

• Lead, manage, and contribute to service delivery.
• Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance, including audit, evaluation, supervision, and training.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with patients and carers, supporting personalised care.

Facilitating Learning

• Provide feedback and support to other PCN clinical team members on appropriate referral criteria.
• Critically reflect on your own practice and continue to develop your skills.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Strong clinical problem solving and analytical skills, including recognising when to refer for diagnostics or to other services.
• Ability to critically reflect on professional development needs and motivation to progress clinically (with support).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work cohesively within a wider team.
• Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies and codes of conduct.
• Competent with IT systems, databases, and modern digital ways of working.

Experience, Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• Fully HCPC and CoP registered practising Podiatrist.
• Minimum 5 years postgraduate clinical experience delivering podiatric assessment and treatment.
• Up to date CPD portfolio demonstrating knowledge of the MSK Core Capabilities Framework for First Contact Practitioners and the four pillars of advanced practice, including identification of developmental needs.
• Up to date understanding of Health Education England's Roadmap to Practice.

Desirable

• Completion of Level 7 MSc learning.
• Previous experience in first-contact triage (including private sector).
• Previous experience working in a GP practice.
• Experience using EMIS or SystmOne.
• Qualified injection therapist and/or independent prescriber.

Additional Information

This role profile is not exhaustive, and you may be asked to undertake other reasonable tasks within the expectations of your position.

General Terms (applicable to all Promni Health posts)

• Ensure that your conduct meets the standards detailed in Promni Health's Code of Conduct.
• Safeguard children and adults, acting on concerns to ensure appropriate assessment and investigation.
• Adhere to all Promni Health policies and procedures.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Promni Health welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. We are happy to provide reasonable adjustments and support throughout the recruitment process. If you need assistance with your application due to a disability or long term health condition, please contact: primarycarefcp.talent@nhs.net.

We are committed to ensuring fair access and equal opportunity for all candidates, in line with:

• Equality Act 2010 (reasonable adjustments duty)
• NHS People Promise (Belonging, Compassionate and Inclusive)
• CQC Well Led domain (inclusive culture, fair treatment)

All colleagues are expected to uphold Promni Health's values and behave in a way that promotes dignity, respect, equality, and inclusion. Where possible, reasonable adjustments will be considered to enable applicants to meet the requirements of the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Fully HCPC and CoP registered practicing Podiatrist
• An up-to-date CPD portfolio demonstrating that you have knowledge of the musculoskeletal core capabilities framework for first point of contact practitioners and the four pillars of advanced practice, in addition to identifying your developmental needs against these
• Qualified injection therapist and / or independent prescriber
• Completion of some level 7 MSc learning

Experience

• Minimum 5 years post-graduate podiatry experience.
• Previous clinical experience of first contact triage clinical work; even if in the private sector.
• Previous experience of working in a GP practice.
• Previous experience of using EMIS / SystmOne.

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.