Podiatrist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated podiatrist with a ‘can do’ attitude to work with the Gateshead Podiatry Team.

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.

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.

Please see the job description for the definitive qualifications, knowledge and skills required for this post.

To provide routine podiatry care to a diverse range of patients within Gateshead Community.

To assess and review patients appropriately and develop and adjust care packages relevant to patient’s needs.

To 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.

To manage patients presenting with chronic disease (e.g. rheumatological conditions), auto immune conditions (E.g. HIV, AIDS), to manage patients presenting with high risk infectious diseases (e.g. MRSA, Hepatitis).

To potentially manage patients presenting with vascular problems and wound management / tissue viability issues who present in lower risk clinics.

To undertake nail surgery assessments and treatment as appropriate.

To manufacture and provide simple insoles, orthoses and chairside appliances.

To be responsible for the assessment of all patients with subsequent production of individual care packages and provision of the appropriate footcare education advice.

To maintain Registration with Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) and to work within the HCPC Code of Conduct, Clinical governance policies and procedures and adhere to the Patient’s Charter.

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

As a group we employ around 4,200 staff and currently provide 600 hospital beds across Gateshead. Our primary focus is on providing excellent general health services to our local community complemented by key specialist areas including Gynaecology, maternity, palliative care and old age psychiatry.

Alongside a full range of local hospital services, we provide breast screening services for Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and parts of Durham - and we are the North Eastern hub for the National Bowel Cancer and AAA Screening Programmes, covering a population of around seven million people.

The post will be based in the podiatry service with a nominal base at Bensham Hospital within Gateshead. The team consists of a team lead, podiatrists of varying bands and podiatry assistants.

Whilst this post is part of a larger multi-professional team care will be provided in a range of primary and secondary care settings, some of which may involve working single-handed and may be in isolation, after risk stratification.

**Examples of environments are**:

- Health Centre / Community Clinics
- GP Practice Clinics
- Patients Homes
- Hospital Clinics
- In Patient Care
- Care Homes for the Elderly within Gateshead
- Homes for those with Mental Health issues / Learning Difficulties
- To be the responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of Podiatric care to a wide variety and sometimes “at risk” patients with a wide range of clinical needs, and delegate to other members of the team as appropriate.
- To assess a caseload, creating care plans which ensure a holistic approach, engaging with the wider team to provide clinically effective care, using evidence-based practice and recognised referral pathways to achieve positive patient outcomes
- Work as an autonomous practitioner, clinically, professionally and practically.
- To assist in student placements, acting as a Clinical Educator where appropriate.
- To ensure all professional standards and codes of conduct are adhered to.
- Continually develop own clinical expertise, knowledge and clinical skills to enhance effective care and support.
- Identifies risk and develops mitigation to minimize risk, and reports appropriately.

Provides and receives complex, sensitive information.

To communicate complex information with patients, colleagues, administrative staff, clinical clerks, district nurses, practice nurses, GPs, GP receptionists, Newcastle Diabetes Centre, Social Services, Appliance Technician, secondar