The Clinical Education Team at University Centre South Devon (UCSD) were recently successful in their application to the Health Education England (HEE) Strategic Support Fund to develop a new Podiatry and Orthotics Programme in partnership with Torbay and South Devon Foundation NHS Trust.

The Health Education England Strategic Support Fund has been created exclusively to encourage the establishment of new courses for healthcare professions prioritised in the NHS Long Term Plan and People Plan.

In response to their successful application, the Clinical Education Team are introducing a new foundation degree and higher apprenticeship in Podiatry which meets the needs of the local healthcare workforce, alongside creating a new specialist Podiatry simulation suite to provide students the opportunity to develop and enhance their clinical skills.

The Clinical Education Team have a long-established partnership with the Podiatry and Orthotics services at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. This partnership is renowned for its high level of innovation and high capacity building projects, particularly within the development and introduction of the Assistant Practitioner – Podiatry role.

An Assistant Practitioner alumnus praised the course saying, “the course has provided me with the skills and knowledge that is required of an Assistant Practitioner within the Podiatry service with the benefits of specific competences that are required of the role.”

Claire Langman, Clinical Education Manager said, “this is a great opportunity for UCSD to work in partnership with our NHS partners to develop a new innovative programme which provides the opportunity to develop clinical knowledge of an NHS priority service area within UCSD’s supportive learning environment.”

If you would like more information on the new foundation degree in Podiatry and Orthotics, please contact the Clinical Education Team at [email protected] or phone 08000 21 31 81.