Podiatry Apprentice

Bedfordshire Community Health Services Podiatry Service have an exciting opportunity for a podiatry apprentice to join our innovation and supportive podiatry team. Podiatry in ELFT is a growing profession and is key to our Allied Health Professions offer supporting integrated care. The graduate Podiatry Apprenticeship programme is a new fully funded route towards qualification as a HCPC registered Podiatrist.

Podiatrists are registered healthcare professionals specialising in the lower limb (feet, ankles, legs), providing high quality clinical care to people of all ages. A Podiatrist’s job is to work to protect people’s feet, providing preventative advice, care, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a range of problems affecting the lower limb.

What’s involved?

The apprenticeship is a four-year programme of work based learning that is directly related to the apprenticeship standard. In addition, the apprenticeship has a mandatory 40% off-the-job learning. The University-based Honours degree study is also linked to the Apprenticeship Standard. It is scheduled to commence in September 2023 with interviews to take place in May 2023.

Eligibility You will be able to demonstrate how you will be able to use the experiences you are bringing to become a Podiatrist. Understanding of the scope of the role of the Podiatrist and Podiatry assistant in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development. You will treat people with dignity, respecting individual's diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences. You will show respect and empathy for those you work with, have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to evidence based best practice. You will also be adaptable, reflective, reliable and consistent, show discretion, resilience, self-awareness and demonstrate leadership.

**In addition, you must be able to meet the following criteria**:

- Grade C in GCSE English and Maths or functional skills level 2 (equivalent to GCSE C)
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate evidence of recent academic achievement within the last 5 years, such that they may be deemed capable of study at degree level.
- Able to evidence the ability to study at a Higher Education level
- Right of abode in the UK meeting University admission

In addition to one of the following
- Qualifications and Credit Framework Level 3 in Care or equivalent in terms of both academic attainment and previous care experience
- Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at level 3 - All distinctions including Biology or Chemistry
- 120 UCAS points / A Levels with a science background

Programme content

The academic part of the training will be provided by the University Of East London (UEL) where you will undertake modules as detailed below:
- Professional Practice and mental health

Anatomy and physiology

Podiatric Practice, pathology, pharmacology,

Musculoskeletal (MSK) assessment and management

Clinical reasoning and research methods.

**Key areas of practice for Podiatry students**:
Patients with problems related to endocrine & rheumatological function

Patients with problems related to musculoskeletal function and sporting activities

Patients with problems related to neurological function

Patients with problems related to dermatological function

Patients requiring nail surgery

Patients located in a variety of healthcare and community settings.

This is a developmental role via the Podiatry (Integrated Degree) Apprenticeship standard over 4 years. You will work towards successful completion of a BSc (Hons) degree in podiatry and recognition by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Allied Health Professional AHP Podiatrist. You will develop and maintain knowledge, skills and competencies related to the role of a Podiatrist through your apprenticeship within the service as well as through completion of the Podiatry Apprenticeship training programme. This includes working in clinic and community care settings, and delivery of direct person-centred care. Whilst undertaking this training you will work within the service as a Podiatry Apprentice, where your role will reflect your learning.

The clinical part of the training will be provided across the county of Bedfordshire

Our Podiatry service is a diverse, supportive and innovative team and our work has been included in 3 national guides published by NHS England and NHS Benchmarking. This has included:
- Collaborative care home training project tackling pressure ulcer prevention and diabetic foot disease
- Diabetes transformation reducing amputations and bed nights,
- The role of podiatry in primary care.

As an organisation we take AHP development seriously and live the trust values ofwe care, we respect, we are inclusive. We have a strong emerging AHP strategy supporting clinical preceptorship and development to improve staff experience.

**JOB TITLE**:
Podiatry Apprentic