Job summary
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and dynamic Principal Podiatrist to lead the High Risk Foot and Wound Care pathway. This Band 8a role is central to the delivery of advanced podiatric care across outpatient clinics, inpatient services, and community settings.
The post holder will provide expert clinical leadership within the Acute Foot Service, supporting timely and evidence-based management of complex lower limb pathology, including diabetic foot disease, vascular compromise, and non-healing wounds. The role also includes strategic input into community wound care provision, ensuring continuity of care across the pathway.
Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, including Diabetes, Vascular, Microbiology, Orthotists and Infectious Diseases, the post holder will contribute to joint clinics, virtual ward rounds, and the OPAT/COPAT service. This is a key leadership position, supporting service development, staff education, and clinical governance, while ensuring compliance with NICE NG19 and national standards.
Main duties of the job
The Principal Podiatrist will lead the High Risk Foot and Wound Care pathway across acute and community settings, providing advanced clinical care and strategic oversight. Key responsibilities include:
- Delivering expert assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients with complex lower limb pathology, including diabetic foot disease, vascular compromise, and non-healing wounds.
- Leading the Acute Foot Service and contributing to joint diabetic foot clinics, virtual ward rounds, and OPAT/COPAT pathways, ensuring safe and effective management of patients receiving IV or long-term oral antibiotic therapy.
- Providing clinical leadership and education to podiatry staff and wider health professionals, supporting skill development and evidence-based practice across the MDT.
- Supporting admission avoidance through timely intervention and escalation, in line with NICE NG19 guidance.
- Driving service development through audit, data analysis, and quality improvement initiatives, contributing to pathway design and evaluation.
- Managing operational aspects of the service, including staff supervision, performance management, and budget oversight.
About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
- Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
- Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
- Improving the experience of staff with disability
- Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
- Making equalities mainstream
Job description
Job responsibilities
This Band 8a Principal Podiatrist role provides advanced clinical leadership across the High Risk Foot and Wound Care pathway, with responsibility for both the Acute Foot Service and community wound care support. The post holder will lead on the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care for patients with complex lower limb pathology, including diabetic foot disease, vascular compromise, and non-healing wounds.
Key responsibilities include:
-
Clinical Leadership: Provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for patients with limb- or life-threatening foot conditions. Lead wound care caseload conferences and act as a clinical advisor across acute and community teams.
-
Multidisciplinary Working: Collaborate closely with Diabetes, Vascular, Orthotists, Infectious Diseases, and Microbiology teams through joint clinics and virtual ward rounds. Act as lead podiatrist for OPAT/COPAT pathways, ensuring safe and effective management of patients receiving IV or long-term oral antibiotic therapy.
-
Education and Workforce Development: Lead on wound care education across the podiatry team and wider MDT, including district nurses, tissue viability nurses, and primary care clinicians. Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, and support for staff development.
-
Service Development and Governance: Drive quality improvement initiatives, contribute to audit and data analysis (e.g. NDFA), and support service evaluation. Participate in pressure ulcer panels and contribute to clinical incident reviews and pathway redesign.
-
Operational Management: Oversee the Acute Foot Service, including rota planning, staff supervision, budget monitoring, and service reporting. Line manage Band 6 and 7 podiatrists, ensuring performance and development objectives are met.
-
Advanced Practice: The role is underpinned by the four pillars of advanced practice clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. The post holder will demonstrate autonomous decision-making and contribute to strategic planning across the service.
This is a pivotal role within the Foot Health Service, offering the opportunity to shape integrated care pathways and improve outcomes for patients with high-risk foot conditions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This Band 8a Principal Podiatrist role provides advanced clinical leadership across the High Risk Foot and Wound Care pathway, with responsibility for both the Acute Foot Service and community wound care support. The post holder will lead on the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care for patients with complex lower limb pathology, including diabetic foot disease, vascular compromise, and non-healing wounds.
Key responsibilities include:
-
Clinical Leadership: Provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for patients with limb- or life-threatening foot conditions. Lead wound care caseload conferences and act as a clinical advisor across acute and community teams.
-
Multidisciplinary Working: Collaborate closely with Diabetes, Vascular, Orthotists, Infectious Diseases, and Microbiology teams through joint clinics and virtual ward rounds. Act as lead podiatrist for OPAT/COPAT pathways, ensuring safe and effective management of patients receiving IV or long-term oral antibiotic therapy.
-
Education and Workforce Development: Lead on wound care education across the podiatry team and wider MDT, including district nurses, tissue viability nurses, and primary care clinicians. Provide clinical supervision, mentorship, and support for staff development.
-
Service Development and Governance: Drive quality improvement initiatives, contribute to audit and data analysis (e.g. NDFA), and support service evaluation. Participate in pressure ulcer panels and contribute to clinical incident reviews and pathway redesign.
-
Operational Management: Oversee the Acute Foot Service, including rota planning, staff supervision, budget monitoring, and service reporting. Line manage Band 6 and 7 podiatrists, ensuring performance and development objectives are met.
-
Advanced Practice: The role is underpinned by the four pillars of advanced practice clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. The post holder will demonstrate autonomous decision-making and contribute to strategic planning across the service.
This is a pivotal role within the Foot Health Service, offering the opportunity to shape integrated care pathways and improve outcomes for patients with high-risk foot conditions.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- Degree/Diploma in Podiatric Medicine
- HCPC Registration
- Local Anaesthetic Certification
- IRMER Certification
- Masters-level education in advanced practice, wound care, diabetes or equivalent
- Independent Prescribing qualification or working towards
Desirable
- Teaching/Education qualification
- Leadership/Management training
- Published research in wound care/diabetes
Experience
Essential
- Significant NHS experience in specialist diabetic wound care (acute and community)
- Clinical governance (e.g. audit, incident reporting)
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Service development or QI projects
- Staff education and supervision
- Virtual MDTs (e.g. OPAT)
Desirable
- Experience teaching or presenting to MDTs
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Expert knowledge of high-risk foot and wound care
- Advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making
- Ability to lead MDT case reviews and ward rounds
- Data analysis and audit skills
- Digital literacy (clinical systems, Microsoft Office)
- Excellent communication and teaching skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Proactive and self-directed
- Organised and adaptable
- Collaborative across services
- Committed to continuous improvement
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- Degree/Diploma in Podiatric Medicine
- HCPC Registration
- Local Anaesthetic Certification
- IRMER Certification
- Masters-level education in advanced practice, wound care, diabetes or equivalent
- Independent Prescribing qualification or working towards
Desirable
- Teaching/Education qualification
- Leadership/Management training
- Published research in wound care/diabetes
Experience
Essential
- Significant NHS experience in specialist diabetic wound care (acute and community)
- Clinical governance (e.g. audit, incident reporting)
- Multidisciplinary team working
- Service development or QI projects
- Staff education and supervision
- Virtual MDTs (e.g. OPAT)
Desirable
- Experience teaching or presenting to MDTs
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Expert knowledge of high-risk foot and wound care
- Advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making
- Ability to lead MDT case reviews and ward rounds
- Data analysis and audit skills
- Digital literacy (clinical systems, Microsoft Office)
- Excellent communication and teaching skills
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Proactive and self-directed
- Organised and adaptable
- Collaborative across services
- Committed to continuous improvement
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
