Why work in Podiatry at DCHS?
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust employs Podiatrists and non-registered support workers who work alongside them, in a range of settings including, community hospitals, outpatient clinics, and people’s own homes, or the place they call home.
What sort of work can you do in Podiatry at DCHS?
As a member of the podiatry team you would carry out a comprehensive foot examination and a full medical history of your patient. The treatment offered will be assessed against a patient’s foot condition (podiatric need). Following triage, those falling within the following criteria shall be considered eligible for assessment and treatment.
Depending on your role and level of responsibility you may assess, diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases affecting the feet and lower limbs. Following assessment and diagnosis, treatment is focused on relieving symptoms and maintaining functional independence.
Key delivery of the service focuses on benefits of:
- Foot health promotion.
- Reducing secondary care intervention.
- Maintaining independence of vulnerable groups through good foot health.
- Preventing mobility difficulties through earlier intervention allowing patients to remain in their own homes / maintain their activities of daily living.
Some podiatrists go on to develop an interest in surgery and train as a podiatric surgeon, who surgically manage bone and joint disorders within the foot. Podiatrists can only do this after graduation and have to undergo rigorous surgical training taking a number of years.
Podiatric surgeons assess and diagnose conditions through physical examination and using diagnostic imaging including ultrasound and x-ray with access to CT and MRI.
The service offers a range of treatment strategies both conservative and surgical ranging from ultrasound and fluoroscope guided injection therapy and surgical management including both soft tissue surgery including ganglion and neuroma excision, tendon repair and bone surgery to include digital corrective procedures, osteotomies, joint implants and joint fusion using advanced fixation systems and intraoperative fluoroscopy. The scope of practice includes minimally invasive surgery and surgery to address forefoot, midfoot and rearfoot problems.
Podiatric surgeons are trained in the use of cannulation and administration of intravenous drugs and administer regional anaesthesia including popliteal and ankle blockade under ultrasound guidance.
To enter into Podiatry as a podiatrist you need a BSc in Podiatry.
Podiatry assistant or technician you need a NVQ Health and Social care level 4 or 5, Foundation degree in Health and Social care, College of Podiatry Assistant practitioner course.
Podiatry Assistant you need a NVQ Health and Social care level 3 or 4, College of Podiatry Assistant practitioner course.
The NHS Health Careers website has information about training requirements for becoming a Podiatrist.
All vacancies at DCHS are advertised on the NHS Jobs website and our vacancies page: View our current vacancies : DCHS
Yes, work experience or shadowing is not just for external students; staff can enquire with other teams to experience work in a different area from your own.
DCHS offers a range of apprenticeships for podiatry. The Skills for Health Online website detail the apprenticeship standards for podiatry.
DCHS supports our Podiatrists to develop into Advanced Clinical Practitioners, and Podiatric Surgeons.
You may also be interested in the Assistant Practitioner in Healthcare Higher degree which aims to develop Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare with an Allied Health Professional focus.
Existing DCHS staff may be eligible to apply for Podiatry training via our apprenticeship offer when apprenticeship vacancies arise. We currently work with universities who offer a Level 6 BSC apprenticeship programme which lasts 3 years.
- Evidence of achievement of GCSE A to C (9 – 4) or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths before applying.
- Evidence of studying to level 3 study and above.
- Ability to study at level 6.
- Manager and budget holders’ approval to undertake apprenticeship programme.
- Ability to travel to university & placements to complete the learning outcomes of the apprenticeship programme, these maybe based up to 90 mins travel time from base area.
- 100% completion of statutory & mandatory training
- Up to date DBS is required as a mandatory requirement for this programme.
- Up to date immunisations.
DCHS supports our Podiatrists to develop into Level 7 Advanced Clinical Practitioners, as Podiatric Surgeons.
- Current registration on Part 1 of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register, Health and Care Professions Council or the General Pharmaceutical Council.
- A minimum period of 3 years post-registration experience.
- A first degree in your specialism or another relevant health related subject is required, or evidence of ability to study at postgraduate level.
- GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme or equivalent
- Manager and budget holders’ approval to undertake apprenticeship programme.
- Ability to travel to university & placements to complete the learning outcomes of the apprenticeship programme, these maybe based up to 90 mins travel time from base area.
- 100% completion of statutory & mandatory training.
- Up to date DBS is required as a mandatory requirement for this programme.
- Up to date immunisations.