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Surrey Downs Health & Care

The Podiatry team at Surrey Downs Health and Care are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6 Podiatrist with excellent clinical and communication skills.

You will have experience and knowledge of a broad range of podiatric practice together with a desire to learn and develop further. You will assess patient’s podiatric needs and deliver quality programmes of Podiatric care in a variety of settings including community clinics and domiciliary settings. You will be an integral member of the podiatry team and have opportunities to attend a variety of clinical rotations into specialist clinics including diabetes, wound care, nail surgery and biomechanics. All staff are supported and encouraged to take part in service transformation, various CPD activities and extra study for further self-development.

• To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload seeking guidance as appropriate.
• To obtain informed consent prior to treatment plans commencing.
• To undertake diagnostic procedures effectively using appropriate equipment e.g. wound swabs, doppler ultrasound. Competently interpret, record, report and act on the results.
• To be proficient in comprehensive neurological and vascular assessments, wound debridement, advanced pathology and wound management e.g. dressing selection.
• 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 manage a domiciliary caseload within a geographical area. This includes working with admin teams to book appointments and using clinical time effectively.
• 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 teach and assess students, newly qualified podiatrists and podiatry assistants.

Surrey Downs Health and Care (SDHC) deliver care closer to people’s own communities through our Primary Care Networks and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.

Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centric care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:

• The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
• CSH Surrey
• Epsom and St Helier’s University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Surrey Council County

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.

In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.

Clinical Duties

• To assess, diagnose, develop specialised treatment plans and provide effective podiatric treatments, using a problem solving approach based on clinical need and evidence based practice. This is frequently with patients with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, vascular insufficiencies, physical or other disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
• To provide early intervention whenever possible to enable long term gain.
• 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. This will include providing education sessions for new and current patients.
• To provide services at a wide variety of sites including a patient’s home, clinics, GP practices, community hospitals and in challenging conditions, often working in isolation. The post holder will be expected to work as part of a multidisciplinary team when required and act as a source of advice to patients, carers, GP’s and other Health Care Professionals.
• To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload seeking guidance as appropriate.
• To obtain informed consent prior to treatment plans commencing.
• To ensure all patients are appropriately assessed prior to referring to the assistant grade.
• To undertake diagnostic procedures effectively using appropriate equipment e.g. wound swabs, doppler ultrasound. Competently interpret, record, report and act on the results.
• To be proficient in comprehensive neurological and vascular assessments, wound debridement, advanced pathology and wound management e.g. dressing selection.
• 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 undertake basic biomechanical assessments in order to prescribe, manufacture and dispense orthotics or simple insoles referring to specialist service as required.
• To manage a domiciliary caseload within a geographical area. This includes working with admin teams to book appointments and using clinical time effectively.
• 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 actively participate in clinical support (clinical supervision) and utilise reflective practice as a method to ensure quality of care for all service users.
• To teach and assess students, newly qualified podiatrists and podiatry assistants.

Professional

• To work as an autonomous clinician within Professional, Departmental and SDHC guidelines. Using clinical reasoning and decision making skills to determine how to best achieve positive clinical outcomes for patients.
• To be aware of one’s own scope of practice and to refer to peers/ other professionals as necessary.
• To keep up to date with clinical and professional developments.
• To maintain and update individual Professional Portfolio, and achieve statutory hours of CPD per year.
• To participate in departmental clinical governance initiatives for example collection of audit data, contributing and supporting the development of clinical standards.
• To attend all mandatory training in line with SDHC employment and professional need.
• To actively participate in personal development plans (PDP’s), team objectives and life-long learning.

Organisational

• To work towards achieving the objectives and values of SDHC.
• To be responsible for the operational management of an assigned clinical base. This includes controlled pharmacy supplies, ordering and managing stock of the base whilst adhering to health and safety guidelines (for example moving heavy weights, such as medical supplies in line with manual handing guidelines), infection control and local policies.
• Ensure equipment is properly maintained at all times for self and others, assuming responsibility to follow problems up and report faults / irregularities to the appropriate person e.g. team leader, estates department.
• To be responsible for recording clinical activities and outcomes and referring patients (as required) .
• To use IT systems appropriately.
• To report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or near misses promptly and when required, co-operating with any investigations undertaken.
• To be responsible for security of clinic rooms, equipment and supplies (especially controlled items), when working at any clinic site or on a domiciliary visit.
• To be responsible for the collection of voluntary contributions. Ensuring that it is securely locked away.

Communication & Working Relationships

• To communicate effectively with all patients, carers and relatives regarding their understanding of relevant foot care and self care advice, appointments and procedural systems. Understanding pathology and prognosis of different medical conditions, to ensure that patients are fully aware of their foot risk status. Provide empathy and support to patients as required.
• Regular effective communication with GP’s, Allied Health Professional’s, Tissue Viability Nurses, District Nurses, Practice Nurse’s, Multi Disciplinary Teams, Health Visitors, Carers, Social Services and peers to ensure co-ordinated delivery of care.
• To provide health promotional activities with individuals and groups (patients and healthcare professionals) for example, foot health education sessions as well as individually tailored education during treatments.
• To liaise with administrative and clerical staff as the post requires.
• To contribute to the development of patient care by actively participating in team and department meetings and supporting colleagues and peers. This includes reviewing case studies and sharing best practice.