Role Profile

First Contact Podiatrists (FCPs) are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners working in GP practices who can assess, diagnose, treat, and manage lower limb and foot problems in addition to undifferentiated conditions, and where appropriate, to discharge a person without a medical referral. FCPs are a key multidisciplinary team member in primary care and support reducing GP workload. FCPs working in this role can be accessed directly by self-referral or staff in GP practices can direct patients to them to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan to streamline pathways of car

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• Assess, diagnose, triage, and manage lower limb and foot complaints; taking responsibility for the management of a complex caseload. You will progress and request investigations when trained to do so (such as x-rays and blood tests) and direct referrals to facilitate diagnosis and treatment choice.
• Develop and make use of your full scope of clinical practice, including skills relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy and investigation when trained to do so
• Deliver programmes to support patients’ self-management, in ways that assist behavioural changes and improve self-care capabilities.
• Promote physical activity, mobility and facilitate personal goals which allow for independent living; and minimise the need for pharmacological intervention.
• Provide care which is tailored to the individual needs. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals’ clinical status on their general health, well-being and employment status (including in relation to function, physical activity, mobility and independence).
• Manage complex interactions, including working with patients with psychosocial and mental health needs, referring to social prescribing when appropriate.
• Support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self- management.

Evidence, Research, and Development

• Develop relationships and a collaborative working approach across the PCN supporting the integration of pathways in primary care.
• Work as part of an MDT in a patient facing role, using your expert knowledge of the lower limb and foot, to create stronger links for wider services through clinical leadership, teaching and evaluation skills.
• Support research and audit programmes to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of our FCP service.
• Streamline the pathway of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care.

Leadership

• Lead, manage and contribute to service delivery.
• Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training.
• Communicate effectively and appropriately, with patients and carers, complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology, prognosis and treatment choices supporting personalised care.

Key skills and attributes

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Strong clinical problem-solving and analytical skills, including ability to identify when to refer a patient to another service or for diagnostics.
• Ability to critically reflect on your own professional developmental needs, and is motivated to progress your clinical development (with support)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to work cohesively with a wider team.
• Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
• Office skills including the use of IT programmes, databases and other modern/tech based ways of working and collaborating.

Experience, knowledge and qualifications

• Fully HCPC and CoP registered practicing Podiatrist (essential).
• Minimum 5 years of post-graduate clinical experience of delivering podiatric assessment and treatment (essential).
• An up-to-date CPD portfolio demonstrating that you have knowledge of the musculoskeletal core capabilities framework for first point of contact practitioners and the four pillars of advanced practice, in addition to identifying your developmental needs against these (essential).
• An up-to-date understanding of Health Education England’s Roadmap to Practice (essential).
• Completion of some level 7 MSc learning (desirable).
• Previous clinical experience of first contact triage clinical work; even if in the private sector (desirable).
• Previous experience of working in a GP practice (desirable)
• Previous experience of using EMIS / SystmOne (desirable)
• Qualified injection therapist and / or independent prescriber (desirable)