Has anyone retrained to be a foot care health practitioner?

[nannyj]

I was speaking to a lady yesterday who originally trained as a chiropodist and she recommended I take a course to be a foot care practitioner. She said she has to turn clients away because she's so busy. I'm a single mum on minimum wage at the moment and rely heavily on tax credits and need to find a career that will not cost too much to retrain in and not take too long as I'm not very young .

I was just wondering if anyone else has done the distance learning course and practical course and is actually working now?

Thanks

Shallu,
Why not contact some of the Foot Care Practitioners in your area and ask if you can observe what they do, see how they operate their business and talk to you about employment opportunities?

Thank you Kathleen
I will look into it 😊

Can I ask how old you are anne88 please

Shallu1995 not sure if you can fill me in on what you’ve observed or maybe share what you’ve spoken about to your local foot health care practitioners, but I’m really interested as I have worked in healthcare looking after the elderly a quite a few years ok now but my back suffers and love working with people as I’m a hairdresser at mo but I’m thinking of changing careers as will definitely be working longer and just wondered if 48 nearly 49 was too old and how did you go about it all as would be grateful to hear some positives as sadly there seem to be quite a lot of negative comments x

Hiya.... Can anyone recommend what I should I do and where I go for... I am very interested in doing FHP course. I just lost my husband a couple of months ago and i think this is the turning point that I should do something that I always wanted. I live in Poole Area and want to know if there will be course near by. I feel this area of work will fit for me. I just love to make ppl feet look better ( I am nail tech qualified as well). I would like to make sure that I can work in care home, surgery or even do mobile when I am qualified from those courses.
Thank you

Hi doobydoo

How is the course with smae? I am thinking to enrol, I have previous HCA/student nurse experience and also am a qualified beauty therapist but want a career change. Thanks

KAT7545,
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you have a bad back already then being an FHP is not for you as you need to be physically fit.
You will need to carry much heavy equipment and working in nursing homes where residents are bed-bound puts a strain on anyone's back as you are reaching across a wide bed as the footboards are usually non-removable.
A basic set of instruments (clippers, file, scalpel handle, probe, tubegauze applicator and blacks file) will weight 8oz. For a morning session at a care home you'll need 8 sets, plus at least one spare set and some spare clippers in case someone has sepsis under a nail. You'll also need some small nail clippers in case residents want their fingernails cut.
So that's 4.5 lbs + of instruments to heave in and out of a car, plus stool, light, nail drill, scissors, medicaments, gloves, antibacterial foot spray, etc to be carried about.
The comments that seem 'negative' to you are true. They come from people with years of experience in footcare.
May I suggest you make arrangements to 'shadow' an FHP in your area and then you will get all the information you need first hand?

KAT7545 - I forgot to mention - a basic case on wheels to carry your equipment can weigh upwards of 6.5 kg measures 50 x 34 x 45 cms and costs £109.
A deluxe model that holds your nail drill as well measures 43 x 30 x 64cm weighs double the above model and costs in the region of £350.

Something to consider when you are thinking about your back.

jet2002,
I am also curious to see how doobydo is progressing with her SMAE course.
I find these threads very frustrating, as people come along and post questions, are given advice, and then they disappear
It would be good to get some feedback

KAT7545,
I am 55.
HTH !

Imagine a registered nurse telling a HCA they are worthless because they are not as qualified or as regulated as they are. That’s how this thread reads to me. it’s a terrible attitude from the so called professionals.

Anyone thinking of training as a Foot Care Practitioner this year?

I am! I am hoping this will be the right move for me and that I can run a successful small business

I'm considering either the SMAE or Stonebridge Chiropody level 4 diploma, but seems to be alot of confliction here. I do t really want to spend the money on a course if there is nothing for me at the end. One thing is I want to do visits, but how do you sterilise equipment on the go? Do you need to carry alot of equipment? Can you be HCPC registered? Is it worth considering a degree in Podiatry after completing the diploma? Anyways, hope someone can enlighten me with a non biased opinion.