Overview
To lead and oversee the provision of podiatric care for all patients who have diabetes. To independently assess, diagnose and implement highly specialist care, advice and education predominantly for patients with diabetes, patients with diabetes related foot ulcers and also, routinely, for patients who do not have diabetes with at risk conditions such as ischaemia and biomechanical problems in a variety of settings. Acting as a source of highly specialist advice and information relating to diabetes related foot health conditions for GP’s, all other Health Care Professionals and all stakeholders.
To contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of the Specialist Diabetes (including off-loading and casting) Podiatry Service in line with the core values and behaviours of CWP.
LIAISES WITH:
GP’s, all other Health Care Professionals and stakeholders. Internal, local and regional diabetes networks and forums. AHP and Nursing Professional Development Leads and AHP Professional Advisors. Diabetes Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Section 3
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical:
1. Responsible for the continual development and evaluation of evidence based diabetes, off-loading and casting clinical pathways in line with:
- national, local, organisational and departmental prevention strategies
- national, local, organisational and departmental outcome frameworks
- national guidance e.g. NICE
- Diabetes UK
- Foot In Diabetes UK
- Local Diabetes Essentials Programme
- Local Diabetes Network
2. Provide comprehensive and advanced podiatric assessments using clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of evidence based practice for patients who have diabetes presenting with highly complex foot health problems.
3. Use specialist clinical judgement to ensure patients meet with clinical criteria and advise on and signpost to alternative provision as and when appropriate.
4. Work independently as an autonomous practitioner which includes managing your own diabetes specialist (including off-loading and casting) caseload in line with evidence based practice.
5. Provide specialist diabetes (including off-loading and casting) podiatry services to other multidisciplinary health care providers in a variety of settings.
6. Devise, plan, implement and evaluate highly specialist and diabetes (including off-loading and casting) specific treatment plans and episodes of care.
7. Proactive and liaise with the Clinical Lead and Tissue Viability Service Lead in the evaluation and decision making process regarding the department’s wound formulary and link this to the Tissue Viability Service’s wound formulary.
8. Work within the national and local standards of care and protocols generally and specifically in relation to diabetes, off-loading and casting.
9. Provide support and advice to patients and cares to facilitate and maximise concordance to individualised treatment plans specific to patients with diabetes in order to achieve agreed and optimum outcomes.
10. Be proactive in writing and evaluating guidance, protocols and reports with respect to discharging patients who have diabetes including re-referral pathways and re-accessing the service.
11. Participate in case conferences, reviews and multidisciplinary meetings specific to diabetes (including off-loading and casting) as required.
12. Maintain accurate health care records in line with the Trust’s Health Records Policy.
13. Lead and participate in the diabetes, off-loading and casting services clinical governance framework.
14. Uphold and ensure patients’ dignity and privacy at all times.
15. Ensure involvement of service users in the evaluation and development of the diabetes, off-loading and casting services.
16. Be required to reassure, educate and negotiate potentially complex diabetes, off-loading and casting specific treatment options where denial of pathology or concordance with treatment may be an issue.
17. Work closely and liaise with other specialist podiatrists and support their specialist clinical area as required.
18. Liaise and work closely with the Diabetes Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Practice Nurses and other diabetes related providers in providing seamless, continuous care and joint pathways of care for the good of the patient and achieving optimum outcomes.
19. Work within the 6C’s framework.
20. In leading and overseeing the provision of podiatric care to all patients who have diabetes ensure the provision is in line with the Care Quality Commission’s domains: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.
Communication:
1. Maintain and uphold confidentiality in line with Trust policy.
2. Deal sensitively with distressing or emotional circumstances relating to patient care.
3. Demonstrate advanced communication skills in dealing with patients and cares particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
4. Communicate with other health care providers, multidisciplinary teams, providers of education and social care, voluntary agencies and professional networks concerning patient care and professional issues; all specifically regarding diabetes, off-loading and casting.
5. Confidently manage the expectations of patients in line with service provision eligibility criteria and guidelines.
6. Raise and escalate concerns in accordance with Trust policy.
7. Attend events e.g. Good Practice Event, to raise the profile and inform others about the Podiatry Service specifically in relation to the diabetes, off-loading and casting services.
Administration and Clerical
1. Initiate general and diabetes specific referrals to other appropriate services or agencies.
2. Completing service specific patient documentation for provision of other services or devices for example, diagnostics and orthotics.
3. Completing all documentation on EMIS with regard to patient care and reporting.
4. To understand and follow the department’s Business Continuity Plan.
5. To take responsibility for reporting incidents on DATIX in all areas of work.
6. Maintain appropriate stock levels in all clinical areas and adhere to the department’s stock ordering process.
Managerial and Leadership
1. Identify, implement and evaluate changes to practice in own area of specialism i.e. diabetes, off-loading and casting.
2. Advise and assist the Podiatry Service Manager and Clinical Lead in the planning, developing and evaluating the diabetes, off-loading and casting services.
3. Write, evaluate, disseminate and implement protocols and guidelines around all aspects of the provision of the diabetes, off-loading and casting services and pathways.
4. Disseminate and implement national guidelines concerning the diabetes, off-loading and casting services and pathways.
5. Supervise and mentor junior staff on the delivery of the diabetes, off-loading and casting services and in the management of and meeting the needs of the caseloads attached to these services.
6. Identify operational issues and escalate them to Team Manager and participate in their resolution.
7. Participate in podiatry staff meetings; report into podiatry staff meetings from other diabetes, off-loading and casting related meetings and forums (including AHP forums) and vice versa.
8. Act as an ‘ambassador’ for the Podiatry Service in the clinical speciality of diabetes including off-loading and casting.
Training and Development
1. Maintain, evaluate and advance clinical knowledge, expertise and practice especially in the areas of diabetes, off-loading, casting and wound care.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to clinical governance, evidence based practice in order to maintain high level of skills and knowledge in diabetes, off-loading and casting.
3. Contribute to the department’s training and development plan.
4. Provide diabetes, off-loading and casting training and presentations to the podiatry staff and other health care provider staff groups.
5. Deliver high quality field work education placements in diabetes, off-loading and casting to student podiatrists, nurses and AHP’s.
6. Uphold your registration with the HCPC.
7. Maintain and demonstrate high professional standards of working within the code of professional conduct and ethics.
8. Complete all statutory and mandatory training in line with CWP’s education and training requirements.
9. Lead and actively participate in reflective practice, audit, research and development projects in relation to diabetes, off-loading and casting.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
- BSc Degree/Diploma in Podiatry. Diabetes specific qualification at degree level.
- Certificate in the administration and use of local anaesthetics.
- Health Care Professions Council registration.
- Robust evidence of a high level of skills and post graduate education, training and development in the fields of diabetes, off-loading and casting.
- The post requires the Specialist to attain the Independent Prescribers qualification
- Post graduate qualification (masters level).
- Independent prescribing qualification.
- Practice Educator’s qualification.
- Training in Motivational Interviewing.
- Application form, interview and portfolio.
Knowledge and Expertise
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- Specialist clinical theory and application to practice in diabetes, off-loading and casting.
- National and local guidelines and protocols in diabetes, off-loading and casting.
- National Outcome Framework
- Current and national legislation for podiatry.
- CWP’s aims and objectives and in relation to the Podiatry Service.
- Understanding of multidisciplinary and integrated working.
- Leadership skills.
- Computer literacy.
- Training, presentation and facilitation skills.
- Audit, research and development and projects.
- Application form, interview, portfolio and presentation.
