Specialist Podiatrist in Diabetes and the High Risk Foot

Job overview

We are delighted to recruit an  enthusiastic and skilled colleague who posses excellent communication skills to join our innovative Podiatry department in South Tees. We are looking to welcome motivated and forward thinking HCPC registered podiatrists to our team.

In this role you will be at the forefront of delivering  high quality evidence based care that meets the needs of the highest risk group of our patients in an out and inpatient setting. The diabetes foot MDT at The James Cook University Hospital aims to provide the highest quality of diabetes foot care in the North East.

This post is both community and acute MDT roles,. As the post holder you will be an effective and autonomous member of a multidisciplinary diabetes team, gaining extensive experience in diabetes Podiatry. The post includes both in-patient and out-patient working, you will work closely with Diabetologists, Vascular surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, microbiologists, orthotists, cast technicians and diabetes specialist nurses. You will also be responsible for providing high risk specialist footcare and education to patients without diabetes in a community setting.

The post holder will be expected to manage their own caseload, providing regular podiatry care for those at high risk of  foot ulceration, and enabling rapid access (within one working day) for those referred with urgent problems.

You must have access to a vehicle for work purposes to meet the requirements of the role.

Main duties of the job

You will provide day-to-day clinical care in a supported environment and within a dynamic team. The role involves:-

• Responsibility for Patient Care includes monitoring, diagnosis and investigations of our High Risk patients including  wound-care
• To produce individual treatment plans and podiatry interventions for patients who may require diagnosis and interpret results which may require onward referral

The post holder will work part time  as part of the established Diabetes Foot MDT and extended teams, providing a flexible, fast access service for patients with urgent diabetes foot problems. The post holder will refer to medical and nursing staff, X-Ray and orthopaedic, orthotic and vascular teams as indicated. Highly developed clinical skills, excellent communication skills and leadership qualities are required for this post.

The post holder will assess, diagnose, develop and implement individualised care programmes for patients with diabetes, and diabetes related problems such as acute or chronic neuropathies, vascular problems, foot ulcerations, gangrene and Charcot . The post holder will be expected to manage their own caseload, providing regular podiatry care for those at high risk of diabetic foot ulceration, and enabling rapid access (within one working day) for those referred with urgent problems. The post holder will interpret Xray and tissue samples and arrange appropriate antibiotics and offloading as required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.