Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.     CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1.1 To perform comprehensive podiatric assessment of adults and children with diverse presentations and complex physical and medical conditions, and to provide a clinical diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

1.2. To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type depending on rotation, working without direct supervision. Supervision takes the form of regular clinical reasoning sessions including peer and case reviews.  Access to advice and support from a more senior podiatrist is available when required. 

1.3 To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

1.4 To participate in evidence-based audit/or a project to further own and team’s clinical practice within each rotation.  Make recommendations to clinical lead or manager where appropriate. Contribute to the implementation of specific changes to practice or contribute to service protocols with support and guidance from more senior staff. 

2.     RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS 

2.1 To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.

2.2 To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies. To use advanced clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical diagnosis of their condition.

2.3 Formulate and deliver individual podiatric treatment programmes based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options.

2.4 To take delegated responsibility from Senior team members for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist podiatric assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions within each service area/rotation.

2.5 To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention and, where appropriate, contribute to comprehensive discharge plans in conjunction with other members of the podiatry team and or multi-disciplinary team.

2.6 Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

2.7. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients and carers to progress treatment programmes.  This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.  For example, patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, and blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis.

2.8 Evaluate patient progress, reassess and modify treatment programmes as required leading to discharge and self-care where appropriate.

2.9 To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload, in line with Trust policies and procedures.

2.10 To deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, mental health conditions, or limited mobility or potentially limb threatening conditions.

3.     RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT 

3.1 To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload, and in line with Trust

policies and procedures.

3.2 To work within Trust clinical guidelines, national and professional body guidelines and standards, and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.

3.3 When working in the community and domiciliary settings, to work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a more senior podiatrist as required.

3.4 Where appropriate, to supervise assistants’ standard of record keeping/clinical work in line with professional and Trust standards.

3.5 To be responsible for the maintenance of the clinical environment, and             security of stock in own work area.

3.6 To participate in the collection of evidence required by the department to meet

key performance targets, CQC evidence, and any other initiatives concerned with

Clinical Governance. In addition to undertake audits/evidence based projects to

aid service improvements. Make recommendations to management.

3.7 To be responsible for organising and planning own domiciliary caseload to meet service and patient priorities.  Readjust plans as situation change/arise.

3.8 Be responsible for the safe and competent use of any equipment used in the process of assessment and treatment of patients.

3.9 To decide priorities for own work area, balancing patient related and professional demands, and ensure that these remain in accordance with those of the team and service as a whole

4.     RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

4.1 To be responsible for the maintenance of your clinical environment and security of stock in own work area.

4.2 To be responsible for the safe and competent use of any equipment when

used in the process of assessment and treatment of patients.

4.3 Carry out assessment and treatment of podiatric conditions with moderate

 physical, mental, and emotional effort daily.

4.4 To comply with the Trust Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic

handling guidance.

4.5 Your work may involve the potential frequent exposure to unpleasant

 working conditions e.g., bodily fluids including blood and pus, and occasional

 exposure to fleas, lice, verbal, and physical aggression.

4.6 On a regular basis to work with patients through interpreters, where interaction through a third party increases emotional and mental effort.

4.7 Lone Working – to assess and manage risk when working alone in a domiciliary or clinical setting.

5.     RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

5.1 Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in the areas of each rotation, developing specialist knowledge of conditions and patient types.

5.2 To be responsible for supervising assistants on podiatric skills and knowledge within core clinical areas supported by the supervision and direction of more senior staff.

5.3. Ensure that your own practice and that of other staff under your supervision

 meets required professional standards of podiatric practice.

6.     RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

 6.1 To be responsible for maintaining timely, accurate and comprehensive patient

treatment records in line with recognised professional standards of practice (i.e.,

from the Royal College of Podiatry, HCPC, and North Mid Trust policies). 

 6.2 To record patient appointment outcomes/discharges on RIO in a timely fashion.

 6.3 To be responsible for accessing all relevant IT applications and software

 applicable to your work duties i.e. Rio progress notes, tendable audits, 

 Phoenix training portal, referral platforms.

7.     RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 

7.1 To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

7.2 Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet individual and service objectives.

7.3 Be an active member of the in-service training programmes, individual supervision sessions, external courses, and peer review.

7.4 Be actively involved in professional networking, keeping up to date with

developments within Podiatry to facilitate service delivery.