Podiatrist Assistant

Job Description:

Podiatry assistants provide foot treatments and nail care under the supervision of a podiatrist.

Job Category:

Health Care & Social Assistance

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What you will do:

As a podiatry assistant you could:

make appointments and get patients ready for treatment
support podiatrists during a procedure
treat patients who have already been assessed
cut toenails and apply dressings
give advice on foot and nail care, particularly for patients with diabetes

Skills:

You need:

knowledge of how the human body works
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As well as:

customer service skills
thinking and reasoning skills
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work well with your hands
the ability to use your initiative (drive)
to be thorough and pay attention to detail

Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

a college course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying directly
specialist courses run by private training organisations

College
You could do a college course to help you to become a podiatry assistant.

Most health and social care courses include work placements and this can be a good way of getting experience.

You could do a Diploma in Skills for Health and Care Professions or an Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care.

Apprenticeship
You could do a Senior Healthcare Support Worker Advanced Apprenticeship, which has a training option for podiatry assistants.

When recruiting, employers might choose apprentices who have experience as a support worker.

Work
You could start as a healthcare assistant and learn on the job. You could then move into podiatry through training and promotion.

Volunteering
You’ll find it helpful to get some work experience in healthcare before you apply for jobs or training.

Direct Application
You can apply directly for podiatry assistant roles if you’ve got relevant skills and experience.

You might need a qualification in a health related subject and experience of working with people.

Other Routes
You could be self employed and provide foot care to the general public, rather than in the NHS.

You’ll need to take a Diploma in Foot Health Practice.

You’ll then need to become a member of The Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners and work as a foot health practitioner.

School Subjects

To become a podiatrist assistant, you typically don’t need specific GCSE subjects, as the role primarily involves providing support and assistance to podiatrists in their work.

However, having a solid educational foundation and certain skills can be beneficial for pursuing a career in this field. Here are some GCSE subjects and skills that can be relevant for becoming a podiatrist assistant:

Biology: While not a strict requirement, having a basic understanding of biology can be helpful as it relates to human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. Podiatrists deal with foot and lower limb health, so knowledge of the human body can aid in your role.
Science Subjects: GCSE subjects like Chemistry and Physics can provide you with a general understanding of scientific principles, which may be applicable in a healthcare environment.
Mathematics: Basic math skills are important for tasks such as measuring foot sizes, calculating medication dosages, and recording patient information accurately.
English: Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for interacting with patients and colleagues, documenting patient records, and following instructions accurately.
Physical Education (PE): This subject can provide you with knowledge about the importance of physical activity, which aligns with the focus on foot and lower limb health.
Health and Social Care: While not a common GCSE subject, if your school offers it, health and social care can provide insights into the healthcare industry and patient care, which can be beneficial in a podiatrist assistant role.

Working Hours and Environment:

Typically you could work 40 to 42 hours per week.

You could work at a health centre, at a client’s home, in a government or private hospital or at a GP practice.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience you could:

move up to become an assistant practitioner
train to become a podiatrist
set up your own business, if you’re self employed