Are you looking to further your career? Do you want to join our committed and forward-thinking team on our transformational journey to be the best service in the country?

If so, this could the opportunity you have been waiting for.

With new investment into the service, we are expanding our workforce to meet the increasing demand for specialist podiatric care.We are working collaboratively across Somerset to deliver whole pathway integration for the high-risk foot and improve patient access to the right care, by the right person, at the right time.

We provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and advice, for a range of specialisms including diabetes, wound care, musculoskeletal biomechanics and nail surgery, and are enhancing our service through the introduction of complex care clinics with advanced vascular assessment.

This role is suitable for an experienced Band 7, or a Band 6 looking to develop and take the next step up in your career.

Main duties of the job

The role is based in our community hubs, where you will lead specialist clinics for high-risk patients, and support colleagues to develop their clinical skills and abilities through regular supervision.

We deliver integrated, seamless care with our acute colleagues and there are opportunities to rotate into the hospitals to upskill and further improve patient care.

About us

In line with our Trust values - Kindness, Respect, Teamwork, Everyone, Everyday - colleagues are encouraged to develop their skills and role within and outside the Trust.

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, fantastic pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.

The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.

There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers a great benefits package including 27 days annual leave (pro rata) and a competitive pension scheme. We also offer fast track access to in-house MSk Physiotherapy support.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be part of a highly motivated and compassionate integrated team of around 30 staff. We are proud to offer opportunities for career development at all levels, from Clinical Support Workers, Assistant Practitioners, Degree Apprentices, Podiatrists, Specialists Podiatrists, Advanced and Consultant Podiatrists, working to deliver excellence in foot health and well-being in community and acute settings.

This post is based in our East locality. There is an expectation that the post holder will be expected to work across Somerset, according to the needs of the service.

You will have an in-depth working knowledge of wound care and management of the high-risk patient, including biomechanical assessment, offloading and a desire to progress your skills in these areas and others, including independent prescribing and vascular assessment using ankle and toe pressures.

You will take a lead role in advancing podiatric care across our countywide service. You will be a key member in our leadership team, driving service improvement to deliver a seamless multi-disciplinary approach to management of the foot. You will work closely with colleagues in the acute trusts, community services and primary care. The successful candidate will endeavour to improve and maintain these links, encouraging members of the Podiatry team to engage with patient care at all levels.

Being a car driver is essential for this post to work in the clinics in the community setting. Please indicate on your application if you have a valid driving licence for the UK and if you have access to a vehicle which can be used for work purposes.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Registration with Health and Care Professions Council
• BSc in Podiatric Medicine (or Diploma in Podiatric Medicine with Post Registration CPD update and experience)
• Further qualification at Master's Level in relevant field or evidence or speciality related validated post registration education such as the Diabetic Foot Module
• Local analgesia certificate

Desirable

• Non-medical prescriber qualification
• Teaching qualification e.g., Cert Ed

Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced post graduate knowledge of: Diabetes, Wound Care, Patient Assessment, The Use of Orthotic Management

Experience

Essential

• Experience of the management of high-risk foot including basic biomechanical assessment
• Experience in wound management and Diabetic foot assessment
• Experience in the use of IT applications, specifically of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Experience in health promotion / education

Desirable

• Experience of audit

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Able to use specialist knowledge of Diabetes and Wound care to evaluate and make decisions and recommendations about current and future service provision
• Immediate and significant decision maker
• Excellent interpersonal skills - influencing, motivating, negotiating and communication (written and verbal) skills, across all levels both inside and outside the organisation
• Understanding the requirement for confidentiality & adherence to total confidentiality at all times
• Ability to demonstrate experience of budgetary control
• Aptitude and confidence for working with a rapidly changing environment
• Ability to think laterally with aptitude for clinical reasoning
• Good hand to eye co-ordination, manual dexterity
• Ability to complete and maintain legible and accurate patient records
• Able to foster an open and learning culture
• Able to provide robust clinical leadership by empowering, motivating and supporting staff
• Self-motivation to concentrate for long periods on a daily basis

Communication Skills

Essential

• Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
• Good communicator with ability to develop & maintain good working relationships, both within the team and the organisation.
• Empathic, approachable, and diplomatic

Planning & Organisational Skills

Essential

• Ability to work effectively under pressure, for sustained periods under distracting, demanding and sometimes emotive conditions
• Able to deliver to targets and deadlines
• Multi-tasking ability, able to complete work whilst being subjected to frequent, unpredictable interruptions
• Excellent timekeeping and flexibility

Physical Skills

Essential

• Expert scalpel manipulation
• Ability to undertake Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression (PMVA) training to required level for role.

Other

Essential

• Flexible, adaptable attitude to post
• Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
• Access to vehicle for travelling within and outside the Trust boundaries

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

to be confirmed

to be confirmed

TA1 5DA

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

184-AR5518737-A