In line with our commitment to current and future education development we have recruited a highly skilled full-time education officer to the team at Head Office. I am therefore delighted to introduce Samantha (Sam) Connolly who joined the team in April.

 

As you know, as an organisation we have a long history of supporting professional education at all practice levels in podiatry, chiropody and foot health that dates back to our founding years in the 1930’s. Our Licentiate and Diploma courses in Chiropody were highly regarded in the days before the statutory regulation of Chiropody and Podiatry, whilst in more recent years we have provided various types of postgraduate training that has proved enormously popular in subjects as diverse as steroid therapy, advanced regional anaesthesia, platelet-rich plasma, dermal fillers and botulinum toxin in the feet and associated structures.

 

Currently, the Institute is one of the board members of the Foot Health Consortium that has been set up by NHS Health Education England to take forward the concept of a structured learning framework in Foot Health that will help to address both the subject of the training standard of the (currently) unregulated FHP workforce, as well as the shortage of student recruitment into University podiatry courses by looking to establish a nationally agreed education framework for the FHP workforce. Such an education and recognised qualification framework is hoped to establish opportunities for level 3, 4 and 5  FHP’s being recognised as able to provide support in the NHS workforce, as well as being an entry ‘staircase’ into University education for those who wish to ultimately complete degree training to gain HCPC registration as a Podiatrist.

 

There are exciting times ahead in our profession, and I know that you will join me in welcoming Sam and supporting her efforts as she takes us forward into that future!

 

Martin Harvey, Chair.

 

Samantha Connelly – introduction:

I am a qualified tutor in Further Education and has worked within FE for 13 years both as a tutor and a personal tutor.  I also have a BSc (hons) degree in Business and Management along with a Foundation degree in Business Information Systems. I have been in Education and Training for the last 21 years and I cannot think of a better profession than to help and support others to achieve their ambitions. I understand the barriers to learning and also how to motivate learners. I am highly skilled in meeting targets and deadlines and in mentoring and supporting learners. I am committed to Education and Learning and Development and have always looked to further my own knowledge as I believe we can always learn.  I have always strived to ensure that every learner maximises their true potential and achieves their goal.

I have coordinated two projects that promoted apprenticeships across Lancashire and built up a network and both apprentices and employers in order to support the project and reach out to all organisations and Schools across Lancashire. Recently I was Learning and Development Coordinator for a port.  I developed all of the tracking and monitoring systems and worked with the tutors in the creation of training manuals and all training documentation in line with Health and safety and quality standards. I enjoy developing systems and I am highly skilled at ensuring quality processes are in place to ensure quality of provision.

I am looking forward to this new chapter in my career with the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and in supporting and assisting all of our learners and members in their further development.