Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:

·         Provide a quality service by practicing as a highly specialist autonomous practitioner across the variety of Podiatric specialisms delivered in a variety of settings.

·         Provide Triage for management of referrals received for a wide variety of podiatric conditions engaging with colleagues in Community and Secondary Care.

·         To undertake comprehensive complex assessment, diagnosis and intervention, using investigative, analytical and advanced clinical reasoning skills to formulate individualised treatment programmes. This will include identifying and advising medical colleagues on the need for further intervention.

·         To request and act upon the results of investigations e.g. medical imaging and refer to other services as required e.g. orthopaedic consultant.

·         Undertake appropriate level of Point of Care ultrasound of specific pathways.

·         Formulate and present accurate client based reports to others. This will include
discharge summaries to referring agent including advice on future management.

·         Undertake specialist treatment interventions utilising highly developed manual skills, in-depth knowledge of pain and psychological science, the anatomy and physiology of exercise and movement strategies along with advanced podiatric skills.

·         Be able to communicate with service users to gain consent to treatment and to inform/agree expected treatment outcomes.

·         Be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive treatment notes for each individual patient.

·         Be responsible for own personal development through CPD. Undertake audits and assessments of their own practice.

·         Use evidence based practice, audits and published research to inform their own practice.

·         Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of their professional and clinical work.

·         Provide effective high level communication this will include complex and sensitive clinical and managerial information and may include advising other professionals.

·         Involve patients, relative and carers in the planning of treatment programmes including overcoming barriers to communication, gaining consent for assessment and interventions and providing advice and education.

·         Be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Podiatrist.

·         To initiate and undertake audit and contribute to research projects into specific areas of clinical practice using a range of methodologies to enhance service delivery.

·         Participate in the critical analysis of research outcomes and or relevant literature in order to maintain expert levels of clinical knowledge and practice.

·         Where required and in line with Health Board policies deliver treatment programmes which may include diagnostic injections or prescribing.

·         To communicate complex information with other health and social Care Professionals and/or the 3rd sector to support pathway of care.

·         Provide an expert resource as required, including reviewing and implementation of new clinical service models.

·         Participate with the multi-disciplinary/agency team to provide a coordinated approach to management of patient’s care.

·         Manage clinical risk within own caseload and working with colleagues to manage risk within specific areas.

·         Practice within All Wales network for their specialty.

·         Fulfil the regulatory requirements for practice as set out by the Health and Care Professions Council.

·         Maintain personal and team standards with regard to clinical documentation ensuring this is in line with Health and Care Professions Council and the organisation Standards of Practice.

·         Contribute to the development of standards and implementation for Podiatry practitioners in the Health Board. This will include contribution to the development of guidance, protocols and pathways of care that span primary, community and secondary care.

·         Participate in the work of clinical/professional practice groups in line with the needs of the service.

·         Demonstrate leadership skills that can span different pathway areas e.g. working as part of an in-reaching health provision  an MDT team such as CMATS, and with secondary care consultants e.g. radiologist or orthopaedic consultant, and core MSK Podiatry.

·         Demonstrate psychomotor learning required to perform actions of fine motor skills e.g. as required with foreign body removal. The ability to appreciate the degree of tissue resistance on debridement is important in making an informed decision on safe and appropriate scalpel technique.

·         Demonstrate highly developed physical skills with high degree of precision and high levels of hand, eye and sensory co-ordination necessary to conduct neurological, vascular, biomechanics, dermatological assessments in the context of the emergency department.

·         Work collaboratively with a range of healthcare professionals both within Health Board and external agencies in all fields of practice including undertaking delegated operational responsibility duties where required.

·         Provide expert advice regarding specialist fields both inside and outside the organisation.

·         Provide expert opinion and support to staff in the management of complex patient presentations.

·         Influence the care provided by other Health and Social Care professions through provision of specialist guidance and involvement in formal teaching.

·         Take a proactive role in the clinical leadership and supervision of staff within specialist area. This may include supervising/mentoring MDT staff members and will include participating as a supervisee.

·         Network/benchmark externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding specialist service.

·         Manage the administrative functions relating to the referral, treatment and discharge processes for the referral. This includes statistical data from own caseload and wider service to produce performance measurement and monitoring.

·         Manage working patterns in line with requirements and agreements reached regarding performance management, in their area.

·         Assist in the recruitment process for the wider Podiatry and Orthotic service.

·         Contribute to multidisciplinary team building within the in-reach health provision and policy development where appropriate, including the negotiation of collaborative working arrangements.

·         Represent the Podiatry and Orthotics service in service planning as required.

·         Ensure co-ordination of clinical area including clinical prioritisation based on clinical risk.

·         Working with colleagues to identify clinical priorities and service development needs.

·         Advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfalls, service pressures, working environment and equipment requirements.

·         In conjunction with colleagues, ensure the effective use of all resources.

·         Take the delegated lead on the development of a particular team objective or project.

·         Demonstrate negotiation skills and management of conflict including investigating concerns ensuring when appropriate lessons are learnt.

·         Demonstrate awareness and adherence to service objectives / plan.

·         Support the development, implementation and analysis of outcome measures within the specialty.

·         To develop and implement clinical policies, protocols and guidelines within specialty within the framework of clinical governance, evidence based medicine and best practice.

·         To contribute to the development, implementation and analysis of outcome and experience measures for the service and ensure dissemination of findings
though a variety of methods such as publishing articles and presentation at conferences.

·         Responsible for own continuous professional development though the use of appropriate learning opportunities and maintain portfolio. This includes self- education and reflective practice at appropriate learning events, which may include in-service training post graduate training, peer review in order to maintain or update knowledge as agreed in your personal development plan.

·         Participate in the appraisal system as both appraiser/appraise and be responsible for fulfilling your agreed objectives and personal development plan.

·         Be responsible for completion of mandatory training as required by the Health Board and job role.

·         Participate in MDT training, both providing training and receiving training to develop own skills and those of the MDT in providing patient centered prudent care.

·         Take a key role in educating, teaching, supervising and assessing performance of delegated staff. This includes work based learning and presentations.

·         Actively participate in in-service training through the development and delivery of presentations and teaching.

·         Ensure maintenance of training records, according to Health Board requirements.

·        Ensure safe use of equipment used by self and others