Podiatrist - Band 5

Salary: £32073.00 to £39043.00

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Podiatrist to join our dynamic Foot Health team in Lewisham. This permanent post offers the chance to make a real difference to the lives of patients, working across a range of community settings, including clinics and domiciliary care, as well as within University Hospital Lewisham.

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a supportive and forward-thinking podiatry team specialising in foot and lower limb pathologies across a variety of clinical and community settings in Lewisham, integrated with the Acute Foot Service, UHL.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients presenting with a wide range of podiatric conditions including diabetes-related foot disease, vascular and neurological disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, dermatological and nail pathologies, wound care, chronic disease, paediatric conditions, deformities and urgent foot problems.
• Use clinical reasoning, critical thinking and evidence-based practice to develop and implement individualised treatment plans.
• Undertake routine and specialist podiatric interventions including nail and skin care, wound management, biomechanical assessment, orthotic prescription, exercise programmes and minor surgery assessment and treatment where appropriate.
• Administer local anaesthetic for nail surgery procedures and respond appropriately to medical emergencies including anaphylaxis.
• Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment plans to ensure optimal clinical outcomes.
• Make appropriate referrals to specialist podiatry services and wider multidisciplinary teams including GPs, District Nurses, Acute Foot Clinics, Social Services and voluntary agencies.
• Deliver care to diverse patient groups including children, adults, older people, vulnerable patients and housebound individuals.
• Provide care across a range of settings including community clinics, GP practices, nursing and residential homes, hospitals, day centres and patients' own homes.
• Deliver health promotion, preventative care and self-management education to patients, carers and healthcare professionals.

Clinical Governance and Quality

• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records in accordance with Trust, HCPC and professional standards.
• Adhere to all relevant Trust policies including Infection Prevention and Control, Health and Safety, COSHH, Safeguarding, Consent, Lone Working, Medicines Management and Risk Management procedures.
• Participate in clinical audit, service evaluation, quality improvement initiatives and service development activities.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of departmental policies, procedures and clinical guidelines.
• Report incidents, near misses, complaints and equipment defects in accordance with Trust policy.
• Maintain competence in the use of specialist clinical equipment including Doppler ultrasound and vascular assessment equipment.
• Support the collection, analysis and reporting of activity, outcome and performance data.

Communication and Partnership Working

• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and healthcare professionals, adapting communication methods to overcome barriers where required.
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, patient-centred care.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate safe discharge planning and continuity of care.
• Deliver presentations, teaching sessions and health promotion activities to patients, staff and partner organisations.

Workforce and Service Delivery

• Work autonomously within professional boundaries while seeking guidance and support from senior clinicians when required.
• Manage and prioritise own clinical caseload, including high-risk and domiciliary patients.
• Monitor clinic capacity and support the effective management of waiting lists and patient flow.
• Undertake risk assessments relating to patients, environments and lone working activities.
• Work in challenging clinical and domiciliary environments whilst maintaining professional standards and personal safety.
• Ensure adequate stocks, equipment and clinical resources are maintained.
• Participate in specialist rotations and service developments as required.

Education, Training and Development

• Maintain HCPC registration and comply with Continuing Professional Development requirements.
• Participate in appraisal, clinical supervision, peer review and reflective practice.
• Support the supervision, development and assessment of students, assistant practitioners, apprentices and new staff.
• Contribute to departmental teaching, in-service training and practice education programmes.
• Participate in research, audit and evidence-based practice activities to support continuous service improvement.
• Attend mandatory training, departmental meetings, study days and professional development activities and maintain professional competence.