High Risk Podiatrist

Job overview

Are you an experienced podiatrist with a passion for managing complex foot conditions and helping to prevent limb loss? We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled clinician to join our High Risk Foot Team  as a Band 7 specialist Podiatrist.

In this role, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team providing advanced assessment, triage, and treatment for patients with high-risk foot conditions, including complex ulceration and peripheral arterial disease. You will play a key role in preventing limb loss and improving patient outcomes across community and acute settings.

Main duties of the job

• Daily triage of referrals based on urgency
• Advanced wound care & vascular assessment
• Management of complex  foot conditions
• Facilitating urgent referrals for acute foot and lowerlimb problems
• Participation in MDT (consultants, nurses, GPs)
• Leadership within High Risk Foot Team and service developmentTraining
• Supervision, and education responsibilities
• Non-medical prescribing and X-ray referrals (where qualified)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Triage daily HRFT referrals, assessing urgency/severity and allocating or advising appropriately.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat complex foot ulceration and peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetes and other co-morbidities within consultant-led and HRFT clinics.
• Assess and manage complex nail surgery cases.
• Provide clinical leadership within a specified area of the High Risk Foot Team.
• Act as a specialist resource for prevention and management of high-risk foot conditions for patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.
• Contribute to service development and improvement.
• Support and train nursing/residential care settings in managing high-risk patients.
• Supervise and support student podiatrists.
• Deliver training to healthcare professionals.
• Prescribe within BNF and personal formulary (where qualified).
• Act as non-medical referrer for foot/ankle X-rays for suspected osteomyelitis or Charcot.
• Identify limb-threatening cases (e.g. critical ischaemia) and expedite urgent vascular assessment.
• Refer appropriately to vascular and diabetes consultants per guidelines.
• Communicate and coordinate care with multidisciplinary teams.
• Support development of standards, SOPs and policies for high-risk foot care.
• Attend relevant Trust meetings.
• Maintain accurate written and electronic records.
• Request imaging and prescribe treatments within scope of practice.

Communictions

• Communicate clearly with GPs, consultants, nurses and MDT colleagues.
• Provide complex clinical information verbally and in writing to professionals, patients and carers.
• Maintain effective working relationships across disciplines (vascular, diabetes, orthopaedics, community teams).
• Deliver sensitive communication, including risks such as limb loss.
• Encourage behaviour and lifestyle change to improve outcomes.
• Support access for patients with language barriers.

Responsibility for patient care

• Provide specialist assessment and treatment for high-risk foot wounds, ensuring safe, evidence-based outcomes.
• Respond rapidly to urgent referrals across community, acute and home settings.
• Facilitate direct access to specialist services for limb-threatening conditions.
• Undertake advanced interventions (vascular assessment, debridement, NPWT, larvae therapy, casting).
• Contribute to vascular and diabetic foot clinics with consultants and specialist nurses.
• Develop and implement comprehensive treatment plans and communicate with MDT.
• Deliver complex nail surgery where required, including in non-standard settings.

Planning and organising

• Manage diary and workload in line with service priorities.
• Plan and prioritise caseload based on urgency and clinical need.
• Coordinate with other services involved in patient care.
• Allocate time for service development and projects.
• Triage and prioritise referrals and urgent cases.
• Provide flexible service cover as required.

Responsibility for physical and financial resources

• Maintain and order cost-effective stock.
• Ensure safe, appropriate use and maintenance of equipment.

Policy and Service development

• Work within organisational policies and guidelines.
• Lead and develop a designated service area, reporting to the team.
• Support evidence-based guideline, SOP and pathway development.

Human resources and Leadership

• Supervise healthcare assistants where required.
• Support service delivery during staff shortages.
• Adhere to Trust policies on leave and absence.
• Provide clinical advice, delegate duties and support staff.

Teaching and Training

• Deliver training to podiatrists, nurses and care staff.
• Provide supervision and placements for students.
• Educate patients and carers to improve self-management and reduce complications.

IT and data

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date electronic records in line with legal and Trust standards.
• Use IT systems (EMIS, email, Microsoft 365, etc.) daily.

Research, development and audit

• Support audit and quality improvement to ensure effective service delivery.
• Maintain up-to-date clinical knowledge through training and literature.
• Promote evidence-based practice.
• Participate in audit programmes and implement actions.

Physical Skills and Effort

• Maintain high concentration during assessments and decision-making.
• Perform advanced vascular and wound care techniques (e.g. Doppler, ABPI, debridement, off-loading).
• Undertake complex nail surgery including local anaesthetic administration.
• Work in varied environments, sometimes constrained or unsanitary.
• Use IT systems effectively.
• Interpret clinical investigations (e.g. ABPI, swabs, X-rays).
• Manage exposure to wounds, bodily fluids and larvae therapy.
• Travel regularly across Tameside and Glossop, transporting equipment.
• Support patients with severe conditions and occasionally deliver difficult news (e.g. amputation).