Job summary
Surrey Downs Health & Care

B3 Podiatry assistant

We have an exciting opportunity for a Podiatry assistant to join Surrey Downs Health & Care Podiatry team. The role will include working as part of the Podiatry team providing foot care and education advice to a dedicated caseload of patients referred by a podiatrist. They will also assist the podiatrists whilst working in foot clinics for diagnostics, simple wound dressings and as an assistant in nail surgery. The service is delivered in community clinics, community hospital sites and in care home and domiciliary settings, the successful candidate will be expected to work across these sites and have access to own car.

Full training and development support from our inclusive and friendly team will be given. For more information please contact

Laura Price Clinical lead Podiatrist
laura.price29@nhs.net

Main duties of the job
To provide a range of clinical, diagnostic and administrative functions

To work as an integral member of the podiatry team, providing a high standard of foot care to a pre-assessed caseload of patients.

To assist podiatrists to carry out foot care and health promotion activities, to maintain or improve health, independence and quality of life. This requires a general knowledge of all aspects of podiatric practice to know when to refer patients, and successfully manage own caseload.

Organise and assist in podiatric clinics. This may include clerical duties such as pre and post op organisation of nail surgery for example.

Diagnostic tests as directed by Podiatrists using equipment such as Doppler or toe pressure machines, reporting findings to Podiatrist.

To undertake defined administrative responsibilities e.g. stock management for the department, orthotics, ordering and dispatch, collating audit data.

About us
Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.

Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:

• The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
• Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Surrey Council County

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.

It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.

In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.

Job responsibilities
To provide high quality foot treatment to maintain patients mobility, independence and prevention of hospital admission.

To carry own patient caseload, continually assessing and treating routine patients, following patients individual treatment plans after they have been assessed by a podiatrist. These plans include utilising a variety of podiatric skills and being able to manage non routine situations as they arise. Monitor and evaluate progress, making minor alterations to treatment programmes as required. Undertake risk assessments when carrying out domiciliary visits, and working with challenging clients / in different environments.

Work unsupervised reporting back patient progress and informing the podiatrists of any problems. Meeting regularly with an assigned lead to assess progress and review development of clinical skills. To provide support in dressings clinics including carrying out simple re-dressing procedures and postoperative advice as set by podiatrists. To ensure best practice when exposed to unpleasant working conditions including, maintaining infection control standards and working in accordance with Trust Health & Safety Guidelines. The role includes a wide range of support tasks in addition to patient focused time. All of the tasks are important to ensure the service runs smoothly and that patients receive the best possible service. Good communication and people skills are at the core of all of the duties involved in this post. To attend specialist clinical sessions gaining knowledge and experience in more advanced areas of podiatric practice.

Qualifications
Essential

• Car Driver (Full Licence) with access to a car for business use
• Evidence of secondary education including English & Mathematics at C or above

Desirable

• Podiatry assistant or health care equivalent qualification equivalent to NVQ level 3 or equivalent demonstrable previous experience or completion of a local competency

Experience/ Knowledge
Essential

• Commitment to continuous learning and development

Desirable

• Previous experience working within a health/care setting Previous experience as a Podiatry Assistant with own caseload Electronic patient record knowledge Experience in ABPI/vascular checks Experience in assisting in Nail Surgery clinics

Skills
Essential

• Able to convey tasks and actions to colleagues and service users.
• Ability to assist patients to achieve safe working environments for treatments to be carried out.
• Ability to perform treatments in a Application Form & Interview variety of settings such as clinics, residential homes, patients' own homes and nursing care sites.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).