Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties 

• To provide nail care to patients including high risk patients within the podiatry department and hold a caseload

• To be able to plan and organise all allocated caseload or in general work of the Podiatry service. Being responsible for the implementation of individual care packages often involving “High Risk” Patients as prescribed by the HCPC Registered Podiatrist and other suitably registered practitioners; including nail cutting, filing, drilling (e.g. use of abrasive caps), dressing and re-dressing.

• To provide support to the Podiatry team in clinics including assisting in wound dressing procedures.

• To identify the risk status of feet including patients with diabetes and undertake appropriate action e.g. inform podiatrist  

• Carry out essential tests, which include ABPIs, Neuro-vascular checks and temperature monitoring of certain conditions and report to a Podiatrist for action

• To assist with nail surgery as per the service SOP with pre-op preparation, documentation, supporting the procedure, dressings and post op care.

• To undertake/ assist in the manufacture of insoles and orthotics following prescription by MSK/Biomechanics team.

• To maintain clear, accurate and full patient records

• To provide foot health education, footwear and hygiene advice.

• To be responsible for the preparation of the Podiatry Clinic.

• To follow departmental guidelines on the safe use, maintenance and cleaning of specified equipment used in the clinical environment.

• To maintain privacy and confidentiality in line with Trust Policy.

·       To provide assistance to the Podiatry team working with patients with multiple co-morbidities e.g.

High- risk diabetes

Neuropathy

Chronic disease

Wound management/ tissue viability

Terminally ill patients

• Care is provided in a range of Primary, Community or Secondary care settings (where applicable) e.g. health centre based community clinics, hospitals and patients homes .

• The post-holder will provide appropriate care as directed by the Podiatrist in the patients treatment plan, to include:

Applying dressings

Monitoring of infection

Onward referral

Foot health advice and education

Use of abrasive caps/sanding discs

• To have responsibility for identifying when patients require the intervention of the Podiatrist, following agreed departmental pathways.

• To assist the Podiatrist in Nail Surgery clinics (Record amount and batch numbers of LA used, prepare patients pre and post-operatively, maintain sterile environment, ensure all paperwork is recorded and given to patient and support the Podiatrist.)

• To be responsible for personal workloads and schedule regarding restocking of clinics across multiple sites.

• To be involved in the provision of Foot Health Education advice to patients relatives and carers and to participate in Foot Health Training where appropriate for Community, Primary and Social Care staff

·       To be involved in infection prevention and control, health and safety; this would include cleaning the clinical areas, monitoring of appointment availability, identification of adequate stock levels, maintenance of equipment.

·       To provide relevant clinical cover for other Podiatry staff members, where clinically safe to do so, within the service according to the department’s sickness cover guidelines and according to service needs.

·       To support Health education sessions and deliver Rightstart education for patients diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes and support the Diabetes service for the Diabetes education.

3.0           Administrative Duties

• To undertake administrative duties where necessary to ensure effective patient care; e.g. appointment scheduling, dealing with post and stock  

• To arrive patients for their appointments and keep patient updated in unusually situations e.g. clinic delays.

• To be involved in patient caseload management.

• To order and control stock levels including pharmacy/insoles

• To take responsibility for following  podiatry department computerised systems in administrative tasks.

To be responsible for the collection and monitoring of all statistical information as specified by the  lead podiatrist