Band 5 Podiatrist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated podiatrist with a 'can do' attitude to work with the Gateshead Podiatry Service. We will welcome applications from newly qualified graduates, who will be supported in post by an assigned mentor.

The successful applicant will work within Gateshead, providing podiatric care to patients in a variety of settings including community clinics, care homes and on a domiciliary basis. A full, clean driving license is essential, and must have access to your own vehicle and be able to travel and work independently.

This Band 5 post may also encompass aspects such as lone working, diabetes foot care, wound care, nail surgery, chairside biomechanics and orthoses manufacture. Applicants will need to be competent autonomous practitioners to meet the current caseload demands.

Anyone applying for a position which involves a regulated activity will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and that the disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children or working with adults or both.

Main duties of the job

• Provide routine podiatry care to a diverse range of patients within Gateshead Community.
• Assess and review patients appropriately and develop and adjust care packages relevant to patient's needs.
• Provide diabetic care including the identification of diabetic risk factors, undertaking annual diabetic risk classification and the categorisation of patients into the appropriate risk banding.
• Manage patients presenting with chronic disease (e.g. rheumatological conditions, autoimmune conditions such as HIV/AIDS), and high risk infectious diseases (e.g. MRSA, Hepatitis).
• Potentially manage patients presenting with vascular problems and wound management / tissue viability issues who present in lower risk clinics.
• Undertake nail surgery assessments and treatment as appropriate.
• Manufacture and provide simple insoles, orthoses and chairside appliances.
• Be responsible for the assessment of all patients with subsequent production of individual care packages and provision of the appropriate footcare education advice.
• Maintain registration with the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) and work within the HCPC Code of Conduct, clinical governance policies and procedures, and adhere to the Patient's Charter.

Location

The post will be based in the podiatry service with a nominal base at Bensham Hospital within Gateshead.

Person Specification Qualifications / Skills

• BSc Podiatry
• HCPC registered
• Evidence of ongoing CPD and professional development (or newly qualified)

Physical Requirements

• Able to move and handle safely without causing harm to themselves or others
• Able to undertake lone domiciliary visits, carry equipment and undertake treatment in non-clinical settings
• Able to drive own car independently, sometimes in inclement weather.
• Trained in moving and handling procedures

Experience

• Experience of working with a wide range of patients, disease pathology types, including the 'at risk' foot (this may have been during learning if newly qualified)
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Experience of using the EMIS patient record system
• Experience of MDT and inter agency working

Skills / Attributes / Knowledge

• Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to cope with and diffuse sometimes difficult, stressful and confrontational situations
• Excellent organisational skills including an ability to prioritise own workload
• Excellent presentation skills with practical experience
• Excellent problem solving skills
• IT skills - able to use Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook

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.