Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore, we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.
Job overview
Merseycare Foundation Trust is seeking to recruit a Band 5 Podiatrist to work within our well-established team in Sefton Place.
This post requires a Podiatrist who will work as part of a highly motivated team providing a high standard of clinical care in a variety of community settings across Sefton Place, ensuring seamless care between primary and secondary care.
This post is suitable for a newly qualified podiatrist to gain experience in specialist areas of podiatry whilst completing the North West Podiatry Mentorship scheme and working under the mentorship of higher grade podiatrists.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for delivering clinical care to a defined population. Supported by senior practitioners, they will deliver care within their role's boundaries. They will work effectively and collaboratively within the team to meet patients' needs, support policy and procedure implementation, and provide clinical leadership. Ensure the delivery of the quality strategy within the designated area by establishing systems and processes.
Working for our organisation
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region. We are also commissioned for services covering the North West, North Wales, and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services supporting physical and mental health, including inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction, and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK offering high secure mental health facilities.
At the core of our work is our commitment to 'perfect care'-care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable, and efficient. We support our staff to perform their best and work alongside service users, families, and carers to design and develop future services. We are currently implementing a programme of organisational and service transformation to improve service quality and reduce costs safely.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Assess, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being and prevent adverse effects.
Implement and evaluate individual treatment plans.
Identify and manage treatment plans for patients at risk.
Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent, or emergency situations.
Provide information and advice on medication, prescribed or over the counter.
Recognise, assess, and refer patients with mental health needs.
Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes.
Promote and deliver evidence-based care.
Assist senior practitioners as required.
Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural backgrounds, and communication preferences.
Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues' viewpoints.
Work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the relevant professional body.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous, and complete records of patient consultations, consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures.
Prioritise, organise, and manage own workload to maintain and promote quality.
Deliver care according to national and local guidelines, in partnership with other clinical teams/departments.
Evaluate the effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking, and formal evaluation.
Participate in quality governance systems and processes across the organisation.
Utilise the audit cycle to evaluate quality and implement improvements where needed.
Assess patient responses to healthcare and the effectiveness of care.
Support shared learning across the organisation.
Participate in managing, reviewing, and learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents, and near-misses, using structured frameworks like root cause analysis.
Contribute to team performance reviews and feedback processes.
Act as a positive role model, taking responsibility for personal development, learning, and performance, including clinical supervision.
Promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging potential and continuous improvement.
Understand your responsibilities and accountability in patient care, ensuring patient needs are the priority.
Participate in planning and implementing changes in your area of care.
Collaborate with other professionals to ensure sufficient staffing of appropriate ability, quality, and skill mix.
Contribute to developing local guidelines, protocols, and standards.
Critically evaluate innovations and developments relevant to your practice.
Keep up to date with new developments locally and nationally that could enhance team work.
Undertake mandatory and statutory training.
If appropriately qualified, act as a mentor to students assessing competency against standards.
Accept and delegate tasks appropriately.
The post holder may be required to cover for absent colleagues and undertake related duties as necessary.
Person specification Values
- Accountability
- Support
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change Oriented
Qualifications
- BSc Hons Degree or diploma in Podiatric Medicine
- Registered with HCPC
- LA certificate
Skills
- Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication
- Good time management and organisational skills
- Ability to analyse complex facts/situations and act accordingly
- Highly developed hand-to-eye coordination
Knowledge & Experience
- Understanding and willingness to participate in continuous professional development
- Development of a personal portfolio
- Understanding of the clinical governance agenda
- Active involvement in research, audit, or quality improvement
- Experience with a range of podiatry procedures (e.g., orthotics, nail surgery, diabetic footcare, elderly care, clinical and domiciliary settings, including student placements)
Other
- Must be able to transport self around the community
Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply for all correspondence. All information regarding your application will come from apps.trac.jobs, not NHS Jobs.
Only applicants demonstrating how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria. Indicate this in your application if applicable.
For reasonable adjustments during recruitment, contact .
We may close vacancies early when sufficient applications are received. Apply promptly if interested.
All post holders requiring an enhanced DBS must subscribe to the DBS Update Service for a fee of £16/year. For previous identity concealment, contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team.
Applicants needing sponsorship should assess their eligibility via
Flexible working requests will be considered.
Use of AI in applications is monitored; declare if used.
New NHS entrants start at the first pay point of the band.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Appropriate UK professional registration is required.
This role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020, requiring a DBS disclosure.