Section 2 - Clinical standards: common themes

• Theme 1 - Health and wellbeing
• Theme 2 - Person centred care, treatment and support
• Theme 3 - Communication
• Theme 4 - Team working
• Theme 5 - Personal, people and quality improvement
• Theme 6 - Health, safety and security
• Theme 7 - Duty of care and candour, safeguarding, equality and diversity
• Theme 8 - Basic life support

Theme 1 - Health and wellbeing

You will be able to: 

• demonstrate what it means in practice to promote and provide person-centred care, treatment and support by obtaining valid consent, and carrying out risk assessments
• work in partnership with the patient, their carer, families and the wider health and social care team
• demonstrate clinical effectiveness, safety and a good experience for the patient
• promote the impact of effective health promotion, patient empowerment, and healthy lifestyles

You will know and understand:

• why it is important to gain informed consent
• how to undertake risk assessment in enabling a person-centred approach
• why it is important to promote person-centred care, treatment and support
• work in partnership with the patient, their carer, families and the wider health and social care team
• why safety and clinical effectiveness are important
• the importance of managing relationships and boundaries with service users
• the key role that health promotion and healthy lifestyle choices have in foot health, mobility and wellbeing

Theme 2 - Person-centred care, treatment and support

You will be able to: 

• gather evidence to assist in obtaining or updating a patient history, review health-related data and information
• provide appropriate examinations of patients within your role boundaries and scope of practice
• provide care for patients that follow a treatment plan that has been developed or approved by a podiatrist/registered health care professional
• undertake defined clinical or therapeutic interventions incorporating relevant legislation and guidance within your role boundaries and scope of practice, as appropriately delegated by your supervisor
• implement interventions in line with current evidence, taking action relative to a patient’s health and care needs
• undertake foot health screening as part of an assessment of a patient’s healthcare status. Report changes to your supervisor

You will know and understand:

• the types of information you need to collate when obtaining a patient history, appropriate ways to record and share it
• the range of examinations needed to underpin the provision of effective foot health interventions including identification and referral of high-risk patients according to local protocols
• the requirement to provide safe and effective care in the context of an approved treatment plan
• how to provide safe foot care within your role boundaries and scope of practice
• understand the ethical and legal boundaries of your role and scope of practice
• take professional responsibility for keeping up to date with current evidence
• why it’s important to provide treatment that is tailored to patient health and care needs
• the role of baseline measurements and review to underpin a treatment plan aligned to the health and social care needs of the patient

Theme 3 - Communication

You will be able to: 

• demonstrate and promote effective communication using a range of techniques
• communicate effectively and ethically with and about patients, their representatives and carers, supervisor and other health and social care professionals, observing confidentiality and consent
• demonstrate written and verbal effectiveness and accurate record-keeping
• demonstrate appropriate language and pathway for referral writing/communication with a range of professionals
• handle information (record, report and store information) in line with local and national policies, keep information confidential and support others to do so; take part in clinical review of caseloads

You will know and understand:

• why it is important to promote effective communication at work
• how to communicate with people who have specific language needs or wishes
• how to reduce communication problems and respond to complaints; techniques for challenging situations, local guidelines for dealing with abusive behaviour
• a range of methods of communicating with patients across the age range
• how to check you have been understood
• barriers to communication and a range of ways to overcome them
• how verbal and non-verbal communication may relate to a patient’s condition
• the importance of accurate communication, and use of recognised clinical abbreviations, particularly inpatient records
• how to communicate clearly and effectively to a range of healthcare professionals in order to secure optimal clinical outcomes for patients
• legislation including GDPR, policies and local ways of working about handling information; why it is important to record and store information securely and confidentially and support others to do so; e-safety; the audit process and how it relates to your role

Theme 4 - Team working

You will be able to: 

• promote effective inter-professional and multi-disciplinary team working with peers, colleagues and staff from other agencies and provide appropriate leadership within the scope of your role
• manage your caseload safely and effectively through referral and triage processes both through accepting patients from senior clinicians and referring patients on to senior clinicians when needed

You will know and understand:

• how to maintain a range of complex professional relationships that underpin effective patient care

Theme 5 - Personal, people and quality improvement

You will be able to: 

• demonstrate ethical practice and professionalism
• act within the limits of your role boundaries and scope of practice and authority referring on as necessary with appropriate public liability and malpractice insurance
• escalate concerns signposting to your supervisor as necessary
• be proactive in your own development, willing to commit to lifelong learning by engaging with critical colleague support, the use of a professional portfolio, personal development planning, personal reflection and continuous improvement
• manage your own time, resources and personal behaviour
• escalate concerns signposting to your supervisor as necessary
• act as a role model; mentor peers; provide leadership appropriate to your role; deliver training through demonstration and instruction in line with your role boundaries and scope of practice

You will know and understand:

• the ethical and legal frameworks that underpin your practice including the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England (2013)
• your responsibilities and duties; the limits of your role boundaries and scope of practice and authority
• the values of your organisation/regulator/professional body
• legislation, standards, policies, liability insurance protocols you should adhere to
• why it is important to work in the best interests of patients and in ways agreed by your employer
• when you need to signpost concerns to your supervisor in order to ensure optimal patient care
• the central importance of critical colleague support in your professional development
• the consequences of your actions, attitude and behaviour
• how to assess and reflect upon your own capabilities and limitations
• how to engage with lifelong learning in order to maintain and enhance your practice, continually practising within your scope
• the importance of working well in the context of your own health, wellbeing, and resilience
• understand and act accordingly when your own health may impact your ability to practise safely and effectively
• when you need to signpost concerns to your supervisor in order to ensure optimal patient care
• behaviours expected from a role model; the principles of training and mentoring
• the importance of gathering and responding where appropriate to service user feedback
• ways to identify and escalate opportunities to provide a better or more effective service

Theme 6 - Health, safety and security

You will be able to: 

• maintain a safe and healthy working environment, take appropriate action in response to incidents or emergencies, following relevant legislation and any local guidelines
• undertake risk assessments in line with your role boundaries and scope of practice
• prepare the clinical area, including in a domiciliary situation, ensuring the environment where clinical treatment is undertaken does not compromise patient safety unnecessarily, using a range of techniques for infection prevention and control, eg. waste management, spillage, hand washing, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• undertake mandatory training such as basic life support, GDPR, safeguarding as appropriate to your role
• be able to safely use an autoclave and ultrasonic cleaners
• use equipment which has been sterilised or single use equipment packs in accordance with patient safety and plan of care
• move and position patients, equipment and other items safely, protecting yourself, patients and carers
• dispose of waste materials in an appropriate manner and place in accordance with health and safety guidelines
• support the safeguarding of patients

You will know and understand:

• how to promote and manage health and safety at work; what to do in situations that could cause harm
• how to handle equipment, hazardous materials
• waste management
• understand and follow the Health and Safety at Work Act including the meaning of risk /risk assessment
• how to recognise risk or hazards, undertake risk assessment, escalate where appropriate, operate safe systems of work
• the importance of a clean clinical environment
• legislation, policies and local ways of working for the prevention of infection
• personal hygiene, handwashing
• the appropriate and correct use of PPE: gloves, aprons, masks
• the role of mandatory training in ensuring you discharge your professional responsibilities appropriately
• understand instrument sterilisation principals how infections start and spread
• how to clean, decontaminate and sterilise equipment and dispose of safely
• move and position people, equipment or other objects safely in line with health and safety legislation and agreed ways of working
• management of sharps and exposure incidents 
• immunisation for health care professionals
• guidance and legislation relating to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and how to raise concerns

Theme 7 - Duty of care and candour, safeguarding, equality and diversity

You will be able to: 

• follow the principles for equality, diversity and inclusion
• implement a duty of care and candour
• safeguard and protect adults and children; promote the principles to others

You will know and understand:

• legislation, policies and local ways of working about duty of care, candour, raising concerns, safeguarding/ protection from abuse, diversity, equality and inclusion - what they mean, why they are important, how to promote them to others
• how discrimination can happen 
• how to deal with conflicts between a person’s rights and understand your role under duty of candour
• the signs of abuse, what to do if you suspect it, how to reduce the chances of abuse as much as possible

Theme 8 - Basic life support

You will be able to: 

• recognise and manage common medical emergencies
• provide first aid

You will know and understand:

• the types of medical emergency and first aid that may arise and ways to address them