This module will introduce you to the principles of podiatry practice. Dermatology related to podiatry will be explored and common nail conditions will be considered. You will be introduced to wound management and will start to understand the association between wound healing and infection control within a clinical setting, applying this knowledge to routine podiatry assessments. The module will also introduce you to routine clinical practice and allow the application of required knowledge and skills in the assessment, diagnosis and management of routine foot pathologies within simulated clinical environments. This will take place in the simulated clinical setting located on campus and forms part of the mandatory 1,000 clinical hours that you are required to complete.
This module will develop your understanding of human anatomy and physiology. You will consider systems of the body including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, endocrine and integumentary. You will critically evaluate how these systems work together to maintain homeostasis and reflect on how this relates to the concepts of health and disease. You will consider the musculoskeletal system, focusing on the foot and lower limb, including normal human bipedal stance and locomotion. By evaluating the gait cycle you will develop competence in routine gait analysis.
The module will explore the causes pathogenesis and treatments of a range of common acute and chronic diseases encountered by the podiatrist, including musculoskeletal and orthopaedic disorders of the lower limb. Gait analysis will be examined and appraised in relation to common musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions. The role of footwear in maintaining foot health will be critically evaluated and how orthotic therapy can be employed within the podiatric management of a range of common lower limb pathologies. Service users will be involved with a range of these topics, to provide a depth of understanding from the individual’s perspective. You will also utilise your developing skills and knowledge of podiatric practice in simulated clinical practice undertaken in the University setting as well as within a practice-based learning placement in a clinical setting.
Preparing you with the essentials for practice-based learning, this module will provide you with the underpinning knowledge and skills in relation to professional healthcare practice. You will gain an understanding of what it means to be a healthcare professional through consideration of the legal and ethical frameworks that health professionals are bound by and you will be aware of your professional responsibilities in your chosen profession. Through the analysis of your own interpersonal proficiency and the exploration of different models of communication you will understand the importance of your influence and impact on others to develop effective therapeutic and professional relationships with patients/service users and within the teams in which you work. The module also explores the context of different health and social care services and how patients / service users might access and progress through these services. You will utilise the skills and knowledge gained in a practice-based learning placement undertaken in this module.
This module will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and competently access, supply and administer a range of prescription only medicines available to HCPC registered podiatrists. The module will introduce pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacy law. Various groups of drugs will be considered in relation to the implications for podiatric clinical practice. You will learn the fundamentals of local anaesthesia, including the contemporary theoretical concepts that underpin the safe and effective administration in podiatric clinical practice and you will practice administering local anaesthesia in the simulated environment prior to attending nail surgery practice placements. The knowledge and skills required to safely and competently preform nail surgery will be considered, and you will have opportunity to practice these developing skills in a simulated clinical environment prior to performing nail surgery during your practice-based learning placement. The University simulation sessions and practice-based learning weeks in the clinical environment contribute to the mandatory 1000 clinical hours that you are required to complete.
Within this module you will have the opportunity to engage with advancing practice and proficiencies in the management of complex patients. Using a systematic approach to patient assessment and management, you will consider a range of complex conditions and scenarios. You will have the opportunity to apply your critical thinking and problem solving skills to enhance your ability to reflect and contribute to changes in clinical practice, at a service level with service user involvement. You will critically analyse contemporary theories related to the development of a range of musculoskeletal disorders and systemic diseases. Where possible, service users will be involved with a range of these topics, to provide a depth of understanding from the individual’s perspective. The module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to develop clinical leadership practice within podiatry. You will identify opportunities available to you as a registered podiatrist to support and enhance the delivery of high-quality and cost-effective care. The module will equip you with knowledge of the application process to secure employment as a podiatrist as well as exploring the importance of Continuing Professional Development upon qualification as a podiatrist and how to maintain a professional portfolio as an HCPC registrant. The module will also include simulated sessions within the University which forms part of the mandatory 1,000 clinical hours you are required to complete.
The development of high quality care within therapy services is dependent upon professional expertise, effective collaborative working and appropriate leadership and management to promote patient/service user safety and to improve service provision. This module will give you the opportunity to explore an area of your professional practice in some depth through the development of a research proposal, a service improvement project or a business plan, identifying how you would work collaboratively with others and apply your knowledge of relevant leadership and management theories to promote a change in professional practice. You will develop your knowledge of these areas within the taught element of the module, as well as considering your responsibilities as a qualified practitioner in relation to the delegation and support of others, such as students and unregulated staff. The topic area you choose to study must be of relevance to your profession although the exact nature of your choice of topic will be negotiated at the outset of the module with your module lead and / or your project supervisor.