Advanced Podiatrist in Ewell

This is an exciting time to join the Surrey Downs Health and Care Podiatry Team as we continue to develop, transform and evolve our podiatry services for the future, offering the successful candidate a valuable opportunity to help shape and influence service delivery. We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and forward-thinking Band 7 Team Lead Podiatrist to become part of 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 seeking 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 the 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 deliver care closer to people’s own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations. Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual.

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us. It’s on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed – we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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.
• The post holder will be responsible for carrying out a thorough medical assessment to ensure suitability of local anaesthesia and minor surgery.
• To undertake specialist surgical intervention for complex nail pathologies, for example nail avulsions and chemical destruction of the nail matrix with local anaesthesia.
• To be able to lead colleagues in the event of a clinical emergency during surgical sessions e.g. anaphylaxis, toxicity reaction, myocardial infarction, faints, hypoglycaemic attack.
• To support the team with domiciliary visits within a geographical area. This includes time management skills.
• 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 (personally & of team members) when exposed to unpleasant working conditions. Maintaining infection control standards when faced with malodorous wounds, ulcerations and challenging unhygienic environments.
• 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, reviewing and acting on infection control guidance, leading or where appropriate participating in the infection control audit cycle.

Professional

• To work as an autonomous clinician working within professional, departmental and SDHC guidelines.
• To be aware of one’s own scope of practice and to refer to peers/ other professionals as necessary.
• To take a lead role in departmental clinical governance initiatives.
• 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 ensure that self and team attend mandatory training in line with SDHC employment and professional need.
• 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 as a method of ensuring quality of care for all service users.
• To support and represent the Podiatry department in any projects, programmes and training events as required.

Managerial

• To line manage a number of podiatrists, podiatry assistants and when required students.
• To be responsible for screening, prioritisation and allocation of referrals within the Podiatry service.
• To monitor new patient and follow up appointment waiting times within specialist clinics and specified locations.
• To prevent professional isolation for staff working in the community by creating and maintaining systems for encouraging and supporting communications between podiatrists.
• To collaborate closely with other team leaders and managers to improve inter-department integration.
• To cover for a team leader and / or deputise for the Clinical Lead Podiatrist when they are unavailable or on leave.
• To be responsible for the supervision of staff and students, and provide specialist training in area of expertise.
• To facilitate in-service training programmes.
• To participate in staff recruitment, reviewing job descriptions, short listing and often sitting on interview panels.
• To contribute to the department’s strategy and annual business plan.
• To undertake team member’s annual appraisals and maintain 90% compliancy and interim reviews.

Person specification

• HCPC Registered Podiatrist (DPodM or BSc)
• Local Anaesthetic Certificate
• Car Driver (Full Licence)
• Post graduate education / CPD in the minor /nail surgery
• Professional Portfolio
• Member of the Royal College of Podiatrists
• Involvement in training and teaching

Experience

• Broad spectrum of clinical experience
• Experienced in the provision of high risk assessments, treatment planning and delivery of minor surgery.
• Able to demonstrate in-depth clinical knowledge and practical skills for nail surgery.
• Awareness of current NHS trends and policies, including clinical governance and NSF’s.
• Experience of leading a team.
• Experience in clinical audit.

Skills

• Clinical skills to effectively deliver the nail surgery pathway of care.
• Broad range of podiatric skills e.g. basic biomechanics, woundcare, health promotion.
• Highly organised and able to prioritise work load.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically appraise.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Evidence of clinical leadership.