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  1. Podiatry assistant

    Podiatry assistants treat and care for people whose feet and legs have been affected by injury or illness. Their work helps people live full and independent lives. 

    There are no set entry requirements to become a podiatry assistant. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs, or equivalent. They may ask for an NVQ, BTEC or equivalent qualification in health and social care or healthcare. They often ask for relevant work experience. You will get the training you need to work as a podiatry assistant. This includes diseases and conditions of the skin and nails, anatomy and physiology, conditions of the feet and legs and nail operations.
    Podiatry assistants working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You would typically start on AfC band 2. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 3 and above. Most podiatry assistants in the NHS work standard hours, which are likely to be around 37.5 a week. They may work some evenings. Outside the NHS, podiatry assistants’ hours of work depend on client needs. They may work evenings and weekends to suit private clients.
    Podiatry assistants need to be willing to handle other people’s feet, calm and reassuring, caring and dedicated, able to follow procedures and instructions, willing to work alone or in a team and able to explain treatment to patients. They also need good manual (hand) skills, organisational skills, communication skills and customer service skills
    With the appropriate qualifications necessary, you could apply to train as a podiatrist.
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