Scope of practice guidance

Scope of practice guidance for podiatrists in advanced and consultant roles

Description
Guidance to help podiatrists understand their professional boundaries, responsibilities and clinical accountability.

Summary
This guidance helps podiatrists working at advanced or consultant level to understand the boundaries, responsibilities and legal implications of their professional scope of practice. 

Developed by the Royal College of Podiatry as part of the NHS England Education Reform programme, it offers practical support to individuals, employers and workforce planners who are navigating role development in podiatry.

The document clarifies the distinction between a podiatrist’s "scope of practice" (what they are educated, competent and authorised to do) and their "scope of employment", which may be shaped by local service needs. It aims to ensure that podiatrists work safely and legally, particularly in advanced roles involving prescribing, extended diagnostics or surgical interventions.

Through worked examples and real-world scenarios, the guidance helps podiatrists to:

• assess whether an activity is within their professional scope 

• understand the importance of appropriate delegation supervision and documentation 

• encourage reflective practice and accountability

The guidance also supports organisations to develop safe and sustainable job roles by providing a consistent framework for decision-making. It can be used during job planning, recruitment and appraisal to ensure clarity around expectations and limitations. Service leads and HR teams may also find the guidance valuable when developing advanced or consultant-level posts.

As the profession continues to evolve and take on more complex work, this resource helps ensure that podiatrists can grow their careers while protecting patient safety and upholding public trust.