Case studies : MSK lead and private podiatry practitioner: Jo

Jo graduated with a degree in podiatry from The University of Northampton. She currently works as a musculoskeletal (MSK) lead for a community services podiatry department. She also runs two private sports therapy/sports podiatry practices and is a part-time PhD student in podiatry.

I got involved with podiatry originally through my work as a sports therapist. As a keen marathon runner, I tended to treat a lot of runners’ sports injuries. I could see that many of these injuries were a result of gait abnormalities and decided that it would be beneficial to my patients if I could prescribe insoles as part of their treatment plan. As a result, I enrolled at the University of Northampton and pursued a podiatry degree. Once I completed my degree and became qualified, I added podiatry to the treatments available at my private sports therapy practices.

I also currently work as the musculoskeletal (MSK) lead at Brent Podiatry. I applied for this post through the NHS website. Before starting this role, I worked in the NHS in other podiatry roles for three years.

A degree in podiatry is the minimum qualification for the work that I do. During the degree, we were taught the skills necessary for podiatry work and gained practical experience through clinical placement. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to further my skills in my chosen area by shadowing experts in the field on a regular basis.

My current job at Brent Podiatry has been to develop the MSK arm of the podiatry service. As this service has developed, so has the scope of my role as a practitioner and manager. I triage all referrals and organise the structure of the clinics. I manage my own budget. I assess patients with musculoskeletal conditions and treat various conditions with insoles or orthotics. I also carry out local anaesthetic and steroid injections on the foot and ankle. I am responsible for teaching other members of my team through clinical rotation as well as teaching students on placement. I also handle public relations and visit GP practices in order to promote the department.

I enjoy the variety of conditions that I see in my work. I have a great deal of job satisfaction, and it is most rewarding when I can help someone by reducing pain and improving quality of life. The less enjoyable parts of the job include writing reports and doing paperwork, but I can’t think of anything that I particularly dislike.

In terms of my own career progression, I would like to continue working within the same specialist post but perhaps move into the acute sector and work with the musculoskeletal team and/or orthopaedics department.

If you’re looking to go into podiatry, I would encourage you to take up any opportunities to gain relevant experience. That could be through shadowing more experienced practitioners or volunteering. It can be beneficial to work a little further away from home if a particular post may lead to an increase in experience and get you closer to the post you are aiming for.