Specialist Diabetes Podiatrist

Job overview

Specialist Ward-Based Podiatrist - Diabetes & Inpatient Foot Care

We have secured further funding for the Podiatry Inpatient Diabetic Foot service at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to lead in shaping and establishing a high quality service that optimises length of stay and reduces complications for patients admitted with diabetic foot issues.

You will join our friendly and dynamic team committed to delivering the best podiatric care, providing a range of foot health services encompassing all aspects of diabetes podiatry.

You will work with consultant diabetologists, specialist nurses, vascular teams and ward staff. You will also provide support and cover for outpatient clinics.

The team is friendly and approachable and you will receive clinical support and supervision to develop your knowledge and skills. You will be involved in the clinical education of staff and students and will work closely with the musculoskeletal Podiatry Team and the wider foot team including orthotics, vascular and orthopaedic services.

We have a comprehensive training programme, staff are encouraged and supported in their CPD through workshops and clinical supervision. Participation in audit and research is encouraged.

The position is suitable for a podiatrist keen to develop in diabetes. Applicants must be HCPC registered and have a degree or equivalent in Podiatry with a Local Anaesthesia certificate. Annex 21 training posts will also be considered.

Main duties of the job

• Provide specialist inpatient podiatry services for patients with diabetes and complex foot disease.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner within the multidisciplinary diabetes team.
• Support prevention of avoidable amputations, reduction in length of stay and improved inpatient outcomes
• Support consultant-led ward rounds and MDTs
• Develop and deliver staff and patient education
• Lead discharge planning and community referrals
• Participate in audit and quality improvement
• Link with colleagues at Aintree to ensure equity of services across main acute hospital sites
• Provide cover and support to outpatient clinics as required

You will be expected to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate podiatric care for a variety of clinical conditions. You will be required to have good understanding, clinical reasoning skills and practical skills in vascular assessment, wound management and nail surgery, as well as biomechanical assessment and orthotic provision.

You will take an active role in service development and evaluation in order to prove the benefits and drive continuous improvement of the service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Clinical Responsibilities

• Triage all inpatient diabetic foot referrals.
• Assess vascular, neurological and biomechanical status of patients.
• Manage diabetic foot ulceration, infection, Charcot neuroarthropathy and PAD.
• Provide wound care, sharp debridement, offloading and orthotic interventions.
• Support diabetes consultant ward rounds and MDT meetings.
• Coordinate discharge planning and follow-up pathways.
• Communication and MDT Working
• Work with diabetes consultants, DSNs, vascular surgery, tissue viability and ward teams.
• Communicate complex clinical information to patients and carers.
• Contribute specialist advice to MDT decision-making.

Education and Training

• Deliver formal and informal teaching to ward staff.
• Provide patient education on ulcer prevention and self-care.
• Support student podiatrists and junior staff.

Audit, Research and Service Development

• Maintain activity and outcome data.
• Participate in audit and quality improvement.
• Support service redesign and pathway development.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain HCPC registration and CPD.
• Participate in appraisal, supervision and mandatory training.
• Comply with safeguarding, information governance and infection prevention policies.

Please see attached job description for further detail

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.