Basic Nail and Foot Care Training Package for Personal Care Services (WA HACC Agencies)

Healthy feet are an important contributor to safe mobility and therefore to client independence at home and within the community.  Maintaining healthy feet through regular nail and basic foot care is a self-care task that can form part of a personal care service for people who have no identified foot problems. 

The WA HACC Policy on the Provision of Foot and Nail Care Services (2007) proposed the development of a training program whereby basic foot and nail care can be provided by a trained and competent HACC support worker, as part of a personal care service.

This support should be available to HACC clients who have been assessed as not being able to perform basic foot and nail care tasks independently, and have been identified as ‘low risk’ (no pre-existing foot or nail pathology).  HACC agencies that provide personal care and have successfully completed the required foot and nail care training, may offer these services as part of the clients support plan. 

The WA HACC Program in conjunction with CommunityWest has developed the ‘Basic Nail and Foot Care Training Package for Personal Care Services (For WA HACC Agencies – Coordinators and Support Workers)’. This training is modelled on the ‘Medications for Support Workers and Coordinators training’ which targets HACC support workers and involves HACC Coordinators conducting on-site competency assessments for their staff.

Training will be delivered by CommunityWest and advertised on the CommunityWest Training Calendar. WA HACC agencies are encouraged to contact CommunityWest on 9309 8180 to register their interest.

History

An increasing demand for Foot Care services within the HACC program has been highlighted over recent years at community consultations. The ageing of the population and a shortage of Podiatrists in WA are major contributors to this demand. The problem is critical in certain rural regions where the workforce issue is accentuated and there is a lack of other program support. The WA HACC program responded to this demand by supporting a pilot podiatry foot and nail service in the Great Southern.

Wickepin and Williams HACC have developed a foot and nail care service to provide nail care to HACC eligible clients who are unable to perform their own basic nail care due to limited mobility, failing eye sight, decreased dexterity and strength in their hands.

The service includes assessment, support planning and service evaluation of the client by a suitably qualified nurse (with the support of a podiatrist).  The nail cutting service is offered on a 6 weekly basis, or more frequently if required, and is performed at a central location.  It will assist the clients in maintaining their nail care and facilitating their independence.

A podiatrist was engaged to provide training in appropriate foot care and nail cutting techniques and support to a registered nurse.  Protocols have been developed, together with procedures for cleaning and sterilization of equipment by the Senior Nurse, Podiatrist and Regional CSSD staff.

The outcomes from this project will inform the development and implementation of the regional State-wide HACC Foot and Nail Care program.

CommunityWest is applying the learning outcomes from this pilot project to develop a sustainable training program that can be emulated in similar regional environments with the focus on training the support workers. It is proposed that the updated package will be piloted in the Wheatbelt in September 2009.  The service will target HACC clients who have no specific foot or nail conditions but are unable to perform this task themselves, do not have a carer that is able to assist, and whose independence will be significantly enhanced if this service were available to them.  Fundamental to its success is an existing structure within the regional area that supports a competency based approach to the program and provides information and guidance readily to participating HACC employees.