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- Provide general foot treatments and nail care
- You'll need communication, IT and manual skills, good hand-eye coordination, time management and customer service skills
- You could progress to train as a podiatrist or set up your own business
As a podiatry assistant in the NHS, you'll work under the supervision of a qualified podiatrist. Your clients may include older people, those recovering from injury or surgery, and people with circulation problems or diabetes.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Preparing patients for treatment by a podiatrist
- Supporting a podiatrist during a procedure
- Treating patients who have already been assessed by a podiatrist
- Cutting toenails and applying dressings
- Carrying out general clerical tasks and making appointments
- Providing advice on foot and nail care, particularly for patients with diabetes
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
If you're self-employed you'll provide foot care services to the general public in private clinics, footwear chains or pharmacies.
You could work at a health centre, at a client's home, in an NHS or private hospital or at a GP practice.
You'll need
For this role, you'll need knowledge of medicine and dentistry, customer service skills, thinking and reasoning skills, the ability to read English, the ability to use your initiative, thoroughness and attention to detail, excellent verbal communication skills, and sensitivity and understanding.
You could do a college course to get into this job. Relevant courses include a Level 2 Certificate in Work Preparation for Health and Social Care, Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or a Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care.
You could get into this job through an advanced apprenticeship as a senior healthcare support worker, which has a training option for podiatry assistants. Employers may select apprentices who have experience as a support worker.
You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job, then move into podiatry work through further training and promotion.
Paid or unpaid work experience in a healthcare setting or a caring role with older people, people with physical disabilities, or learning difficulties, would be useful.
Direct application for jobs is possible if you've got relevant skills and experience from work like care or health-related roles. Employers might ask for a qualification in a health-related subject and experience of working with people.
To be self-employed and work outside the NHS, you'll need a Diploma in Foot Health Practice and to register with The Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners.
You may need a driving licence and access to your own transport for jobs that involve visiting clients in their own home.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience you could move up to an assistant practitioner post. You could then apply to train as a podiatrist. If you're self-employed, you could set up your own business.