Consultation on the process to accredit educational providers and individuals who meet the Standards of the Foot Health Workforce

The RCPod, using funding from Health Education England (HEE), led an expert group of stakeholders to create a proposed accreditation process and supporting documentation.

The RCPod is now consulting with podiatrists and other interested parties to ensure the implementation of a fair and transparent process for the future of training and standards of the foot health workforce. 

Comments and views on this process are essential to build a transparent accreditation course and we encourage you to respond by the deadline of 8 February 2023.

Download

• HEE RCPod consultation: Provider accreditation process
• HEE RCPod consultation: Standards of Education and Training (SETs) guidance for education providers
  • Appendix 1: Foot health support workers qualification framework guidance consultation
  • Appendix 2: SETs wth short guidance mapping proforma
  • Appendix 3: Standards mapping proforma

• HEE RCPod consultation: Individual practitioner guidance

Feedback

Feedback can be given either by:

• Completing the attached form; or
• By emailing accredit.consultation@rcpod.org.uk   

Deadline

The consultation closes on 8 February 2023.

Background to the consultation

The Standards for the Foot Health Workforce (also known as the ‘Foot Health Standards’) were created in 2021 by HEE and the Foot Health Consortium. This work developed collaboration between a range of stakeholders across podiatry to provide a structured career ladder for the foot health support workforce. 

Accreditation of education providers and individuals was a key aim from this work and the Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod), funded by HEE, has created a process to enable implementation of the Standards of the Foot Health Workforce.

Working with key stakeholders RCPod has created an accreditation process based on the Standards for the Foot Health Workforce for education providers as well as individuals working in the foot health support workforce.

By standardising education and training provision, we are not only stepping further towards securing the future of the foot health workforce, but we are also improving patient care.

What have we done?

Over the last six months the RCPod has been developing, alongside key stakeholders, a process to allow for the Standards for the Foot Health Workforce to be implemented into practice.

This has included a set of Standards for Education and Training (SETs), supportive documentation, handbooks and guidance.

Why is it necessary?

With increased demands on foot health services, developing a skilled support workforce enables care to be improved. Currently there are no agreed standards of education for this provision. 

By developing the support workforce, career progression into podiatry will be enhanced, upskilling and sustaining foot health professions.

This will lead to improved cooperation and cross-pollination between the NHS and private practice.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to implement the agreed Standards for Education and Training into the future of the foot health workforce by accrediting educational providers and individuals who meet the standards. This will provide a safer level of care and assist in the career progression of practitioners.

Aims:

• To accredit education providers who meet the agreed Standards.
• To accredit individuals who are currently working in the foot health support workforce and can retrospectively demonstrate they meet the Standards.
• To provide an annual monitoring and evaluation processes supporting the development of the accreditation process.