Specialist Podiatrist- MSK

Job overview

This is a really exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join a large multidisciplinary musculoskeletal team; providing rapid access for patients with musculoskeletal pathology, persistent pain conditions and for those with rehabilitation needs. Bexley MSK offers a whole system bio psychosocial approach for patients referred for Musculoskeletal management and enables a streamlined service for expert management of those with complex needs.

Bexley MSK Service is an assessment, triage and treatment service which receives referrals from Bexley borough GPs who may otherwise have directed the same referrals to Secondary care. Patients are seen in a clinic setting within the borough and are given a full assessment and treatment as required at initial appointment. The post holder will work as an integral part of this team responding to the needs of the service and its stakeholders.

Main duties of the job

The successful post-holder will work across Queen Mary’s Hospital (Bexley) and Erith Health Centre alongside a team of Extended Scope physiotherapists, physiotherapists,  podiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, orthopaedics surgeons, and specialist consultants in rheumatology and persistent pain. They will have full access to clinical investigations and clinical interventions such as custom foot orthoses, shockwave therapy and cortisone steroid injections. They will be required to assess and treat patients referred with musculoskeletal conditions. This post is best suited to someone who is an excellent communicator, who enjoys team working, and who has a proven track record of achieving excellence in clinical care.

This is a great opportunity for a Podiatrist looking to develop the skills to manage a more complex musculoskeletal caseload. Training opportunities will be available through a comprehensive in service training programme as well as specific training identified through a personal development plan.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Task and Responsibilities

• To provide a high standard of musculoskeletal podiatry to patients referred to the Musculoskeletal pathway as an autonomous practitioner. The post holder will be responsible for their own caseload providing highly specialised clinical assessment, diagnosis, planning treatment and review adapting practice to suit the needs of the patient of who may have acute, complex and/or chronic presentations.
• To monitor, review and re-assess clients care plans and objectives against outcomes measured in order to facilitate modification/ progression of packages of care/targets as appropriate to enable achievement of their goals.
• To supervise, appraise and advise Bands 2-5 therapy and support staff working in this area and to supervise / assist students allocated to the speciality, assisting the clinical educators as required.
• Supervise, educate and assess the performance of Podiatry students; this will be to a graduate level and may be to a post graduate level, with support from band 7 and Extended Scope Practitioners.
• To contribute towards operational aspects of the musculoskeletal Podiatry service  as directed by team lead and senior staff and report back to/seek support as required.
• To work in a co-ordinated, multi-disciplinary manner, communicating effectively with other team members and the wider clinical network involved in client care.
• To contribute to service developments/ expansions within the context of the team as required by the team lead  / service manager.
• To be an active member of the weekend working rota.
• To carry out other duties commensurate with the grade in line with the requirements of the post as agreed by the Clinical Lead for the Adults MSK Team.
• Computer literate including use of electronic notes systems, data analysis and reporting systems. Competent in use of spread-sheets and word documents as methods of recording/ analysing data.
• Experience at post graduate level within the Musculoskeletal specialty.
• Experience of teaching/ developing other members of staff.
• Able to  apply frequent moderate effort for short periods of time  in the treatment of patients and use of manual techniques.
• Able to apply concentration for prolonged periods of time during patient assessment and treatment and manage occasional distressing or emotional circumstances or impart unwelcome news regarding rehabilitation prospects.