Job responsibilities
Patient CareYou will undertake regular review of the wound care caseload, ensuring timely transfer and referral of patients along the wound care pathway, asthe wound progresses or deteriorates. Participating in 4-6 weekly caseload reviews with the principal podiatrist for wound care.To provide clinical support to other wound care lead podiatrists as required.
To ensure adequate cover is provided for any planned or unplanned leave.To act as a source of clinical expertise and co-ordinator of care to other Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust professionals involved in themanagement of people with complex foot wounds.
To utilise advanced podiatric assessment skills in the care of the patient with a lower limb wound/ulcer site. To review aetiology and pathology ofthe site, determining diagnosis, rationale for treatment, care plans and appropriate referral.
Work closely with the principal podiatrist for wound care.To lead and provide support and advice to colleagues on house bound patients on the end of life pathway.
To verify category 3/4 pressure ulcers identified by podiatrists in the home visiting environment. To report all category 2-4 pressure ulcers onUlysses regarding designated caseload. In line with current practice. To provide necessary details of said report to electronic risk managementsystem when requested. Reporting adult safeguarding alerts as necessary when category 3 or category 4 pressure ulcers are identified.
To liaise with DN colleagues/leads to ensure seamless shared provision and request joint assessment when indicated. To act as a conduit toresolve any issues concerning shared care.
To administer appropriate drugs and medicines in line with legal requirements and the Royal college of Podiatrists code of professional conduct,recognising contra-indications and relevant risk factors in each individual patient.
To competently use advanced wound care knowledge to aid the selection of the most appropriate choice from a range of specialist dressings.To competently use knowledge of advanced and customised pressure relieving strategies used in the management of pressure ulcers.
To provide biomechanical assessment of the bedbound patient or those living with reduced mobility and refer for specialist input when indicatedi.e. worsening contractures. To have an advanced knowledge of pressure relieving devices available to podiatrists and prescribe appropriately.To identify when the diagnostic and treatment skills are outside the scope of practice of an advanced Podiatrist, referring on to an appropriateclinical specialist (e.g. vascular opinion) in a timely manner.
To communicate necessary information, including care plans, efficiently and effectively with relevant colleagues, carers and with the patient.To promote a patient centred approach to patient care.
To assess, explain and obtain consent to carry out any podiatric treatment.To maintain accurate, comprehensive professional case notes of all direct and indirect patient contact electronic patient record system.To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of the post holders own work.To initiate and request best interest meetings on behalf of patients with the wider MDT in primary care when indicated.
Educational Role
To use your expert clinical knowledge/skills to provide clinical support, supervision and direction to other Podiatrists working within the domiciliarysetting.
To provide/facilitate education and advice to the foot health team on best care in the management and care of patients on the end of life pathway
To provide induction for all new members of the Foot health team on best practice when working in the home visiting environment, (includingresidential and nursing homes). Using guidelines as a framework to provide guidance and support to all podiatrists working in the home visitingservice.
To provide an annual service specific update in department protected learning time (PLT) sessions and contribute to the PLT agenda to includeupdates specific to this speciality.
Service ManagementTo operationally manage the foot health home visiting service in Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. This will include: To develop and update appropriate service operating procedures, protocols, guidelines or patient leaflets for the home visiting service To induct all new staff into the home visiting service, ensuring all staff are aware of best practice and relevant policies/procedures To undertake the triage of all new referrals into the service, ensuring those accessing the service are housebound and are scheduledfor treatment in a timely manner based on podiatric need and medical risk. To maintain and develop communication links with other community services including District nursing, physiotherapy, OT etc To monitor key performance areas within the home visiting service e.g. diabetic foot assessments and ensure action plans aredeveloped and implemented in liaison with the Head of Podiatry service. To undertake the effective daily management of the home visiting caseload, prioritising resources according to podiatric need andmedical risk To effectively communicate with and develop the links with nursing and residential homes in Lewisham to best support the delivery ofeffective and efficient podiatric services to patients meeting our access requirements within those care settings, supporting with theservice level agreements in place with these providers.To provide additional support to the triaging of all new referrals to the wider Foot Health Service and support outpatient admin in appointing asappropriate.
To actively contribute to the development of guidance and resources to best support triage for both the Home Visiting and wider Foot HealthService, promoting these within the team at Team Meetings.
To Deputise on behalf of the Head of Service or Deputy Head of Service at department, divisional or local meetings as requested and feedback tothe Head of Service thereafter.
To actively participate and contribute to the development of the service operational and development plan, leading on delegated projects.To represent Foot Health Services as part of the Adult safeguarding Operational Board. Keeping the Foot Health service manager and team up todate and fully informed on relevant developments, and recommendations. To act as conduit for members of the Home visiting service whensafeguarding alerts are raised and to liaise with social services to verify action plans. To attend MDT case conferences when serious concerns areraised.
To propose, develop and follow through to ratification changes to departmental protocols and procedures, relevant to and required by the homevisiting service.To undertake clinical audit and evaluate treatment outcomes utilising such information to improve patient care.To undertake investigations into category 3/4 pressure ulcer incidents as delegated by the Head / Deputy Head of service, including the writing ofthe report using the Trusts pressure ulcer template.To participate as necessary in the recruitment, selection and induction of new podiatric staff.To ensure all line managed staff absences are reported in line with the Trusts sickness and absence policy.WorkforceTo be able to work autonomously at times, and at other times work collaboratively as an integrated team player, within the foot health wound careteam and across other health care providers/agencies where necessary.To act as lead podiatrist for a designated wound care caseload (1 of 4 designated caseloads in Lewisham)To lead and provide support to band 6 podiatrists undertaking wound care within your caseload.Utilise the support/advice of the principal podiatrist for wound care for the most challenging cases as required.To provide guidance and advice to all staff working within the home visiting environment on best practice, including health & safety in the workplace and end of life careTo undertake annual appraisal and objective setting of up to 3 band 5/6 Podiatrists, ensuring the objectives are in accordance with the service andTrust clinical governance, business and operational plans and the individuals CPD and career development requirements.To ensure that all line managed staff have an individual development plan, which is updated at least annually and is reported in a timely manner tothe Foot Health Manager and Trusts workforce development team.To hold regular 1:1 meetings with team members, to review progress, giving support and guidance where necessary.Interviewer information packTo provide effective guidance, supervision and performance management, including education of students on observational placement andcommunity staff on practical placements.To ensure team member absences are reported in line with the Trusts sickness and absence policy.To evaluate and interpret clinical information from diverse sources and make informed judgements about its quality and the appropriateness fordisseminating it to colleagues.To provide treatment that is consistent with evidence based practice and legislation, yet using ones own expert knowledge, experience andjudgement to identify the best.
