First Contact Podiatrist in St Leonards

Be the Podiatrist Patients Need - Right at the Heart of Primary Care

Are you passionate about improving mobility, reducing pain, and helping people stay active and independent?

Were looking for a dedicated First Contact Podiatrist to join our innovative, compassionate team. In this role, you'll provide expert assessment, diagnosis and management of lower limb and foot conditions - right at the heart of primary care, where early intervention can have the greatest impact. We are happy to consider applications on a full and part-time basis.

As an autonomous First Contact Practitioner, you'll assess, diagnose and manage patients presenting with foot and ankle conditions without the need for a GP referral. Working across GP practices and the PCN, you'll make a significant contribution to improving patient access, reducing GP workload, and delivering expert assessment and management.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one us, we are one of the UK's leading NHS clinical service providers and you will play a key role in delivering accessible, patient-centred podiatry services within primary care.

Main duties of the job

As a First Contact Podiatrist (FCP) working within a GP practice, you will be a qualified autonomous clinical practitioner who can assess, diagnose, treat, and manage lower limb and foot problems in addition to undifferentiated conditions, and where appropriate, discharge a person without a medical referral.

FCPs are a key multidisciplinary team member in primary care and support reducing GP workload. FCPs working in this role can be accessed directly by self-referral or staff in GP practices can direct patients to them to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan to streamline pathways of care.

About us

Promni Health is a specialist clinical workforce and service support partner working with the NHS to help meet local workforce and service needs across primary care, community and neighbourhood health systems.

Our services are recognised as best-in-class for our industry, recently winning the 'Best in Primary Care & Diagnostics' LaingBuisson Awards in 2023 and 2025. We were HSJ Independent Healthcare Provider Finalists in 2025 and 2026, including receiving recognition for our Outstanding Contribution to Preventative Care, and HealthInvestor Award Finalists in 2026.

We directly employ over 400 clinicians including First Contact Practitioners, Enhanced Practice Nurses, Podiatrists, Occupational Therapists and Advanced Practitioners, supporting over 1,000 GP practices and a patient population exceeding 9 million.

It really is a great place to work, reasons to join us include:

• A fast-growing, award-winning clinical organisation that genuinely puts people first
• The only MSK organisation in the UK certified as a Great Place to Work
• 12.5+ days of protected CPD and supervision time each year
• Funded development opportunities

Job 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., Xrays, 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.

Job description

Job 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., Xrays, 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.

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.

St. Leonards Medical Centre, 126 Bexhill Road

St. Leonards Medical Centre, 126 Bexhill Road

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