AddressDIMENSIONS OF JOB:
The post holder will be part of a well established Multidisciplinary Diabetes Footcare Team (MDFT) providing excellent acute footcare to patients in North Frimley. The Podiatry team is made up of three Diabetes Podiatrists, Podiatry Assistant and has dedicated Admin support. Clinics are held at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough and King Edward VII Hospital in Windsor. An example working week consists of in-patient, out-patient and MDFT clinics with access to Consultant input as required all week. The wider MDFT consists of Diabetologists, Vascular surgeons, Vascular Nurses, Foot & Ankle Orthopaedic surgeons, Interventional Radiologists, a Microbiologist, an Orthotist, the Tissue Viability Team and the Amputee Rehab Team to provide a comprehensive service.
Leadership, education, and clinical supervision to support best practice and facilitate the continuous development of self, and improvement of Podiatry Services, with a healthy training budget is provided.
The post holder will work in conjunction with the Head of Therapies, SLT/Dietetics/Podiatry Manager, Principal Podiatrist, Diabetes Lead Podiatrist and AHP Professional Leads to develop and deliver safe and effective services, in accordance with key national targets, Trust standards, service priorities and performance indicators set by ICB commissioners and the Trust. This will include working collaboratively with Community Podiatry.
The post holder will coordinate and provide advanced assessment, diagnosis and management of a specialist diabetes caseload.
The post holder will be required to work in close collaboration with relevant consultants, GPs, podiatrists and other members of the MDFT and community Podiatry in order to provide a patient centred, seamless, integrated approach.
The post holder will have responsibility of maintaining clinical standards and protocols of care in line with acute and service needs
The Post-holder will provide Podiatric assessment, diagnosis and management of a complex caseload with referrals from Diabetes, ED and General Medicine.
The Post-holder will provide specialist Podiatric advice to other specialist areas
The Post-holder will work autonomously as the Diabetes Podiatrist on site during periods of annual leave cover.
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust provides NHS hospital services for around 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and south Buckinghamshire.
As well as delivering excellent general hospital services to local people, we provide specialist heart attack, vascular, stroke, spinal, cystic fibrosis and plastic surgery services across a much wider area.
We have three main hospitals - Frimley Park in Frimley near Camberley, Heatherwood in Ascot and Wexham Park near Slough.
Our three core values , and the behaviours that support them, guide everything we do and set out what we expect of our staff in the way they treat patients, visitors, service users and each other, Committed to Excellence, Working Together and Facing the Future .
We are also proud to host the Defence Medical Group South East at Frimley Park with military surgical, medical and nursing personnel working alongside the hospital's NHS staff providing care to patients in all specialties
KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:
To provide a high quality and responsive, highly specialist podiatry services to the patients at FHFT
To assess and diagnose patients with a diverse range of complex diabetic podiatric conditions, using appropriate diagnostic techniques, skills and tools
To create and implement tailored treatment and specialised care plans using a variety of appropriate treatment regimens for a range of patient groups including those in the “high risk” and “at risk” categories, focusing on the management of primary foot pathologies
To adopt a problem solving approach, engaging patients and carers in their treatment plan, negotiating on agreed outcomes, gaining consent and educating users on self-care.
To be an integral part of the wider MDFT, and communicate well with and to show respect to fellow colleagues
To undertake assessments, investigations and treatment of referred in-patients. To also attend where applicable the weekly MDFT meeting, with a subsequent ward round
To demonstrate a highly skilled knowledge, understanding and ability to apply new research evidence and established theory into clinical practice across the diabetic foot speciality within the Podiatry department
To evaluate and review treatment outcomes and implement discharge policies for those patients meeting the discharge criteria
To act as a point of contact within the hospital for all clinical queries regarding specialist area. To hold the Hot Foot Phone (only for use by Healthcare professionals) in rotation with other Team members at the weekends from home 9am-5pm
To delegate care in appropriate circumstances to the Podiatry assistant, and to supervise the care that is delegated
Ensure that the condition of clinical rooms is maintained in accordance to infection control and Podiatry Service guidelines
To maintain accurate patient records using the current electronic patient record system EPIC including assessment and treatment plans in accordance to departmental and professional guidelines
To support service and professional development by active participation in audit and quality improvement.
To take an active role in planning and delivering Health Promotion and training events within the Service, including promoting the department’s services to other healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate patients are referred to the service
Formatting the student placement timetable/rota and liaising with our associated universities as required
To take initiative and act on behalf of the Trust and Service when representing Podiatry in developing the Diabetic Foot and Wound care services within both the clinical network and the Secondary Care forum. This may include attending steering groups, membership of professional forums or attending task and finish groups
