New frameworks for career development and workforce planning
New frameworks for career development and workforce planning
New frameworks for career development and workforce planning
The Royal College of Podiatry has published seven comprehensive frameworks to support podiatrists at every stage of their career, from undergraduate education through to consultant-level practice. These resources provide clear guidance for practitioners, educators, and service leaders across NHS and independent sectors.
These frameworks were developed with funding from NHS England to strengthen workforce development across podiatric services.
All frameworks and guidance
Seven frameworks covering the complete career pathway from undergraduate education through to consultant-level practice. Filter by career stage or browse all resources below.
Filter by career stage:
A profession-wide visualisation of podiatry career pathways across four pillars: clinician, educator, leader and researcher.
Podiatry career development map
A visual framework showing career pathways across clinical, research, leadership and education roles throughout your podiatry career.
For:
Qualified podiatrists exploring their next steps
View
Framework
→
Pre-registration education
Podiatry core curriculum and syllabus
National curriculum guidance for podiatry education programmes, setting out learning expectations across anatomy, pathology, assessment, treatment and prevention. Includes specialist POMS syllabus for musculoskeletal content.
For:
HEI curriculum leads
View
Curriculum
→
Transition to practice
Preceptorship toolkit
Practical toolkit to support employers in implementing structured preceptorship programmes for newly qualified podiatrists. Includes editable templates, assessment tools and implementation guidance.
For:
Employers
View
Toolkit
→
Professional boundaries
Scope of practice guidance
Helps podiatrists understand their professional boundaries, responsibilities and legal implications of scope of practice. Particularly relevant for those working at advanced or consultant level.
For:
Podiatrists at all career stages
View
Guidance
→
Advanced practice roles
Enhanced practice pathways
Case-based guidance exploring how podiatrists develop enhanced practice roles across vascular, diabetes, MSK and frailty services. Includes discussion prompts and reflective questions for role development.
For:
Podiatrists planning advanced roles
View
Guidance
→
Senior clinical practice
Consultant-level practice guidance
Framework defining consultant-level podiatric roles, including role profiles, infrastructure requirements and governance considerations. Supports practitioners, employers and strategic leaders.
For:
Aspiring consultants
View
Framework
→
Workforce development
Apprenticeship strategy
Strategic framework for developing podiatry apprenticeships as alternative entry routes to the profession, addressing workforce needs and widening participation.
For:
Education commissioners
View
Strategy
→
Support workforce
Support worker business case
Business case and framework for expanding podiatry support worker roles, including role descriptors, training pathways, supervision models and safety considerations.
For:
Podiatry service managers
View
Business case
→
A profession-wide visualisation of podiatry career pathways across four pillars: clinician, educator, leader and researcher.
Podiatry career development map
A visual framework showing career pathways across clinical, research, leadership and education roles throughout your podiatry career.
For:
Qualified podiatrists exploring their next steps
View
Framework
→
Pre-registration education
Podiatry core curriculum and syllabus
National curriculum guidance for podiatry education programmes, setting out learning expectations across anatomy, pathology, assessment, treatment and prevention. Includes specialist POMS syllabus for musculoskeletal content.
For:
HEI curriculum leads
View
Curriculum
→
Transition to practice
Preceptorship toolkit
Practical toolkit to support employers in implementing structured preceptorship programmes for newly qualified podiatrists. Includes editable templates, assessment tools and implementation guidance.
For:
Employers
View
Toolkit
→
Professional boundaries
Scope of practice guidance
Helps podiatrists understand their professional boundaries, responsibilities and legal implications of scope of practice. Particularly relevant for those working at advanced or consultant level.
For:
Podiatrists at all career stages
View
Guidance
→
Advanced practice roles
Enhanced practice pathways
Case-based guidance exploring how podiatrists develop enhanced practice roles across vascular, diabetes, MSK and frailty services. Includes discussion prompts and reflective questions for role development.
For:
Podiatrists planning advanced roles
View
Guidance
→
Senior clinical practice
Consultant-level practice guidance
Framework defining consultant-level podiatric roles, including role profiles, infrastructure requirements and governance considerations. Supports practitioners, employers and strategic leaders.
For:
Aspiring consultants
View
Framework
→
Workforce development
Apprenticeship strategy
Strategic framework for developing podiatry apprenticeships as alternative entry routes to the profession, addressing workforce needs and widening participation.
For:
Education commissioners
View
Strategy
→
Support workforce
Support worker business case
Business case and framework for expanding podiatry support worker roles, including role descriptors, training pathways, supervision models and safety considerations.
For:
Podiatry service managers
View
Business case
→
A profession-wide visualisation of podiatry career pathways across four pillars: clinician, educator, leader and researcher.
Podiatry career development map
A visual framework showing career pathways across clinical, research, leadership and education roles throughout your podiatry career.
For:
Qualified podiatrists exploring their next steps
View
Framework
→
Pre-registration education
Podiatry core curriculum and syllabus
National curriculum guidance for podiatry education programmes, setting out learning expectations across anatomy, pathology, assessment, treatment and prevention. Includes specialist POMS syllabus for musculoskeletal content.
For:
HEI curriculum leads
View
Curriculum
→
Transition to practice
Preceptorship toolkit
Practical toolkit to support employers in implementing structured preceptorship programmes for newly qualified podiatrists. Includes editable templates, assessment tools and implementation guidance.
For:
Employers
View
Toolkit
→
Professional boundaries
Scope of practice guidance
Helps podiatrists understand their professional boundaries, responsibilities and legal implications of scope of practice. Particularly relevant for those working at advanced or consultant level.
For:
Podiatrists at all career stages
View
Guidance
→
Advanced practice roles
Enhanced practice pathways
Case-based guidance exploring how podiatrists develop enhanced practice roles across vascular, diabetes, MSK and frailty services. Includes discussion prompts and reflective questions for role development.
For:
Podiatrists planning advanced roles
View
Guidance
→
Senior clinical practice
Consultant-level practice guidance
Framework defining consultant-level podiatric roles, including role profiles, infrastructure requirements and governance considerations. Supports practitioners, employers and strategic leaders.
For:
Aspiring consultants
View
Framework
→
Workforce development
Apprenticeship strategy
Strategic framework for developing podiatry apprenticeships as alternative entry routes to the profession, addressing workforce needs and widening participation.
For:
Education commissioners
View
Strategy
→
Support workforce
Support worker business case
Business case and framework for expanding podiatry support worker roles, including role descriptors, training pathways, supervision models and safety considerations.
For:
Podiatry service managers
View
Business case
→
Using these frameworks
These resources are designed to be used individually or together as part of comprehensive workforce planning. They apply to podiatric practice across all settings including NHS, independent practice, community services and specialist clinics.
For questions about implementing these frameworks in your service or organisation, contact info@rcpod.org.uk
© 2025 The Royal College of Podiatry