Case studies

Sallyanne Lightbown: Private podiatrist

In Sallyanne's words:

"As a generalist podiatrist working in private practice, I feel embedded within my local community. I never know what's coming through the door, which is exciting and keeps my skills broad. It's easy to become stuck in a routine, so I enjoy stepping out into new areas of podiatry, where I can explore my own interests. I actively connect with other podiatrists and AHPs to prevent me from silo-working. The College's Branches are great for networking."

Sallyanne's experience:

Sallyanne reports often acting as a buffer to support GPs and AHPS by seeing clients with general foot problems, providing treatment, or signposting to relevant services. This is a similar concept to the First Contact Practitioner role. Sallyanne summarises this well, highlighting three areas:

• Gatekeeping - keeping clients out of the NHS services by providing frontline treatments and reducing unnecessary referrals
  
  
• Educating - providing clients with health promoting advice with their general and foot health to enable these individuals to manage self-care
  
  
• Signposting - providing clients with appropriate services or referrals to avoid wasted delays for care or treatments

Additional support at work

Despite facing the challenges of dyslexia, Sallyanne has found ways to manage her learning differences to enable her to continue working with ease. She uses assistive technology such as Dragon Naturally Speaking software, which allows her to write letters for patients, and notes for continued professional development. Additionally, she finds that speakers who use different fonts and allow extra time to process information during webinars can be helpful for engagement of continued professional development.

In light of Sallyanne sharing her experience, it is evident that podiatrists can benefit from adopting inclusive practices to cater to individual learning differences, and by understanding and incorporating support mechanisms the podiatry community can create an environment that supports the success of all professionals.

Fran Campbell: Lead in podiatry and biomechanics at Accelerate CIC

Fran says:

"Embrace any opportunities to shadow others, working in interdisciplinary teams as much as possible. When doing so, be confident in your skills, knowledge and value, as podiatry is a key part of many multidisciplinary teams."

Student and graduation

As a student, Fran was involved in many open days to support recruitment into the profession. For her work in this area, she received awards from the student union. Fran graduated in 2009 from UEL.

Further learning

• MSc in Clinical Biomechanics
• Additional learnng in private practice with gait analysis skills and to perform ankle blocks and therapeutic injections under ultrasound guidance.
• Additional Rheumatology MSc module

Career

After graduation, Fran got an NHS Band 5 role, where she had the opportunity to work in MSK clinic whilst the Lead Clinician was away on paternity leave. This gave her an insight into MSK specialisms. During this time, Fran became involved in some research studies undertaken in the MSK clinic, following data collection and audit, and this helped to develop her understanding of research and protocols around data collections. Noticing Fran's interest in MSK and rheumatology, a colleague invited Fran to shadow the rheumatology clinic.

Fran moved into her Band 6 role, and embraced mentorship from consultant podiatric surgeon, Trevor Prior. During this time, Fran was also able to gain experience whilst working in some Insole Clinics.

Fran progressed into her Band 7 role, taking on the MSK services, as well as the Podopaediatric service, further increasing the breadth of skills within MSK.

Whilst doing her MSc in Clinical Biomechanics, Fran wanted to grow her knowledge in gait analysis and so she moved into private practice, working alongside skilled surgeons and physiotherapists, providing care to the general sports population and athletes.

Fran is now working in a social enterprise company (Accelerate CIC) where she treats NHS patients. In her current role, Fran is the sole podiatrist working within specialist lymphoedema and leg ulcer nursing team, with a consultant dermatologist to support patients with chronic lower limb conditions.

Fran has also just completed a five-year tenure on the editorial boards of The Podiatrist (formerly Podiatry Now). Fran has also published blogs, written articles, and published peer reviewed research. Fran has also presented at the annual RCPod conference, Tissue Viability Society and British Lymphology Society conference.

Leadership

Throughout her career, Fran has demonstrated great leadership qualities, including leading on service delivery improvements with a colleague in the MSK Clinics whilst working as a Band 7, which resulted in money savings and reduced waiting lists.

In her current role, Fran is the only podiatrist in her MDT and therefore embraces self-leadership skills and confidence to provide insight to the team. Finally, Fran is completing the RCPod's Leadership Programme (2022 Cohort)

Explore more of Fran's work below:

• Dotty Fish is podiatry approved - go to the video in the Dotty Fish blog to hear Fran and Consultant Podiatric Surgeon Ron McCulloch  talk about the benefits of soft soled leather baby shoes.
• How clothing can impact gait - Fran and colleague Ron McCulloch contributed to this Daily Mail article in April 2017
• Practice in a pandemic. Article in Podiatry Now, May 2020

Monique Cleary: Podiatry student

Monique, a second year podiatry student, applied for the Student Leadership programme, known as the #150Leaders, and explains this was a way to, “help develop my skills in leadership and learn ways to bring leaderships skills into action.”  

The programme includes a two-day residential event full of workshops, lectures, and seminars, followed by monthly online webinars and a network for students to interact and learn from one another.

Monique reports:

“The residential event was fantastic as I got the opportunity to connect with inspiring future health care professionals across the four nations at different universities, who are also deeply passionate about their career paths and have big ideas about how they think health services could be run in the future.” 

“The monthly webinars have also been inspirational, with key guest speakers who are experts in their field, which I am able to catch up on around my studies. This programme has consciously made me more accountable to who I want to be when I enter the workplace and I am gaining invaluable tools to make me a better candidate for all roles and avenues I pursue in the future.’ 

Key highlights for Monique

• Residential aspect to the programme enabled networking and relationship building with other students 
• Seminars give great opportunity to operate in multi-disciplinary style workshops
• Dragons Den-style pitches support presentation skills development
• Opportunity to be coached by professionals with your field – Monique reports, “My coach showed me how my ideas can be delivered with the right support, guidance and perseverance”
• Contacts and connection with industry leaders, “who have shown how to lead in everyday working life”
• Confidence gained and feedback received in real time 
• Networks open wider opportunities – whilst partaking on this programme, Monique has gained a space on the Clinton Global Initiative University after discussing this opportunity with a fellow student, alongside being invited by Health Education England to attend their stakeholder event 
• Skills development in creating, planning and delivery of a project proposal, which required presenting this idea to the Clinical Senate of the Royal College of Podiatry and receiving approval.

Next steps

Monique’s next goal is to explore how she can take her project further with support from podiatry industry leaders, and finally comments, “Now when I enter my working life as a podiatrist, I know I can action change and make a difference.”  Find out more about Monique's project proposal

Jennifer Andrews: Student, Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics

Jennifer graduated in 2019 and specialises in research. Jennifer has worked with Salford University in sharing her experiences of her Podiatry BSc for adding to the prospectus - read here.

In Jennifer's words

"The best way to start out in research, is to partake in small audits. We are currently working on an e-learning Audit Module for TALUS, to help support Podiatrists with this process."

Jennifer's career journey

September 2016 - Began podiatry degree at University of Salford

November 2016 - Attended RCPod Conference. First insight into the wide scope podiatry has to offer, attending talks such as Professor Tony Redmond's on the pathways into research

July 2017 - Experiencing specialities. After completing her first year, Jennifer spent her summer holiday seeking out services offering different specialities to scope out her interest for career development

July 2018 - Focusing on research. Jennifer offered to help during the summer holidays at her university and was invited on an eight week internship for Great Foundations, where she assisted and partook in the research process

July 2019 - Summer internship. After graduatihg, Jennifer embarked on the Versus Arthritis internship, which allowed her to work closely with other AHPs.

September 2019 - Further education. Jennifer began her PhD pathway with a combined Masters embedded in the course, where she is working on her PhD research question with a unique multi-disciplinary team

2021 - Research Student Network. Jennifer began leading the RCPod's Research Student Network and continues to support undergraduate students in research careers.

Jolie Beattie - Early career podiatrist in the private sector

Jolie Beattie, Early career podiatrist, sat down for a chat with us about her career and wide-ranging role.

What impact do you think you will have as a podiatrist?

Jolie: “I hope that I will have a positive impact as a podiatrist. I have dedicated my career to working in care homes and residential homes to improve the foot health of those who cannot get into clinics, and do not qualify for NHS foot care. I utilise a clinic room one day a week to allow me to perform nail surgery and Swift verruca treatments. I am passionate about the diabetic foot, preventing ulcers and amputations. I love giving educational talks to different groups and so far, have given presentations about the foot as we age, its role in health and improving balance, and to a Diabetes UK patient group about the diabetic foot.

How long have you been working and where?

Jolile: “I began working after graduating in July 2020 in my local area of West Berkshire seeing mainly family and friends, and took the associate position in January 2021 in Thatcham, Newbury. In June 2021 I concentrated on growing my own business and in February 2022, I took on NHS Band 5 bank work, opening a once-a-week clinic from June 2022.

What does your working week look like?

Jolie: 

• Monday: am: Care home; pm: admin
• Tuesday: Home visits
• Wednesday: Home visits
• Thursday: Associate in a clinic
• Friday: NHS Band 5 work

What support have you received which benefitted your career development?

Jolie: “Other than the support mentioned above, I have joined multiple Facebook groups to further my knowledge and ask questions. I have joined my local RCPod branch (Oxford): they are a very active group and offer both events and support. I also made use of both the Graduate handbook and Private practice handbook available on the RCPod website, as well as attending the self-employed accounting workshop run by the College. To help with starting a new business, I took part in the Government's New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), in which I was given business and financial advice.”

How do you manage continued professional development?

Jolie: “I try to set myself goals and reflect on my own practice and skills to seek improvement. I balance training in the things I’m interested in and things I find more difficult. I have attended diabetes, ultrasound, and MSK workshops. I am lucky to work part time in a private MDT clinic which runs regular CPD events including Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physios, Speech & Language therapists and Mental health practitioners, allowing us all to share information on our own speciality as well as learn about the roles of others.”

How rewarding is your work?

Jolie: “As Marc Anthony said, ‘If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.’ I absolutely love what I do”.

“One of my proudest moments was when I met a teenage girl who struggled with her foot health. Upon further investigation, a referral was made to a paediatric neurologist as I was concerned she was displaying symptoms of Charcot Marie Tooth. One year on, the daughter and her father were diagnosed with CMT 2e1f and are now receiving the lifechanging help they need.”

Claire Davies: Advanced podiatrist: Diabetes and high risk

After graduation, Claire started her career as a Band 5 podiatrist in an NHS Trust, during this time, Claire received informal and formal mentoring from her colleagues. She found informal mentorship and clinical supervision was essential in learning and supporting growth of relationships. Upon transitioning into a Band 6 podiatrist role, Claire found herself working in new environments, such as community clinics, domiciliary caseloads, and nail surgeries. Claire had an opportunity to work in diabetic rotations, which sparked her interest in diabetic foot specialisms. She pursued a part-time MSc in Diabetics and gained advanced knowledge in this area.

During her time as a Band 6, Claire also had the role of student placement facilitator and union learning representative (ULR) at her Trust. Her team have always valued having students on placement at their Trust, ensuring a health and safety, and ULR available to provide support for students.

Claire was involved in a joint podiatry and vascular clinic, which was a foundation for the multidisciplinary teams (MDT) for diabetes seen today, which now include specialists in diabetes and orthopaedics. Interprofessional collaborations enabled Claire to gain an in-depth perspective on how working in partnership benefits the service for patients, and an insight into the breadth of capabilities other professions offer that Claire could refer into.

Claire was given the opportunity to work on the hospital wards providing acute inpatient care, inclusive of a foot health team approach, after a business case was successfully produced by the service. She started working in Scarborough and York Hospitals, dealing with high-risk wounds, pressure ulcers, revascularisation, and amputation cases. Claire worked with tissue viability nurses (TVNs) and vascular teams, which gave her an opportunity to see how they operate and how podiatry fits into the MDT. The ward environment was different from the clinic, and more patients were treated with co-morbidities and were acutely unwell.

Claire was part of the Pressure Ulcer Steering Group, working with NHSi to reduce the presence of pressure ulcers. The group consisted of TVNs, patient safety team, podiatrists, and the head of nursing. She provided education to health care assistants and nurses through their preceptorship program.

Claire had the opportunity to speak about the role and importance of podiatry in diabetes care in Japan, which was a great experience for her personal development and education.