Job summary
To be part of a highly motivated team working independently at advanced level in both community and acute settings, providing a high standard of quality clinical care.
The role will be based mainly in Huntingdon at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Peterborough at both City Care Centre and Peterborough City Hospital, but cover will be required countywide across Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, and East Cambs & Fenland to meet service demand in both the home, acute and community clinic settings. Access to a vehicle and a full UK driving license is a mandatory requirement of this role to ensure adequate cover for agile, community working.
To work as part of a multidisciplinary team in co-ordinating, delivering and developing At Risk foot services across primary and secondary care settings, across the county.
To provide clinical leadership to the Podiatry community team and participate in organising and supporting implementation of regular CPD activities both within and external to the podiatry department. To provide clinical support and supervision to junior staff members including Assistant Practitioners, Apprentice Podiatrists and Podiatrists in their day-to-day as well as completion of clinical competencies.
The post-holder will be a Non-Medical Prescriber, or willing to undertake this qualification (and any study required to qualify for the Non-Medical Prescriber course).
Main duties of the job
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
The successful candidate will apply advanced clinical practice skills to ensure patients with active foot disease received rapid diagnosis, optimisation and treatment. The right candidate will work to develop and establish improved MDT across the county and to establish streamlined transfer of care across acutes sites, to ensure patients can be treated and managed effectively within community. The Band 7 podiatrist will operate appropriate clinics across the county and oversee the management of the most complex foot cases.
The successful candidate will supervise Band 6 podiatrists to facilitate smooth step-up and step-down processes and oversee the signing off and reviewing of competencies. The right candidate will be proficient in the ability to work at advanced practice level and have a working knowledge in x-ray and blood interpretation to optimise patient care. There is an expectation to provide and lead on total contact casting and prescribing also.
*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
1. To be responsible for advanced assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation of Podiatric care to a variety of new and existing patients with a wide range of clinical needs including:
2. High Risk Diabetes
3. Chronic Neuropathy
4. Chronic disease Rheumatoid Arthritis
5. Vascular problems
6. Wound management/tissue viability
7. Terminally ill patients
8. Care will be provided in a range of primary and secondary care settings, some of which may be in isolation:
9. Hospital Clinics
10. Ward Rounds
11. Health Centre Community Clinics
12. GP Practice Clinics
13. Residential Homes for the Elderly
14. Patients Homes
15. To use decision making processes to identify patients who require the intervention of other professionals and/or departmental specialist areas, following agreed departmental referral processes Consultant Diabetologist, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Biomechanics and Orthotics Departments.
16. To provide emergency access during working hours for both inpatients and outpatients and to identify those who require medical or surgical intervention or admission to hospital.
17. To make direct referrals to diagnostic services, using results to identify when patients require the intervention of other professionals and/or departmental specialists, following agreed referral pathways acute wound-care, biomechanical evaluation or surgical intervention.
18. To participate in the departmental rota for ward rounds and the community step up/down clinical sessions.
19. To receive and provide complex, sensitive information and communicate effectively with patients and carers to gain informed consent.
20. To follow departmental clinical guidelines but have the discretion to interpret and make own clinical diagnosis and decisions within professional boundaries and using evidence-based practice.
21. To support implementation and organisation of foot health education programmes for patients, relatives and carers.
22. To provide foot health training where appropriate for Primary Care, Secondary and Social Services Staff.
23. To be flexible and provide cover for other Podiatrists at short notice or during periods of absence.
24. To communicate and work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
25. To support junior staff where necessary to ensure service and professional standards are met.
26. To review the appropriateness of patient and health education information provided by the service and update and develop Foot Health literature and teaching aids as required and relevant to the speciality.
27. To assess, treat and review patients identified as appropriate for casting in the community according to department guidelines.
28. To participate in the development of prescribing within the department.
29. Have confidence to be able to interpret relevant blood tests and diagnostic imaging to arrive at appropriate diagnosis.
30. To ensure effective communication of highly complex and changing disease process/foot health issues with patients, relatives and carers including where there may be barriers to understanding.
31. To maintain accurate records of all patient consultations and related work carried out at each clinical session, including computerised data collection.
32. To ensure that all information relating to clients and staff gained through employment with the Trust is kept confidential.
33. To ensure effective and timely communication with other professionals in the delivery of all aspects of patient care.
34. It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the HCPC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.
35. To work within the HCPC code of conduct, Trust policies and procedural guidelines, including the departments clinical guidelines and standards. The be willing and committed to work county wide, often at short notice.
36. To provide comprehensive care package for active foot disease patients for housebound patients.
37. The be willing and committed to work county wide, often at short notice.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
38. HCPC registered podiatrist
39. Podiatry diploma/ degree
40. Local anaesthetics certificate
41. Evidence of continuing professional development in relevant area
42. An MSc in relevant field or willingness to work towards one
43. Independent Prescribing qualification or willingness to work towards one
44. Ability to demonstrate working at 7 levels in line with the Podiatry Skill competency framework for a Band 7 Podiatrist
Desirable
45. Accredited post registration training in relevant areas
46. Teaching qualification
Experience
Essential
47. Experience of working and liaising in an MDT environment
48. Broad based experience working in isolation and as a team member including the treatment and management of very high-risk patients on a regular basis
49. Experience of managing staff
50. Evidence based approach to wound management
Desirable
51. Experience in the development of departmental protocols
52. Experience working in consultant led clinics
53. Able to supervise and teach on a formal/ informal basis
54. Experience of Quality Improvement
Skills & Abilities
Essential
55. Excellent advanced clinical skills, utilising evidence-based practice
56. Good time management and organisational skills
57. Team Leadership and management
58. Excellent communication skill
59. Ability to interpret diagnostic imaging ( x-ray)
60. Ability to interpret relevant blood results
Desirable
61. Able to participate in standard setting and audit
62. Skills in reflective practice
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
63. Demonstrates understanding of safeguarding issues
64. Is up to date with legislation and current events
65. Accepts responsibility for own work and can define the responsibilities of others
Other
Essential
66. Has a realistic knowledge of personal strengths and areas for development
67. Ability to travel across the County sometimes at short notice
68. Flexibility