Advanced Podiatrist-Surrey Downs H&C

To work as an integral member of the Podiatry team to deliver high quality, innovative and responsive programmes of Podiatric care to patients who have a high risk need. To provide early intervention whenever possible, to maintain mobility and independence, and prevent disability. To use complex assessments, diagnose, develop highly specialised treatment plans and provide effective podiatric treatments, using a problem solving approach based on clinical need and evidence based practice. This is predominantly with patients with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid, vascular insufficiencies, physical or other disabilities, children, and other vulnerable groups. To be responsible for a highly complex and specialised caseload involving the implementation and co-ordination of highly specialised treatment regimens involving the assessment, surgical intervention, post-operative evaluation as well as considering alternative management plans when surgery is inappropriate.. To evaluate all surgical interventions using appropriate outcome measurements. 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 (including footwear advice). To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with Consultants, GPs, & Allied Health Professionals and acting as a source of advice to patients, carers, GPs and other health care professionals.

To be highly proficient in

comprehensive neurological and vascular assessment, wound debridement, advanced pathology, and gait analysis. To undertake diagnostic procedures effectively using appropriate equipment e.g. Doppler ultrasound, competently interpreting, recording, acting on and reporting the results. To provide services at a wide variety of sites including a patients home, clinics, GP practices, hospitals and in challenging conditions, frequently working in isolation. To obtain informed consent prior to treatment plans commencing. To ensure all patients are appropriately assessed prior to surgery. The post holder will be responsible for carrying out a thorough medical assessment to ensure suitability of local anaesthesia and minor surgery. He / She will be responsible for reviewing and triaging all patients (through their EMIS/Systm1/other clinical system notes) assessed by colleagues for nail surgery, checking suitability for surgery and ensuring patient consent documentation is complete and liaison with the patients GP is undertaken when appropriate. Where problems or issues arise the post holder will be responsible for training and updating staff. To undertake specialist surgical intervention for complex nail pathologies, for example nail avulsions and chemical destruction of the nail matrix with local anaesthesia. To be able to lead colleagues in the event of a clinical emergency during surgical sessions e.g. anaphylaxis, toxicity reaction, myocardial infarction, faints, hypoglycaemic attack. To support the team with domiciliary visits within a geographical area. This includes time management skills. To maintain clear, comprehensive and accurate records. To update patients medical history, evaluate progression and work with the client to develop their treatment plan as required. To ensure best practice (personally & of team members) when exposed to unpleasant working conditions. Maintaining infection control standards when faced with malodorous wounds, ulcerations and challenging unhygienic environments. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and support a team of podiatrists in managing their identified risks (see risk management and associated policies) To provide emergency and annual leave cover for colleagues when required. This could include undertaking domiciliary visits & supporting colleagues with difficult or complex cases. This includes booking appointments and clinical time management skills. To teach and assess colleagues, students, newly qualified podiatrists and podiatry assistants e.g. in undertaking local anaesthetic administration and carrying out surgical procedures. To lead and educate the department on infection control issues, reviewing and acting on infection control guidance, leading or where appropriate participating in the infection control audit cycle. Professional To work as an autonomous clinician working within professional, departmental and SDHC guidelines. Using clinical reasoning and decision making skills to determine how to best achieve positive clinical outcomes for patients. Therefore being legally and professionally accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of your patients. To be aware of ones own scope of practice and to refer to peers/ other professionals as necessary. To take a lead role in departmental clinical governance initiatives for example designing audit projects, collection of audit data, research, and development of clinical standards within specialist area of practice. To keep up to date with clinical and professional developments and use evidence based practice. To complete and maintain clinical competencies identified for the post. To maintain and update individual Professional Portfolio, and achieve statutory hours of CPD per year. To ensure that self and team attend mandatory training in line with SDHC employment and professional need. To actively participate in personal development reviews (PDRs) and lifelong learning. To lead, promote and participate in clinical support (clinical supervision) whilst facilitating team members to utilise reflective skills as a method of ensuring quality of care for all service users. To support and represent the Podiatry department in any projects, programmes and training events as required. To lead on any relevant Podiatric contribution to NSFs and NICE guidelines. This will involve proposing and developing new policies and service changes which may impact on own department and others, and represent the department to senior leadership team level when required. Managerial To line manage a number of podiatrists, podiatry assistants and when required students, sharing information to keep them abreast of changes within the organisation. Planning and allocating team members work, rotations, whilst ensuring clinics are covered and managing timetables to cover sickness/leave. To be responsible for screening, prioritisation and allocation of referrals within the Podiatry service. Monitoring new patient and follow up appointment waiting times within specialist clinics and specified locations. Working with the Operational manager and podiatry clinical lead to review new methods of working to streamline our services. To prevent professional isolation for staff working in the community by creating and maintaining systems for encouraging and supporting communications between podiatrists. To collaborate closely with other team leaders and managers to improve inter-department integration to ensure consistent delivery of clinical standards across Surrey Downs Health and Care. To cover for a team leader and / or deputise for the Clinical Lead Podiatrist when they are unavailable or on leave. To be responsible for the supervision of staff and students, and provide specialist training in area of expertise. Ensure that staff learn from incident reporting, near misses and complaints, fostering a learning culture. To facilitate in-service training programmes e.g. including liaising with internal/external trainers and other professional leads. To participate in staff recruitment, reviewing job descriptions, short listing and often sitting on interview panels and inducting new staff members including bank staff and locums. To contribute to the departments strategy and annual business plan and produce objectives in line with it for the team. To be responsible for clinical governance with the team. This includes being accountable for clinical governance initiatives e.g. team objective setting, recording and evaluating teams audits and the development and implementation of standards, guidelines, policies and protocols. To undertake team members annual appraisals and maintain 90% compliancy and interim reviews whilst promoting life-long learning and personal and professional development. Ensure that all team members receive appropriate training and development and that they attend mandatory / statutory training as and when required. To monitor teams performance and manage in accordance with trust policys Investigate complaints for podiatry clinical Lead. Please refer to the Job description and Person Specification for more details.