Podiatrist @ North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced Podiatrist to join our specialist podiatry service in Warrington.

We are seeking a dynamic clinician who is passionate about delivering high-quality podiatric care across a variety of settings, including community clinics and specialist Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) services within the acute hospital environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in the assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex foot pathology, helping to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of complications and avoidable hospital admissions.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop and utilise advanced clinical skills whilst working alongside a supportive and experienced multidisciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will

Provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with complex podiatric conditions. Needs to hold a V300 prescriber qualification in order to support and implement care plans for those patients requiring higher levels of clinical intervention.

Deliver care across community podiatry clinics and specialist diabetic foot clinics within the acute hospital setting.

Manage a caseload of high-risk patients, including those with diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, neuropathy and wound complications.

Undertake comprehensive lower limb and vascular assessments.

Contribute to the prevention and management of diabetic foot ulceration and lower limb complications.

Participate in multidisciplinary diabetic foot team meetings and integrated care pathways.

Provide clinical leadership, support and mentorship to junior staff, apprentices and students.

Support service development, quality improvement initiatives and clinical audit activities.

Maintain accurate clinical records in line with professional and organisational standards.

About us

Flexible working will be considered for all roles.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.

Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.

Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM).

They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.

Our mission

We will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other

Our vision

We will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn

Our values

• Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
• Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
• Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
• One team: We work well together and with our communities

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will possess an appropriate level of professional knowledge and skill to assess, diagnose and implement individual care plans for high risk patients. They will hold a clinical caseload which will include patients to be considered high risk due to conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis/ Connective tissue disorders, Diabetes, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Neuropathy and lower limb deformities leading to poor foot function.

They will work across community and hospital settings including patients homes to provide in depth knowledge and expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment plans and evaluation of care of patients presenting with high risk foot complications. To provide advice, support and training to podiatry colleagues and other health care professionals in relation to high risk foot care.

They will work within the Multi-disciplinary Diabetes foot clinic for Warrington.

• To work as an autonomous practitioner and lone worker, providing wound care management for patients with high-risk foot need. This includes sharp debridement, wound swabs, antibiotic requests, provision of pressure relieving devices, footwear referrals, neuro-vascular assessment, providing and evaluating a suitable dressing regime, and liaison with other health professionals.
• To be responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of podiatric care to patients who have high risk foot need.
• To recognise and respond appropriately when presented with acute foot conditions which may be life or limb threatening. Also to recognise the need for future / urgent referral for non-healing or deteriorating wounds e.g to vascular consultant for further investigation, diabetes specialist nurse to improve diabetes control.
• To be prepared to see patients with high-risk foot need who may present at any time as emergencies without a pre-booked appointment. To work in the multidisciplinary foot clinics where patients with varying degrees of acute lower limb problems may present in unpredictable numbers.
• To be responsible for the delivery of foot care education and advice to patients, patient groups, relatives, carers and other health care professionals.
• To be available to colleagues for second opinions and advice regarding management of high risk podiatry patients. Also be prepared to answer queries and offer advice regarding foot problems to patients and other professionals over the phone.
• To promote professionalism within the department. To act as a mentor, particularly in the field of high risk foot care, providing advice and support when necessary.

Please see attached Full Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Evidence of research
• Qualifications
• BSc / Diploma in Podiatric Medicine
• Extensive postgraduate experience with evidence of successful completion of specialist long and short courses up to Masters level equivalent e.g Vascular Disease Management, Wound Healing Foundation module, Diabetes Diploma
• Non Medical Prescribing qualification
• Certificate in Local Anaesthesia
• Registered with the Health Care Professions Council

Desirable

• Post graduate study in Research
• Formal qualification in teaching / health education.

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable graduate experience
• Experience of working in a Multidisciplinary Team particularly a foot ulcer clinic
• Knowledge of continuous lifelong learning, including a CPD portfolio with evidence of reflective practice.
• The ability to present / teach to variety of audiences.
• Shows excellent understanding of pathways based on new national and local guidelines.
• To be able to mediate between staff.
• Willingness to undertake any further training required to carry out the job.
• Be open to change.
• To be able to work under pressure as this is a very demanding position. They should be flexible and responsive to the needs of the service and patients.

Desirable

• Experience of Audit, Research and development Experience of coaching / mentoring of staff
• Ability to carry out soft casting
• Excellent organisational and logistical skills.

Job Specific Requirements

Essential

• The ability to travel independently across the Trust
• The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs

Right to Work

Essential

• Do you currently have the unrestricted right to work in the UK?
• If appointed, will you require sponsorship under a UK work visa route (now or in the future)?
• Please note that sponsorship is not available for all roles. Sponsorship will only be considered where the post meets the relevant UK immigration requirements and where the organisation determines that sponsorship is appropriate for the role.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Possess good verbal and written communication skills, as they will be dealing with a wide range of patients. This may involve persuasion, negotiation, explanation, motivation and gained informed and written consent from patients suffering a wide range of complex conditions which may cause communication difficulties.
• Communication skills also required for good working relationships with other professionals within and outside the department.
• High level of knowledge of Diabetes and its complications
• Ability to undertake advanced vascular assessment of the lower limb
• In depth knowledge of wound assessment, wound care and dressing regimes
• Knowledge in the evaluation of dressing regimes

Relationships

Essential

• If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)

Address

Health Services at Wolves

Halliwell Jones Stadium

Winwick Road

Warrington

Cheshire

WA2 7NE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://northcheshireandmersey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)