Podiatrist - Band 5

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over staying comfortable; Listening over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Podiatrist to join our dynamic Foot Health team in Lewisham. This permanent post offers the chance to make a real difference to the lives of patients, working across a range of community settings, including clinics and domiciliary care, as well as within University Hospital Lewisham.

As a Band 5 Podiatrist, you will benefit from a structured preceptorship programme and a varied clinical rotation across key specialisms – including MSK, wound care, high-risk foot management, and nail surgery – helping you build strong clinical foundations.

We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, a passion for podiatric care, and a proactive approach to development. You’ll be supported by experienced colleagues and have access to regular clinical supervision, in-service training, and clear progression pathways.

Join us and be part of a forward-thinking team that’s committed to high-quality patient care, professional growth, and collaborative working.

PLEASE NOTE: We may not be able to offer sponsorship for this post

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a supportive and forward-thinking podiatry team specialising in foot and lower limb pathologies across a variety of clinical and community settings in Lewisham, integrated with the Acute Foot Service, UHL.

As a Band 5 Podiatrist, you will provide high-quality, person-centred care through individualised assessment and treatment plans tailored to patients with a wide range of podiatric and medical needs. You will deliver care in clinic-based, domiciliary, hospital, and outreach settings, working closely within a multidisciplinary framework to support the best possible outcomes.

You’ll be part of a dynamic and collaborative team that values innovation, professional growth, and empowering patients in their care through education and self-management strategies. You will manage your own clinical caseload, using your growing expertise to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.

You’ll also play an important role in maintaining high clinical standards and contributing to service development, while adhering to local policies, guidelines, and professional codes of practice.

We are an innovative Podiatry Service and offer a comprehensive supervision and appraisal structure designed to support your professional development and clinical growth.

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties and Patient Care:

To implement the individualised assessment, and treatment programmes for existing patients with a wide variety of Podiatric complaints. This may include:

• systemic diseases
• immunosuppressive disorders
• vascular and neurological disorders
• dermatological disorders
• chronic pathologies
• emergency treatments
• wound management
• musculo-skeletal disorders
• paediatric conditions
• deformities
• nail and skin pathologies.

To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflection and analysis to support the assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning process.

To utilise evidence based material to assess, treat, implement, evaluate and document podiatric provision.

To ensure timely and appropriate referrals to specialist Podiatrists from within the department and outside (for example GP’s, District Nursing, Hospital Acute Foot Clinic, Social services and voluntary organisations), facilitating safe and appropriate discharge where indicated.

To treat a wide variety of patient groups including those with special needs, housebound, children, elderly, adults, vulnerable groups and those from different cultural backgrounds with the possibility of communication barriers.

To undertake the assessment and treatment of patients with lower limb musculo-skeletal pathologies, where duties will include:

• The prescription, fabrication and evaluation of insoles/orthotics
• The prescription and evaluation of an appropriate exercise and stretching regime

To undertake minor surgery assessments and treatments, where duties will include:

• Nail surgery
• The use of local analgesia injection therapy to the lower limb, with the ability to manage anaphylactic shock if required

To participate in department rotations through areas of clinical speciality, for example, Nail surgery, University Hospital Lewisham Acute Foot Services Unit, Biomechanics Service, Low Level Laser Therapy.

To be actively involved in the provision of Foot Health education and appropriate specialist advice, delivering this sensitively to patients, relatives and carers.

To organise and participate in Health promotion activities and training events, to groups, colleagues, professionals and individuals.

To make frequent use of technology, where available, for measurement, monitoring and treatment using specialist complex equipment such as Doppler ultrasound, Sphygmomanometer

Clinical Governance:

To observe, implement and adhere to professional standards of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and Health Professions Council.

To observe, implement and adhere to all Trust polices and procedures including Health and Safety legislation, COSHH regulations, Workplace Risk Assessment, Infection Control, Sharps Policy, Movement and Handling, Personal Safety, Consent Policy, Dangerous Drugs Act and Substance Misuse Sterilisation Guidelines, (for example: to follow and record the autoclave and ultrasonic procedures for appropriate sterilisation and decontamination of instruments).

To observe and be actively involved in the development and implementation of Lewisham Foot Health Services, Operational and Clinical Governance Plan, Policies, Procedures and Guidelines. To follow the above but have the discretion to make own clinical diagnosis and decisions within professional boundaries.

To contribute to the strategic development and improvement of existing services and facilitate the instigation of new service development by working as part of an innovative team

To report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, near misses and untoward incidents in accordance with Trust procedure and in a timely manner.

To collate statistical activity and information on service quality and participate in regular surveys and complex audits.

To participate and keep up to date with current best practice and take part in relevant evidence based research to inform clinical practices in and outside the department.

To attend all mandatory training sessions as required by the Trust.

To participate in the extensive Departmental Student Placement Programme providing experience in dealing with students and applying mentor and teaching skills. To supervise Foot Care Assistants and new staff, and take an active part in training, peer review, clinical supervision and professional development.

To analyse, interpret, report and present information and knowledge related to ideas and concepts. Involving the use of computerised data collection and entry onto format databases/spreadsheets, word processing and power point presentation to other team members and health professionals

Attendance at departmental study days, as well as attendance at external courses/conferences, thereby broadening experience and continuing to develop clinical skills and professional knowledge.

To attend and actively contribute to departmental team meetings, regular 1:1 meetings with line manager/mentor, update sessions, training days and ‘Away days’.

To participate in the planning and delivery of departmental in-service training. Utilising one’s own skills, understanding and knowledge to contribute and provide information to others to help their development

To maintain State Registration with Health Professional Council (HCPC).

Work force

To work as a Band 5 Podiatrist, under the guidance and support of a band 7 Podiatrist, providing support and guidance to the assistant podiatrist supporting your caseload

To work autonomously whilst working in clinics and undertaking home visits, however utilising the support and advice of more senior staff, to support development of clinical practice and challenging patients/cases

To provide care in a variety of settings often involving the ability to work alone and independently, and also with the Podiatry team:

• Community Health Centres
• GP Practices
• Residential & Nursing Homes
• Patient’s Homes
• Day Centres
• Hospitals

To have highly developed physical skills, precision hand/eye coordination requiring frequent concentration for prolonged periods. Utilising a comprehensive knowledge base in, for example, highly skilled debridement techniques.

To have the necessary skills to assess and when appropriate to move and handle patients who maybe immobile, wheelchair or bed-bound, often in confined spaces.

To plan and manage a housebound high-risk caseload with responsibility for prioritising need and to co-ordinate involvement of other health care professionals, social services, and voluntary services when need is identified.

To perform regular and ongoing risk assessments of working environments.

To work in environments which present highly unpleasant, impractical, challenging and compromising situations. This will involve the analysis and interpretation of several complex components, some of which may be conflicting, whilst using initiative and maintaining personal safety.

To be responsible for the professional day-to-day co-ordination and management of patient caseloads and clinics. This will involve organising regular meetings with administrative staff to maintain good working relations and communication.

To monitor clinic waiting times for all patient groups including priority groups, making adjustments to the clinic timetable and appointment sessions as appropriate.

To monitor and ensure adequate stock, pharmacy, health promotion material and instrument levels are maintained.

To actively participate and meet the requirements of Continual Professional Development (CPD) set out by the Health Professions Council, recording all CPD activities in an identified and up to date CPD folder.

To actively participate in the appraisal process and the development of a Personal Development Plan.

To regularly participate in individual performance review and be responsible for professional/clinical supervision, reflective practice and clinical coaching. To act as a mentor to colleagues as part of peer review and professional development.

Person specification

Essential

• BSc Podiatric Medicine
• HCPC Registration

• Full Drivers licence

Knowledge and Skills

• Commitment to CPD
• Knowledge of NHS

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women’s staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.

Please note, not all roles will meet the criteria for a skilled worker visa.