Podiatrist

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated podiatrist with a can do attitude to work with the Gateshead Podiatry Service. We welcome applications from newly qualified graduates, who will be supported in post by an assigned mentor. The successful applicant will work within Gateshead, providing podiatric care to patients in a variety of settings including community clinics, care homes and on a domiciliary basis.

A full, clean driving license is essential, and must have access to your own vehicle and be able to travel and work independently.

This Band 5 post may also encompass aspects such as lone working, diabetes foot care, wound care, nail surgery, chairside biomechanics and orthoses manufacture. Applicants will need to be competent autonomous practitioners to meet the current caseload demands.

Please see the job description for the definitive qualifications, knowledge and skills required for this post. Anyone applying for a position which involves a regulated activity will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and that the disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children or working with adults or both.

• Provide routine podiatry care to a diverse range of patients within Gateshead Community.
• Assess and review patients appropriately and develop and adjust care packages relevant to patients needs.
• Provide diabetic care including the identification of diabetic risk factors, undertaking annual diabetic risk classification and the categorisation of patients into the appropriate risk banding.
• Manage patients presenting with chronic disease (e.g. rheumatological conditions), autoimmune conditions (e.g. HIV, AIDS), and patients presenting with high risk infectious diseases (e.g. MRSA, Hepatitis).
• Potentially manage patients presenting with vascular problems and wound management / tissue viability issues who present in lower risk clinics.
• Undertake nail surgery assessments and treatment as appropriate.
• Manufacture and provide simple insoles, orthoses and chairside appliances.
• Be responsible for the assessment of all patients with subsequent production of individual care packages and provision of the appropriate footcare education advice.
• Maintain registration with HCPC and work within the HCPC Code of Conduct, clinical governance policies and procedures and adhere to the Patients Charter.

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead. Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values are the core of who we are and can be remembered by the acronym ICORE:
Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement. We have networks including BAME, D-Ability, LGBTQ+ Network, Womens Network, and an emerging Armed Forces network. We offer a Balance programme to support staff wellbeing and a diverse workforce.

The post will be based in the podiatry service with a nominal base at Bensham Hospital within Gateshead. Please see the attached job description and person specification for the main roles and responsibilities of this post.

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