Camden High Risk Podiatrist UCLH

Camden High Risk Podiatrist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly motivated High-Risk Podiatrist to join our service in a permanent 3 days (22.5 hrs) post, working primarily at University College London Hospital (UCLH). This is a rewarding role at the forefront of specialist podiatric care, where you will play a pivotal role in preventing limb loss, enhancing quality of life, and delivering outstanding outcomes for patients with complex high-risk foot conditions.

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly motivated High-Risk Podiatrist to join our service in a permanent 3 days (22.5 hrs) post, working primarily at University College London Hospital (UCLH). This is a rewarding role at the forefront of specialist podiatric care, where you will play a pivotal role in preventing limb loss, enhancing quality of life, and delivering outstanding outcomes for patients with complex high-risk foot conditions.

As a senior clinician, you are required bring extensive Band 7-level expertise in the management of diabetes-related foot disease, vascular complications of the lower limb, and complex wound care. Working as an integral member of podiatry and multidisciplinary diabetes and vascular teams, you will provide and lead on delivering care, assessment, treatment, and ongoing management for patients with highly complex needs in an acute hospital setting.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to support and influence patient care across the wider service, working closely with community podiatry colleagues, offering specialist guidance, advice, to manage complex foot conditions and deliver high-quality patient care. A key aspect of the role is developing others through, supervision, education, coaching, and mentorship of staff, students, and apprentices, helping to build skills, confidence, and future expertise within the podiatry workforce.

Main duties of the job

To provide specialist footcare for patient with complex high-risk foot problems. This includes diabetes patients with acute and chronic foot wounds, patients with neuropathic and vascular complications, patient with foot complications who are immunosuppressed and patients who have poor tissue viability, vulnerable patients and patients with complex mental health issues.

The post holder will be clinically accountable and responsible for treatment of the high-risk caseload working autonomously as well as work as part of the multidisciplinary team. The post requires accepting emergency referrals from GPs, community podiatrists, and other health professionals and will provide responsive specialist care.

A need for education and up-skilling of clinical and care staff working with diabetic care. There will be also be a responsibility for patient education.

Working for our organisation

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.

We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• To work in accordance with College of Podiatry and Health and Care Professions Council Code of Professional Conduct including scope of professional practice.
• To assess, manage and treat high risk complex caseload consisting of patients with: acute and chronic diabetic foot problems, pre and post operative amputations wounds and acute and chronic neuropathic, vascular foot/lower limb problems
• To use clinical reasoning skill in the assessment, diagnoses and formulating treatment plans of patients with a variety of high-risk foot problems and other medical conditions
• To provide podiatry care including wound care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
• To use clinical reasoning skill in the assessment, diagnoses and formulating treatment plans of patients with a variety of high risk foot problems and medical conditions ability to cope with unpredictable work patterns as necessitated in acute wound care clinics
• To recognise and request when diagnostics are required and make onward referrals as needed.
• To recognise the need, undertake and understand the result of investigations such as microbiology, x-ray, and scans and respond appropriately.
• To have highly developed physical skills, precision hand/eye co-ordination which involves highly skilled debridement techniques of acute/chronic, neuropathic and ischaemic wounds, often for prolonged periods.
• Develop and contribute to the care and management of complex wounds and lower limb complications
• To apply and practice principles of wound management
• Have advance knowledge of dressing and there modes of action and appropriate indications of their use in wound care.
• To have a good working knowledge of biomechanics and its role wound care and basic musculoskeletal problems.
• To take the clinical diabetes/high risk foot specialist role within the multidisciplinary diabetes foot team.
• To promote multidisciplinary team working.
• To provide diabetes and other high risk foot care within community, specialist clinics, secondary care, wards and in patient/nursing/residential homes, this will be based on agreed referral criteria and ensuring patients are not placed at risk.
• To take direct referrals from GP; community podiatry and community nursing in the hospital setting and providing rapid access and expert clinical advise and intervention based on agreed referral criteria.
• To provide podiatry care including wound care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions
• To have highly developed physical skills, precision hand/eye co-ordination which involves highly skilled debridement techniques of acute/chronic, neuropathic and ischaemic wounds, often for prolonged periods.
• To line manage staff providing them with regular supervision and being available when they need.
• To take an active role in education of staff, students and apprentices.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• HCPC Registration
• Diploma/BSc (Hons) in Podiatry
• Hold a Certificate in local anaesthesia
• RCOP Diabetic/vascular foot modules or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Clinical masters degree
• IRMER Course
• Woundcare Course

Skills & Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Extensive knowledge of the effect of diabetes and vascular complications in podiatric care.
• Sound knowledge and experience in wound care including treatment modalities and Biomechanics
• Demonstrates current clinical knowledge regarding evidence base and best practices
• Ability and knowledge of appropriate investigations required In the treatment of the high risk foot
• Ability and experience of foot health education/promotion of the high risk foot
• Knowledge of national policy relating to the diabetic foot
• Effective organisational skills
• Knowledge of the issues involved with a diverse population
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills in pressure off loading in the high risk foot in the treatment of ulceration and prevention of ulcer in the high risk foot

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive post graduate experience in the NHS working with high risk diabetic feet Podiatry
• Experience of education of healthcare professionals
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Experience of working across primary and secondary care
• Previous experience of line – management (supervision & appraisal)
• Wide range of clinical experience including complex wound care, with emphasis on patient with diabetes/vascular complications

Desirable criteria

• Experience of delivering patient education package
• Involvement in undergraduate and post graduate training
• CPD in leadership and management

Key Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication, IT, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritise & plan own workload to meet deadlines & competing demands; demonstrating flexibility
• Involvement in regular Audit or Research & Development