First Contact Podiatrist

Clinical Practice • Assess, diagnose, triage, and manage patients, taking responsibility for a complex caseload. Progress and request investigations when trained to do so (e.g., Xrays, blood tests) and make referrals to support diagnosis and treatment planning. • Develop and utilise your full scope of clinical practice, including skills relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy, and investigations when trained. • Manage complex interactions, including working with patients with psychosocial and mental health needs, referring to social prescribing where appropriate. • Deliver programmes of supported self management that facilitate behavioural change, optimise physical activity, mobility, independence, and minimise reliance on pharmacological interventions. • Provide care tailored to individual needs, including appraising the impact of clinical status on general health, wellbeing, and employment. • Support patients to set their own goals and build confidence in self management. Evidence, Research, and Development • Develop relationships and collaborative working across the PCN, supporting pathway integration in primary care. • Work as part of an MDT in a patient facing role, using expert knowledge of lower limb issues to strengthen links with wider foot and ankle services through clinical leadership, teaching, and evaluation. • Support research and audit programmes to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the FCP service. • Streamline pathways by providing a responsive service that ensures timely access to care. Leadership • Lead, manage, and contribute to service delivery. • Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance, including audit, evaluation, supervision, and training. • Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with patients and carers, supporting personalised care. Facilitating Learning • Provide feedback and support to other PCN clinical team members on appropriate referral criteria. • Critically reflect on your own practice and continue to develop your skills. Key Skills and Attributes • Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced, changing environment. • Strong clinical problem solving and analytical skills, including recognising when to refer for diagnostics or to other services. • Ability to critically reflect on professional development needs and motivation to progress clinically (with support). • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work cohesively within a wider team. • Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies and codes of conduct. • Competent with IT systems, databases, and modern digital ways of working. Job description Job responsibilities Clinical Practice • Assess, diagnose, triage, and manage patients, taking responsibility for a complex caseload. Progress and request investigations when trained to do so (e.g., Xrays, blood tests) and make referrals to support diagnosis and treatment planning. • Develop and utilise your full scope of clinical practice, including skills relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy, and investigations when trained. • Manage complex interactions, including working with patients with psychosocial and mental health needs, referring to social prescribing where appropriate. • Deliver programmes of supported self management that facilitate behavioural change, optimise physical activity, mobility, independence, and minimise reliance on pharmacological interventions. • Provide care tailored to individual needs, including appraising the impact of clinical status on general health, wellbeing, and employment. • Support patients to set their own goals and build confidence in self management. Evidence, Research, and Development • Develop relationships and collaborative working across the PCN, supporting pathway integration in primary care. • Work as part of an MDT in a patient facing role, using expert knowledge of lower limb issues to strengthen links with wider foot and ankle services through clinical leadership, teaching, and evaluation. • Support research and audit programmes to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the FCP service. • Streamline pathways by providing a responsive service that ensures timely access to care. Leadership • Lead, manage, and contribute to service delivery. • Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance, including audit, evaluation, supervision, and training. • Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with patients and carers, supporting personalised care. Facilitating Learning • Provide feedback and support to other PCN clinical team members on appropriate referral criteria. • Critically reflect on your own practice and continue to develop your skills. Key Skills and Attributes • Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced, changing environment. • Strong clinical problem solving and analytical skills, including recognising when to refer for diagnostics or to other services. • Ability to critically reflect on professional development needs and motivation to progress clinically (with support). • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work cohesively within a wider team. • Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional, and organisational policies and codes of conduct. • Competent with IT systems, databases, and modern digital ways of working.