Rebecca’s Podiatry Placement at Kenilworth Footcare: What I Learned (and How It Helps Patients)

Rebecca Hutchinson is a 3rd Year Podiatry student who is just completing her studies at the University of Northampton. She completed a 3-week placement at Kenilworth Footcare last June and, throughout her 3rd year, has spent one day a fortnight at either Kenilworth Footcare or Gait and Rehab, our partner clinic in Knowle. Here she explains the importance of placements in the 'real world' and what she has learned through her time with us.

What my placement involved

During my time at Gait & Rehab, I worked closely alongside Sam, assisting in a wide range of clinical appointments. The caseload was mainly musculoskeletal (MSK) and biomechanical, which gave me really valuable exposure to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning in these areas.

Sam has been a great mentor and encouraged me to get properly involved in both assessments and treatments. This was a brilliant way to apply and test my anatomy knowledge, podiatric medicine, and everything I've learned over the past few years on the course.

I also had the opportunity to spend time with the wider team at Kenilworth Footcare. Here, I assisted with nail surgery and observed treatments such as Lacuna, Curacorn and K-Laser procedures, which were really interesting, especially as we don't see some of these in the clinic back in Northampton. I've really enjoyed the variety of the placement, as well as getting to treat patients myself. Everyone has been so welcoming, and the patients have been lovely.

The 3 biggest things I learned

The three main takeaways from my time at Gait & Rehab would be communication, time management, and the importance of knowledge.

Firstly, managing patient expectations and communication has been a big learning curve. Patients don't always come in with expectations that align with clinical outcomes, so learning how to have those conversations and guide them towards realistic goals has been really valuable to witness.

Secondly, time management in clinical practice. I definitely underestimated how busy private practice can be. Being able to organise your time effectively while still giving each patient the high standard of treatment/care is so important.

Lastly, "Knowledge is key". Sam has been a fantastic mentor and really pushed me, quizzing me, running through scenarios, and challenging my thinking. It's helped me recognise both my strengths and the areas I need to improve, and sometimes that's meant going back to the books. It's reinforced that learning doesn't stop when you qualify; continuing to build your knowledge is essential to becoming a confident and highly skilled podiatrist.

How this expands my scope as a future podiatrist

This placement has really broadened my clinical scope, especially in MSK and biomechanical assessment. As a foot health practitioner, it's given me more confidence in recognising more complex conditions and thinking more critically about treatment options.

Looking ahead to qualifying as a podiatrist, it's given me a strong foundation in clinical reasoning, communication, and treatment planning. I feel more prepared to approach patients holistically and deliver more well-rounded care rather than just focusing on symptoms.

How patients benefit from this experience

I think it allows me to be much more well-rounded as a practitioner. My previous placement was in the NHS within a high-risk diabetic department, combining that with my experience at Gait & Rehab means I've seen a really broad range of patients and conditions. Because of this, I feel more confident in identifying underlying causes of foot and lower limb issues, rather than just treating what's in front of me.

It has also really improved my communication skills. I feel much more confident explaining conditions and treatment plans clearly—not just to patients, but even to my peers back at university. I've already started putting this into practice in the student clinic, and it's made a big difference to my confidence.

Where I see myself in 5 years

In five years' time, I see myself working as a qualified podiatrist with a strong interest in diabetes, paediatrics, MSK, and biomechanics.

I'd like to continue developing my skills in these areas, possibly through further training or specialisation, keeping a varied scope of practice. Ideally, I'd love to work across both NHS and private practice to gain the benefits of both environments. Most importantly, I hope to be part of a supportive clinical team where I can keep learning, developing, and providing high-quality patient care.

Longer term, I'd love to have my own practice one day-and hopefully pass on my knowledge to future podiatry students and support the next generation coming through.

Would I recommend this placement?

Absolutely, I would highly recommend this placement.

It would be especially beneficial for podiatry students at any stage of their training, as well as newly qualified foot health practitioners who want to build confidence and develop their clinical skills further. The whole team has been fantastic. I thank Kate for giving me this opportunity; it's been invaluable. Everyone is incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, not just in podiatry but also in the wider aspects of practice and business.

The placement offers a great balance of hands-on experience, observation, and learning in a really supportive environment. It's been such a positive experience for me, and I'll genuinely be sad to leave. I've not only learned a huge amount, but I've also built some really great relationships along the way.