Branch: Newry & Mourne area (SHSCT)
Location: John Mitchell Place
Directorate: Mental Health & Disability Services
Salary: Band 6 (£38,682 - £46,580)
Contract Type: Permanent
Opening date: 06/11/26
Closes: Fri, 20 November 2026 @ 4:00 PM
Interview Dates: TBC

Notes: If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage.

A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026.

Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.

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Flexible Working
We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role.
Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

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JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Specialist Podiatrist
Band: Band 6
Directorate: MH & LD
Initial Location: Trust wide – initially based John Mitchel Place, Newry
Reports To: ALD Band 7 Advanced Podiatrist
Accountable To: Head of Podiatry Service
Flexible Working Provisions Available: Fixed working patterns, Part-time working

Job Summary
The post holder shall provide a comprehensive range of assessment, diagnostic and treatment modalities to adults with a learning disability, to include those who have diabetes, rheumatological, vascular or renal disease with limb threatening pathologies. The service will be delivered across a variety of settings e.g. day care facilities, daytime opportunities, supported living, community clinics, nursing homes, domiciliary settings and hospitals. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary team working and high standards of clinical care.

The clinical management of patients with Diabetes, Renal, Rheumatology and circulatory compromised conditions is becoming increasingly specialised with emphasis on wound management and the prevention of serious foot pathologies. The post holder will develop and evaluate individual patient treatment plans for a range of high risk patients and will be expected to use his/her own initiative to develop an interface with the relevant multi-disciplinary team members.

The post holder will participate in relevant audit and research projects within the podiatry service.

Key Duties / Responsibilities
Clinical Duties

• To provide a professionally competent podiatry service to ALD clients, with particular emphasis on the delivery of services to patients deemed high risk in the community setting.
• Assess all patients, develop, initiate and implement individual treatment plans and evaluate/monitor progress for the ALD client group.
• To be responsible for the planning and management of own caseload.
• Provision of a clinically safe environment.
• Be involved in appropriate wound care and tissue viability intervention.
• Complete individual patient records and provide statistical information as necessary.
• Work in collaboration with General Practitioners and relevant Consultants and their multi-disciplinary care teams to meet the needs of the ALD client group.
• Liaison with hospital and community health and social services staff as appropriate.
• Liaison with the Orthopaedic Footwear Service regarding the provision of prescription and surgical footwear.
• To be accountable for the quality of service delivered ensuring all local and regional guidelines are met.
• To ensure all Health and Safety requirements are met, contributing to or undertaking formal risk assessment and formulating appropriate action plans.
• Be responsible for ordering stock, equipment and appliances in relation to the provision of the ALD service.
• Be responsible for audit of stock and be accountable for appliances issued.
• Provide clinical cover for colleagues as and when required.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and departmental meetings.
• Provision of professional leadership and support to other staff involved in the department in the care of ALD clients.
• Undertake minor skin surgery and biomechanical evaluation.
• To provide a domiciliary service as required.

Clinical Governance and Audit

• To participate in clinical governance initiatives and developments.
• Participate in the development of protocols and audit tools specific to the service.
• Participate in audit and monitoring of set standards.
• Adhere to the SHSCT Podiatry Service Policies and Procedures, and existing professional standards.
• Assist and participate in public involvement through involving service users, their carers and the wider public in all decision making that affects them as individuals or as a community through a range of consultation processes.

Raising Concerns – Responsibilities

• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.
• The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Trust's 'Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)' policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

Personal and Public Involvement Responsibilities (PPI)
Involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community where relevant, in developing, planning, delivering and evaluating our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI) and Co-Production. Further information is available at engage.hscni.net

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to:

• Ensure the Trust's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.
• Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example: Smoke Free policy; IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct; standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour.
• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.
• Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
• All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust's policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
• Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
• Represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

Personnel Specification
Job Title and Band: Specialist ALD Podiatrist Band 6
Department / Directorate: MH & LD
Hours: 22.25 hours

Essential Criteria (Section 1 – Shortlisting)

• Experience: Two years post graduate clinical experience in the management of the high risk patient. Experience of minor surgical procedures, biomechanical examination and orthotic prescription.
• Qualifications / Registration: Hold a BSc or Diploma in Chiropody/Podiatry. Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Applicants qualified prior to 1980 must hold a certificate in local analgesia and minor skin surgery. Prescription Only Medicines (POMS) qualification.
• Other: Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Essential Criteria (Section 2 – Interview)

• Skills / Abilities: Ability to undertake a supervisory / mentoring role. Effective planning & organisational skills with an ability to prioritise own workload. Effective communication skills to meet the needs of the post in full. Ability to identify solutions to problems and implement them effectively. Ability to work to tight timescales whilst meeting targets. Demonstrate a commitment to the provision of high quality and safe services with an ability to drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Knowledge: Demonstrate sound clinical knowledge of the management of serious foot pathology with emphasis on renal disease, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and rheumatological conditions. Have an excellent understanding of all relevant legislation that applies to the delivery of Podiatry Services.

Desirable Criteria (Section 3)

• Experience: Evidence of previous experience of working with ALD client group.
• Qualifications: Evidence of post graduate study in the relevant area.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer

Successful applicants:

• may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
• can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
• are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times.