Podiatry Assistant

Job summary

We are seeking a caring, enthusiastic and motivated individual to support our team of Podiatrists in delivering quality foot health services in Norfolk.

You will have excellent patient facing skills and ideally experience in wound care. A background in footcare is desirable, but not essential - we will support your in-service training to enable you to undertake the role.

Podiatry Assistants assist Podiatrists to carry out foot care, surgery, post-surgical wound care and health promotion in a variety of locations and settings, according to standard procedures and protocols.

The role is predominantly working as an assistant in our busy nail surgery clinic and providing follow up appointments for post operative wound care.

You may need to work independently as some of the work is without direct supervision.

The ability to travel is essential, as work will be carried out in clinics, nursing homes, and domiciliary settings. You may be required to travel to cover additional surgery sessions at Norwich Community Hospital Clinic.

This is a rare and amazing opportunity to work as part of a friendly and supportive AHP team whilst learning new skills. The role of podiatry assistant is a good springboard if you are considering a career in Podiatry, via an apprenticeship or traditional entry route.

Main duties of the job

• To assist podiatrists to carry out foot care and health promotion activities, according to standard procedures and direction. Caseload will consist of patients who have been assessed by a podiatrist, and care plan delegated to the assistant.
• Provide dressings clinics - changing dressing for patients delegated by a podiatrist
• Assistant in nail surgery clinics
• Diabetic foot screening.
• To undertake a basic re-assessments, to analyse the facts, and make judgements to inform the care provided. To decide when to seek the support/guidance of a podiatrist.
• To be proactive in managing in own time
• To provide spontaneous and planned basic advice, teaching and instruction to patients, and carers to ensure the aims of podiatry are met and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• To receive and provide routine information. In communicating effectively with patients and carers, skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining informed consent will be used. Barriers of effective communication will be evident with some patients e.g. impaired hearing, altered perception, speaking a language other than English, pain and fear.
• To gain valid informed consent
• To maintain clinical records in line with Trust Policy and Professional Standards.
• To undertake audits and some clerical tasks
• Stock ordering and control

About us

Norfolk Community Health and Care is a community Trust working over many locations in Norfolk providing care to patients. The podiatry team works at many locations and this post is mainly based in the west but the post holder may be expected to travel to any location within the organisation.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.