NHS WESTERN ISLES

AGENDA FOR CHANGE

JOB DESCRIPTION Podiatry Assistant Practitioner

1. JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Podiatry Assistant Practitioner

Department(s): Podiatry

Job Holder Reference: 143a

No of Job Holders: 1

2. PURPOSE

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will provide comprehensive foot care treatment, advice and continuity of care to patients who have previously been identified, at assessment by a Podiatrist, as unable to manage their own basic foot care needs. The Post holder will make decisions for appropriate referral to other members of the podiatry team and the extended multidisciplinary team eg; District Nursing,GP, making the necessary referrals to the appropriate specialists should a patient’s foot health deteriorate.

The patients are treated in a variety of clinical settings including acute sites, single chair community clinics, patients’ homes, residential and nursing homes. The patients often present with complex medical conditions, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, ischaemia, they may be terminally ill and some have mental health problems or learning difficulties. All are incapable of maintaining their own basic foot health. Some foot conditions bring the Technician into contact with open wounds where blood and other body fluids are present and there is subsequently a possible risk of exposure to HIV, Hepatitis and MRSA.

Apart from the significant patient caseload, the position provides organisation and support to Specialist, and Lead Podiatrists during nail surgery, health promotion sessions, diabetes / wound care clinics and general clinics.

The Podiatry department run training courses. Students attending these courses include nurses, carers, auxiliaries and relatives of patients. The Lead for Health Promotion is

Operational Management Team

Podiatry Service Manager/ESP High Risk (secondment)(1WTE band 7) VACANT

ESP Care of the Elderly Band 7 1WTE

Specialist Generalist (1WTE Band 6)

Podiatry Assistant(Band 4 1WTE)

Specialist Generalist (1WTE Band 6)

Specialist Generalist (1WTE Band 6)VACANT

ESP Musculoskeletal(1WTE Band 7)

Podiatry Administrator (1WTE Band 4)

Specialist Generalist (0.62WTE Band 6)

responsible for the content and implementation of these courses and the Podiatry Assistant supports the teaching, practical observations, and monitoring of the students.

The diversity of the position demands an individual who is flexible and has excellent communication skills. They need to be able to work under pressure, use their own initiative whilst working independently and under the direction of senior colleagues.

The Post holder will continue to develop their knowledge and skills in Podiatry care subsequent to gaining the core qualification as validated by the professional body SoCAP and demonstrate knowledge and skills to SVQ level 3 AHP or the equivalent. Continued development in specific areas of Podiatry care e.g. Diabetic assessments / Health Promotion as post requires.

3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART

4. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST

i. Maintain a caseload of patients that require basic foot care such as nail reduction and lesion redressing, that have previously been assessed by a Podiatrist. The post holder will need to decide the frequency and input of ongoing care. Make decisions on appropriate re-referrals back to Podiatrist or arranging and referring on to the wider disciplinary team e.g.; Occupational Therapy. Arrange annual review of own caseload with supervising Podiatrist

ii. Promoting foot health (factual information) to patients on a one-to-one basis, often working alone and unsupervised in a variety of clinical sites.

iii. To provide care that is often in difficult conditions and may involve the moving and handling of patients that may be immobile, in a wheelchair or bed bound. Treating patients in their homes, working in awkward positions, often crouched on the floor, bending over beds and lifting patients’ limbs.You will regularly be required to attend various clinical locations including the patients own home; this may involve long or short journeys by car and by footTo demonstrate good physical skills and precision hand/eye co-ordination to treat patients. Accuracy and dexterity are important in the safe use of nail nippers

iv. To assist in the wound care clinics under the direction of an Advanced, Specialist or Lead Podiatrist. This involves organising and preparing the clinical environment, assisting patients, cleaning and dressing wounds, making clinical notes and performing basic neurological tests.

v. To assist the Clinical Lead for Nail Surgery during all aspects of the nail surgery procedure including preparing the anaesthetic, administering phenol and preparing dressings.

vi. To have the ability and competency to predict a patient’s clinical outcome and be able to identify when the treatment required is beyond the scope of practice of the Podiatry Assistant, referring patients to senior colleagues for re assessment as appropriate.

vii. To assist the Clinical Lead for Health Promotion and Training in mentoring new staff members and training students.

viii. The Domiciliary shoulder bag, containing all appropriate treatment materials, boxes full of instruments required for the day need to be lifted and carried to and from the car and into patients homes. This can be heavy and awkward

ix. To reduce heel callous formation with use of rasp/file and/or electronic Podiatric Podospray where indicated on patients identified by supervising Podiatrist.

x. Undertake education sessions, delivering foot health information in a presentation format, organising and providing educational materials.

xi. To manufacture new insoles according to prescriptions written by the Podiatrist. To manufacture silicone appliances as required from patient assessment.

xii. To keep accurate, thorough records of all treatments and related work, as required by the Podiatry note keeping standards.

xiii. IM &T skills – working knowledge of Word Processing, Spreadsheets, databases, multi-media presentations (e.g. PowerPoint), Intranet/Internet, Email, Tynedale (clinical management system – including e-referral, appointment scheduling, electronic patient/treatment record, report generation and integrated audit tool) filing and retrieval of patient record cards. Complete and submit mandatory statistics returns/data inputting onto Tynedale

xiv. To be responsible for ordering stores, pharmacy and orthotic suppliers and to inform the line manager of any stock discrepancies and any damaged or defective equipment.

General Clinical Duties

I. Prepare the clinical areas and ensure appropriate infection control procedures adhered to for treatment of patients.

II. Use highly developed physical skills to safely and effectively reduce thickened nails using surgical instruments, such as cantilever nail nippers, files and an electric drill (there may be an increased risk of inhaling fungal spores).

III. To ensure the security of clinical stock, I.T. equipment, all health promotion and educational resources as used by the Podiatry assistant.

IV. To ensure the effective communication of complex information and sensitive patient related information to patients and their relatives or carers. Empowering patients and changing attitudes requires excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills, there may be barriers in understanding and sometimes environments can be hostile. E.g. Alzheimer’s , Stroke, Parkinson’s, etc.

Professional Duties

I. To represent the department and occasionally present at meetings to raise the profile and promote Podiatry services when required to do so. To maintain excellent working relationships with the Podiatry team and other professional groups across the Community Health Services, Hospital Services and Public Health Services divisions.

II. To adhere to SoCAP, Podiatry and NHS Western Isles policies and procedures at all times.

III. To actively participate in Local/National Special interest groups and supporting the development ‘best practice’ and ‘evidence based practice’.

IV. Attend regular departmental meetings.

V. To work within the framework of clinical governance in order to maintain and improve patient care, quality and efficacy.

VI. To take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment that is free from discrimination.

VII. To comply with the NHS Western Isles policy on confidentiality, and the data protection act of 1998 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems.

VIII. To respect the confidentiality, equality, diversity and privacy of clients and staff at all time.

5. STANDARD ELEMENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION:This job description is intended as a guide to the main elements of the role and should not be considered as a complete listing of all duties and tasks that may be undertaken

NHS Western Isles is constantly evolving and subject to change, therefore this job description is subject to review dependent on the needs of the service. Any amendments will be discussed with the post holder.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Employment of NHS Western Isles Health Board.

CONFIDENTIALITY:In the course of your employment with NHS Western Isles Health Board you may handle confidential personal information concerning either patients or staff which may be held by the Board. You must not read, discuss, disclose or pass on confidential information unless it is necessary in the pursuance of your legitimate duties.

Unauthorised disclosure of such information will be treated as a serious disciplinary matter. In addition it is important that you realise that if this confidentiality is breached, this may result in civil proceedings or a criminal prosecution.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:You are required to make positive efforts to maintain your own personal safety and that of others by taking reasonable care, carrying out requirements of the law and following recognised codes of practice. You are also required to be aware of and comply with Board policies on health and safety, etc.

As a staff member you should ensure that you attend mandatory / statutory training and ensure any risk you observe is reported in the appropriate way.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights.Adhere to Health Board policy at all time.Comply with Health Board standing orders, standing financial instructions, policies procedures and guidelines.Treat those you come in contact with equitably and with respect.Recognise the need for aids or adaptations.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:All employees are required to participate in the Appraisal and Personal Development Planning and Review (PDP) process that identifies development and learning needs.

JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

I, (Print Name)…………………………………………………….. confirm that the job description(s) /person specification(s) attached have been discussed with me and are an accurate and up-to-date account of the duties and responsibilities and skills/qualifications required to undertake the post.

Job Holder’s Signature:

Head of Department Signature:

Date:

Date:

NHS WESTERN ISLES - PERSON SPECIFICATION GUIDANCE

Job Title: Podiatry Assistant Practitioner

Department: Podiatry

Location: Western Isles Hospital

FACTOR ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

EXPERIENCEExperience of working in a clinical environment

QUALIFICATIONSTRAININGRESEARCHPUBLICATIONS

A recognised Podiatry Assistant qualification – Level 3 AHP SVQ or equivalent (Training will be provided to gain this qualification if no previous experience) Experience of working in a Health Care Setting

Member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists

Evidence of CPD – Further to basic training

Qualification in teaching. E.g.City and Guilds, Certificate in Skills Trainingin the Workplace (7318) Level 3

A knowledge of specialist practice

A sound knowledge of wound care and healing techniques

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Computer skills including email, Microsoft office

Presentation skills

Mentoring skills

Organisational skills

Time management skills and ability to prioritise workload / caseload

Knowledge of the NHS changing environment and initiatives.

DISPOSITION Commitment to high quality, patient-centred care.

Motivational and assertiveness skills.

Ability to work under own initiative, under pressure and methodically whilst still demonstrating sound clinical reasoning.

Smart and professional in personal, written and verbal presentation.

Excellent communication skills and able to deal sensitively with angry/ distressed clients.

Commitment to teamwork and have evidence of multi disciplinary working.

Competent in using various diagnostic equipment.

OTHERFully licensed car driver or independently able to travel.

To participate in audit and research in order to develop and keep the department up to date.

Have an understanding of managing diversity within the workforce and how it can impact on the post.