Podiatry Team Leader in Walsall

Should you have any queries for the resourcing team, they are available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. To get in touch please call 01922 656161.

Walsall Manor Hospital is a busy district general hospital offering compete range of acute services. The Trust primarily serves the immediate population of Walsall with some patients requiring more specialised treatment at other, neighbouring Trusts. The Trust continues to invest in its facilities and services, supporting high-quality care for the communities it serves.

This role offers the opportunity to work within our integrated care model, contributing to high-quality services that help people remain independent in their own homes and communities.

We are committed to investing in our workforce and creating an environment where colleagues can learn, contribute and develop. Our new Urgent Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, demonstrates our ongoing investment in facilities and services.

As an employee, you’ll benefit from an attractive salary and comprehensive benefits package (detailed in Employer Description above), plus access to NHS pension arrangements and staff accommodation where available.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant, currently holding the Bronze Award, underlining our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community.

RESPECT – COMPASSION – TEAMWORK – PROFESSIONALISM

Job overview

A Podiatry Team Leader is an experienced and highly skilled clinician who will provide clinical, operational and professional leadership within the Podiatry Service, reporting to the Podiatry Clinical Lead. The post holder will lead and manage part of the team of podiatrists and support staff at Walsall, in order to deliver high quality, evidence-based care across a range of community, acute and specialist podiatry services.

The post holder will manage a defined clinical team, ensuring safe, effective and efficient service delivery whilst driving quality improvement, workforce development and service transformation initiatives. They will act as a clinical expert within their specialist area and provide advanced assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients presenting with complex and high-risk foot health needs.

The Team Leader will maintain a significant specialist caseload and provide clinical leadership across a range of specialist services including diabetic foot management, wound care, nail surgery, biomechanics and offloading, and other high-risk foot pathways. The role requires close multidisciplinary working with consultants, GPs, nursing teams, allied health professionals and external partners to ensure excellent patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide day-to-day operational leadership for a team of podiatrists, assistant practitioners and support staff, ensuring that clinical services are delivered safely, effectively and in accordance with local and national standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and supporting staff through supervision, appraisal, performance management, recruitment, induction and workforce development.
• Leading and contributing to service improvement projects, quality initiatives, audit programmes and the implementation of evidence-based practice.
• Monitoring service performance, activity and clinical outcomes to support achievement of local and national key performance indicators.
• Providing advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients with highly complex foot and lower limb conditions.
• Acting as a clinical specialist within an agreed area of practice and providing expert advice and support to colleagues and multidisciplinary teams.
• Delivering and overseeing specialist high-risk podiatry services, including diabetic foot care, wound management, vascular risk assessment and limb preservation pathways.
• Assisting with risk management, patient safety, clinical governance and safeguarding within the team.
• Supporting education, mentorship and continuing professional development for students, newly qualified staff and established clinicians.

Working for our organisation

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for providing clinical, professional and operational leadership within the Podiatry Service.

Leadership and Management

• Provide day-to-day management of podiatry staff and support workforce.
• Undertake recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal and performance management processes.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning and staff development.
• Manage staffing resources and workload allocation to ensure safe and effective service delivery.
• Promote a positive culture of learning, improvement and staff wellbeing.

Clinical Practice

• Maintain an expert clinical caseload involving patients with complex and high-risk foot conditions.
• Deliver advanced assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluation of care.
• Provide specialist clinical interventions within agreed areas of expertise including wound care, diabetic foot management, nail surgery and biomechanics.
• Support clinicians with complex decision making and risk management.
• Ensure clinical practice is evidence based and aligned with professional standards and local policies.

Service Development and Quality Improvement

• Lead and participate in service redesign, transformation and improvement initiatives.
• Develop and review clinical pathways, policies, protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor service performance and contribute to the achievement of key performance indicators.
• Lead clinical audit, quality assurance and service evaluation activities.
• Promote innovation and identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes and service efficiency.

Clinical Governance

• Ensure compliance with professional, organisational and regulatory standards.
• Support incident reporting, investigation and shared learning processes.
• Promote patient safety, safeguarding, infection prevention and risk management.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and ensure data quality standards are achieved.

Education and Professional Development

• Provide mentorship, clinical supervision and support for staff and students.
• Promote continuing professional development and evidence-based practice.
• Deliver training and educational opportunities across the team and wider organisation.
• Maintain own professional registration and specialist competencies.

Partnership Working

• Develop strong multidisciplinary relationships across health and social care services.
• Represent the podiatry service at internal and external meetings as required.
• Work collaboratively with consultants, GPs, community teams and partner organisations to support integrated care pathways.
• Act as a professional role model and ambassador for the podiatry service.

This role offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced podiatrist to combine specialist clinical practice with leadership, workforce development and service improvement, making a significant contribution to the future delivery of podiatry services.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Podiatry
• Current HCPC Registration as a Podiatrist
• Evidence of a postgraduate podiatry qualification equivalent to Master's Level
• POM Certificate
• Evidence of continuous and current clinical, professional, leadership and academic development, including attendance at postgraduate courses relevant to the clinical field
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development through maintenance of a professional portfolio
• Clinical Leadership qualification or working towards completion
• Evidence of advanced training in high-risk foot management, wound care, vascular assessment or related specialist practice

Skills and Aptitudes

• Competent IT and digital skills
• Ability to contribute to audit, education and service development

Flexibility

• Ability to work across a range of community, clinic and hospital settings as required
• Willingness to undertake further training and professional development

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced specialist knowledge of podiatry practices, including specialities such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, nail surgery, biomechanics and high-risk foot management
• Advanced knowledge of vascular assessment including Doppler ultrasound, ABPI/TBPI and clinical interpretation of findings
• Advanced understanding of wound healing principles, infection management, offloading strategies and prevention of ulcer recurrence
• Advanced knowledge of the evidence base underpinning podiatry practice
• Detailed knowledge of community-based and acute-based podiatry services and care pathways
• Experience of clinical audit, quality improvement, research and service evaluation
• Understanding of Clinical Governance and its application to patient care and service quality
• Experience of supervising, mentoring and supporting less experienced staff, students and assistants
• Knowledge of psychosocial, cultural and behavioural factors affecting health outcomes and treatment adherence
• Experience of working across both community and hospital settings, with the desire to work in both settings
• Up-to-date knowledge of NHS priorities, national policy and the impact on service provision
• Commitment to service improvement and innovation

Please note your application will be transferred from the NHS Jobs system to the internal Walsall Healthcare Trac System. All correspondence will be sent via Trac.

Sponsorship and Visas

We welcome applications from all candidates with the right to work in the UK, including those on Health and Care Visas, Graduate Visas, or other valid permissions. All candidates will be considered on equal terms.

This Trust currently recruits successfully from the domestic labour market and has a sufficient pool of suitably qualified candidates for Band 3 roles. Visa sponsorship is therefore not available for this role currently. Candidates who already hold the right to work in the UK, including those on an existing Health and Care Visa, Graduate Visa, or any other valid permission are welcome to apply and will be considered on equal terms. This position is reviewed regularly in line with Home Office guidance. Right to work will be verified at each stage of the recruitment and monitored throughout employment. All candidates who are offered a position will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK as part of the pre-employment checks process. Where a candidates' right to work is derived from another person’s immigration permission, the Trust will discuss the implications of this with the candidate before a permanent post is confirmed, to ensure that both parties understand the terms on which employment can be sustained.

Recruitment and Selection Approach

In line with best practice and regulatory guidance, our selection process is fair, consistent and based on your ability to perform the role, contribute to the organisation and your potential for development.

What to expect:

Application screening: Your application will be reviewed against the person specification

Interview: Typically, a panel interview with competency-based and values-based questions

Assessment: Role-dependent assessments may include practical tasks or presentations

Timeline: We aim to complete the process within 47 days of the closing date. Recruitment Journey is attached to all live vacancies.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates at any stage. Please contact us to discuss your needs.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Please note this vacancy may close early due to high volume of applications

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