I was scrolling through one of the Foot Health Practitioner Facebook groups yesterday, and saw a question about working in care homes which made me think about some of my own experiences over the years with them.

So I’ve never really worked in a large care home where I’ve gone in and seen lots of residents one after another, as most of the people I see in elderly care homes were already clients of mine that I use to visit in their homes before they moved there for additional support, so I just continued my visits there instead.

But over the years, I’ve worked in quite a few different types of care settings, and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt has absolutely nothing to do with feet!! But about knowing exactly how the arrangement is going to work before I turn up.

So I’ve visited elderly care homes where the resident pays me, just as they would have done when they lived at home.

I’ve also worked in a residential care setting for people living with brain injuries. Before I started there, I made sure I knew how payment worked. Each resident had their own money managed for them, and their foot care was paid from their individual petty cash, which was very helpful with no problems.

I knew who I was seeing, where I was seeing them and how I was getting paid before I arrived.

I’ve also visited people who live in a supported living house, who have disabilities and challenges, with carers there 24/7 to support them. Again, in one of those situations, there was a petty-cash system in place because the person didn’t manage their own money.

But I’ve also had the complete opposite experience too!!!

I once attended a supported-living house, where two people who were severely disabled lived with 24-hour carers. One of them refused treatment. Which of course is their right. However, that didn’t mean my appointment suddenly became free, as I had set that time aside, travelled to the house and attended the appointment as agreed with the care manager. The carers at the house initially refused to pay me because the treatment hadn’t gone ahead. But eventually paid after I made a written complaint to their manager who had arranged it.

That experience really made me think about the difference between paying for a treatment and paying for an appointment! So with all of my appointments I offer, it’s the appointment they are paying for. As I’ve booked out my time, travelled to you and turned up as agreed, that time still has value.

Another situation happened with someone I use to visit who was also in supported living with carers 24/7. I turned up for his appointment, rang the bell... and nobody answered. So of course I phoned the support worker who told me they had decided to go out for a walk.

Now, of course he can out for a walk with the support staff, however they had an appointment booked, I had travelled there, and nobody had thought to contact me and say they wouldn’t be there. There response was they wanted to arrange another appointment, but couldn’t promise they’ll be in because they do what the resident wants, So of course I said no, because for me, that’s where boundaries come in.

It can sometimes feel uncomfortable saying these things, especially when you are dealing with care settings and vulnerable people, but we’re still running businesses.

So if you’re thinking about taking on work in a care home or supported-living setting, one of the biggest things I would say is:

Don’t make assumptions.

Find out who is actually responsible for arranging the appointment, who is paying, where that payment is coming from, and make sure everyone understands what happens if you turn up and the appointment doesn’t go ahead.

Different care settings do things in different ways. and the treatment is often the easy bit!

Jess x

This week, I finally received the calendar for the academic year 2026/27 of my course, and started looking properly at how I’m going to fit studying back into my life.

I think one of the hardest things about studying as an adult isn’t always the actual learning, it’s finding the time to do it. 😂

I made a YouTube video as part of my mini series a few months back, about how I organised my studying back when I was doing my Foot Health Practitioner diploma, which I’ve actually been thinking about. Because although I’m going into a degree this time, a lot of the same tips and advice still apply.

And I’m hoping that by getting organised from the beginning, I can avoid that horrible feeling of suddenly realising I have loads to do and not enough time to do it!

A little moment from this week

On Friday, I also had a sixth-form student come to visit me who is considering podiatry as a future career.

We had a really lovely chat about the profession, I showed him around my little studio, and he’s now booked onto a workshop so that he can continue exploring whether podiatry might be the right path for him.

I’m obviously not a podiatrist myself (yet), but it was still really lovely to be able to encourage a young person who is considering entering the profession, FHP or Pod.

So as I get ready to put my student hat back on, I’ll keep sharing the journey and musings with you, including how I’m managing studying, working, family life and everything else in between. 😂

Jess x

It’s all about the little things I've done this week. And I like the word little things because one thing that I've been learning recently is little and often is better, than trying to tackle everything at the same time, getting overwhelmed and not actually getting anything done.

So, as I've mentioned in my previous musings, I am trying to organise myself a little bit better, and I kind of feel like I'm doing quite well. So the little things that I've done this week:

• I've automated my email replies and also my WhatsApp, so when people message me, I don't have to reply them straight away because my automation has already done it for me. Why it’s taken me all these years to do it I do not know ! ha! ha! ha! I also updated my answer phone message too!

• I’ve finally printed my prices and framed it on the shelf in my studio. The reason why is because I have different prices for my specialist treatments, but also, I think it's just nice for people to see it there. So I'm really glad I've done that because I've been wanting to do it for such a long time.

• Now with this one, I wasn’t particularly keen on online booking. But I now have this up and running with new people booking in this way. I’ve set mine up so people can only see appointments up to four weeks ahead, can’t book for the same day or the following day, and they have to pay a booking fee to secure their appointment. They receive their confirmation email and text message, along with my details and cancellation policy. And I cannot tell you how much time this has saved me!!

• I know this isn’t work-related, but I did some blackberry picking with my kids. You know, it’s nice to take a break, isn’t it, and do something with the family or just do something a little bit different. And every year we go blackberry picking. We picked a lot actually, and we’ve frozen them for the winter to make some nice pies, and who knows, maybe some jam.

I’m starting to realise that little and often is the best way forward for me to do stuff, I seem to get more done. Little and often. I think that’s gonna be my thing now going forward, my little mantra!

Jess x

I seem to get to this point in my business about once a year where I look around and think… I’ve got too much stuff.

Not in a hoarding kind of way 😂 but just stuff. Things I’ve bought for work, different products, bits and pieces I thought would be useful, subscriptions I’ve signed up for… it all adds up.

Over the last month or so, I’ve really felt like I want to simplify things again. I think part of what has made me think about it this time is just how expensive everything seems to be getting. Fuel in particular is blooming expensive right now!

So this week I plan to sit down and properly go through my business outgoings, basically what am I paying for and what am I actually using.

I’ve always kept a very simple spreadsheet for what comes in and goes out of my business (earnings and outgoings). Nothing fancy at all. I put everything in and it calculates the final figure for me for each week, month and the year.

I’ve been using it since I started my business because I like being able to see exactly what is going out each month. I don’t particularly want another subscription just to tell me something I can keep track of myself on a spreadsheet.

So anyway, that’s the plan, looking at my expenses and going through my stuff!

And actually, this hasn’t just been for my business, I’ve been sorting out my house too. Honestly it’s like a weight has lifted from me, there is something about organising and clearing things out that I find therapeutic and gives my better head space.

I’ve been sorting through the house, getting rid of things we don’t need and generally trying to get everything a little more organised before September.

I just want things to feel a little simpler as I don’t always need more, and sometimes I just need to stop and look at what I already have.

Anyway, that’s where my head is this week.

A little bit of decluttering, a little bit of accounting, and hopefully creating a bit more space, both physically and mentally before September.

See you next week,

Jess x

So, one thing stands out the most to me from July…being accepted onto the podiatry degree of course! 🤭

Since then, reality is starting to kick in. I’ve realised going back into studying means getting my life organised and prepared first.

I’ve been planning childcare, looking at my work diary, thinking about how I’m going to balance work days with studying, and generally trying to make life as simple as possible before I begin.

I’m currently trying to remember where my old Foot Health books are as we recently had a clear out and tidy up in our house. I’m sure I put it in the loft so I’ll be searching for it up there.

It was only a few months ago that I did a video on my Youtube about studying for the SMAE Foot Health diploma. Where I shared some of the study techniques I learnt from Marty Lobdell. I guess I’ll be watching my own video and taking my own advice.

🎥 You can watch it here if you’re studying for your FHP Diploma or degree

Something else I’ve been focusing on is simplifying my business...Again 😂, but hear me out.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been making lots of little improvements, updating both of my websites, finally setting up online booking, refreshing existing resources and looking at ways to make my admin more efficient.

So the plan is to explore using Heidi (AI) to help with my clinical notes. Because If I can spend less time on admin and more time with my studies, then that’s something worth looking into.

💌 One other change I’ve decided to make is around my emails.

If you’ve been reading my weekly emails (Musings) for a while, don’t worry, they aren’t going anywhere. I really enjoy sitting down each week, reflecting and sharing with you.

But alongside that, I’m also going to start sending a separate monthly email from Not a Pod for those who have subscribed to it.

So instead of focusing on my own reflections, I want it to be an email that helps you stay informed and maybe teaches you something new along the way. This is for me too, as this is my way of learning!

So one weekly email to share my musings, and one monthly email dedicated to keeping you informed.

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d love for you to subscribe here (it’s free).

Here’s to a productive August, and one step closer to starting this next chapter.

Until next week,

Jess 💛

Well... I thought it was probably time to update you, since carry out a 40% urea nail treatment on my husbands fungal toenails 7 months ago. I’ll put the video below of the treatment if you missed it..

You see he’s had fungal toenails for many years, and like many people, we’ve tried various approaches along the way. You may even remember when I experimented with nail fenestration, satisfying to watch, but unfortunately didn’t work for him (video below).

So fast forward 7 months after the urea treatment, I’m genuinely pleased with how his nails have turned out. The nails now look healthier than they have in years. And considering everything we’ve tried previously, it’s been really encouraging to see this particular approach worked so well for him.

(1st picture a few weeks after the treatment 7 months ago, 2nd picture taken today)

One thing I think is worth mentioning is that, as a Foot Health Practitioner, this isn’t a treatment I’m insured to carry out on members of the public. My husband was, quite literally, my willing volunteer! And the product was bought over the counter, so available to the public.

Interestingly, now that his nails are growing out amazingly, the next possible issue is the distal embedding. So I’ll be looking into other ways to help this problem such as taping. But also his tight nail…they’re quite involuted, always have been, which I believe is all the way to the root. And although we’ve managed them conservatively for years, I think we’re reaching the point where a partial nail avulsion may be the best long-term solution.

So, it looks like this little case study isn’t over just yet. Now we’ve solved one challenge, it’s time to tackle the next.

If you’re interested, here’s the original video showing where this journey started a few years back, me applying treatment after fenestration.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended for foot health professionals and simply documents my own experience of treating my husband’s fungal toenails. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to use this approach in clinical practice or with patients. If you are considering incorporating any treatment into your practice, always ensure it falls within your scope of practice, check your insurance cover, and follow your own professional guidance. Personally, this is not a treatment that I offer or recommend to my clients, this has simply been an interesting case study to explore with my husband.

See you next week,

Jess

I’m happy to share that this week I was offered a place on the Year 1 BSc (Hons) Podiatry Degree Programme, and I officially accepted. I shared it on my social media post yesterday, where quite a few people were as excited as I was! So thank you :)

So…It’s a four-year, part-time degree, which means I can continue working while fitting my studies around family life. I know it’s going to be hard work, but I know it’ll be worth it in the long run.

So why am I doing it?

Well it’s not for the title, that’s for sure, when I told my clients what I was doing they were like…’what’s one of those’, I’ve found most people just want their problem sorted and a friendly, experienced professional doing it.

However, for me, taking the leap in training to be a Podiatrist, it’s about understanding the work I do on a much deeper level, and increasing my scope of practice so I can continue to provide care rather than referring people elsewhere, you know, continuity of care which my clients prefer.

I’ve also been asking myself, in 10 years time, will I regret not doing it. Honestly, I’d rather take the risk and try than wonder what if.

One thing that really made me laugh after yesterday’s announcement was the comments about the name Not a Pod.

Not a Pod was never meant to become my name, it was just the name of my YouTube channel that I started up to support new FHPs. Not a Pod felt right because we weren’t Podiatrist, it was a name that popped into my head, not much thought into it and named my channel. Over the years, people started calling me “Not a Pod,” which still makes me smile.

So I knew I’d get some questions.

“Will you become ‘Now a Pod’?”, “Soon to be a Pod?”, “Nearly a Pod”

Honestly... I haven’t got a clue! 😂 Changing the name is the last thing on my mind right now. For the next four years, I’ll still be Not a Pod.

Right now my focus is simply learning, studying, and hopefully qualifying as a podiatrist. Everything else can wait.

I’m excited, slightly terrified, and very aware that I’ve never studied at degree level before. But that’s all part of the adventure.

Thank you to everyone who has sent messages, left comments, and cheered me on already. It genuinely means more than you know.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Jess x

I normally write my monthly reflections on the first Sunday of the month, but last week I felt like writing about something different. So I thought I’d use this week to catch you up on what I’ve been up to lately.

I’ve actually been a little quieter online over the past few weeks, not because anything’s wrong, but because I’ve be ‘resetting’.

I’ve been spending more time with my family, preparing for the school holidays, teaching my daughter how to roller skate, going bowling together, picking up the Dutch language again ,and slowly working our way through decorating the house. It’s amazing how therapeutic sorting out the house can be. It’s definitely what I needed.

Besides all that, my foot care business has been so busy. I’ve had a real influx of appointment requests which is great as it’s been lovely meeting new people. One thing I’ve started doing again recently is booking some of my regular clients appointments in advance advance, like for the whole year advance. This works best for us as they’ll know they’ll always have an appointment secured without appointments taken by new people.

To be honest it gives me peace of mind too as I always feel that my regulars should come first. I’d hate for someone who’s been coming to me for years, find that I don’t have an appointment available because the diary has filled with new bookings.

Yesterday was another highlight, as I had a lovely chat with a foot care nurse from Canada who’s recently started her own YouTube channel. She invited me onto her podcast about the profession and our journeys into foot care. It’s really nice to collaborate, its been a while.

So looking back over the past few weeks, it’s been pretty ordinary, but just what the doctor ordered. Family time, busy clinic. decorating projects. learning Dutch again and some real conversations!

Thank you, as always, for being here and for reading these little monthly updates. Whether you’ve been following along for years or you’ve only recently joined me, I really do appreciate you being part of the journey.

See you next week.

Jess x

As always, during the appointment, I asked how they’d found me. It’s something I’ve done for years because I always think its good to know what marketing channels are working.

So their answer was “ChatGPT.”… Whaaaaat??? who would have thought.

They then told me they use ChatGPT like a search engine now, and asked it to recommend someone for a particular foot care treatment in their area, and apparently I was the first person it suggested. I have absolutely no idea how that happened, but I’m not complaining! 😊

I haven’t done anything specifically for ChatGPT. I haven’t optimised for it or changed my website because of it. Yet there I was.

It really makes you realise how much the online world keeps changing. And now with AI, more and more people are asking it to help them find businesses, services and recommendations.

It made me think that all the time we spend creating helpful content for our businesses, it’s not just helping people today, but you never really know where it might pop up in the future, whether that’s months or years later. We really can’t underestimate the value of it.

Ayway, this week I’ve learned that people find you in ways you never would have thought. And this week, thanks to one lovely client, I discovered that one of those ways is ChatGPT. I definitely wasn’t expecting that.

Jess x x

I was going through some of my old videos on YouTube, some I felt like I should make private, as looking back I do things much different now, as I did then. But then I needed to remind myself, this is my journey, and it’ll be a shame to hide it knowing that it has helped so many. Even if I look back a little embarrassed, or unsure.

Just today actually, I received an email from a practitioner who asked if I had any videos on how I wash my instruments from start to finish. I sure do, but when I looked back at it, it is a little out dated. For one, I now wash my instruments in my studio and not in my home, I now dry my instrument on a rack before putting them into sterilisation pouches to be autoclaved. I did a whole post about it on my socials a few months ago. And a few other bits and bobs.

However I know that for someone starting out it would be more relatable, especially if they don’t have a dedicated place to wash and sterilise their instruments and want to now how others do it with minimal space.

So I’ve decided to keep it public, I should probably do an update, but honestly I’m not sure if I need to.

I’ll put the video below on how I washed my instruments at home from start to finish anyway, if it helps in anyway. And I’ll see you next week

Jess x

This week I’ve had a lot of new people contacting and booking in with me, which has kept me busy, I’ve been at that point where I don’t need to advertise anymore for some time, as Google is doing all the work for me organically. However, managing it all can be a mission. I’ve added online booking to my clinical system subscription but not activated it yet. Something to do this week. As answering calls, messages and emails can really take up a lot of my time and I don’t have a lot of it.

Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed being at home with the family, I’ve hardly thought about work. I’ve also been planning school summer holidays which is around the corner. So my work life come August is gonna be a bit tight, so more evening and weekend appointments I’ll be opening up again, but more time with the kids which will be nice.

With all that said and done, I plan to have an organised and more focused week coming up. And I hope you have a good week too.

Jess x

I received an email which made my heart skip this week, I’m sure you may have received it also. The Foot health conference is coming back to Kettering!!

You see the Kettering conference centre shut down a few years ago, stating to never reopen, so many practitioners were gutted when the news came out, so I can’t wait to get more updates from the Foot health & running conference about this.

The email also reminded me that I need to update my list of conferences happening in the UK, on my website. So I’ll be doing that this week.

I’ve also received messages in the past from practitioners asking for CPD recommendations. Because of that, last year I created a Facebook group dedicated to CPD, conferences and professional development. It’s called Foot health practitioners CPD forum.

SO it’s there for you to ask for recommendations, share events , and let others know about training they’ve found useful. It’s also open to organisers who run conferences, courses and CPD events too.

If you’d like to join the group, I’ll leave the link below BUT please make sure to answer all the questions and agree to the group rules or it’ll be rejected. It’s a private community.

Anyway. I’m gonna spend the rest of this evening relaxing and I’ll speak to you next week.

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1035427855124133
jess xx

It has been a good week.

The kids were back at school on Monday, and that’s given me a bit of time to get back into work and also organise other things.

As it’s the first Sunday of the month and reflection, lets talk Wins and challenges.

Wins

Work’s been pretty busy. I’ve had loads of people booking in for nail reconstruction, which has helped me to really get much better at actually applying the nail reconstruction. I do find that the more of something you do, the better you become over time. There are certain areas where I want to improve further. However, I understand that takes time, and the more people that come in for nail reconstruction, the better.

I do have a YouTube video coming up soon where a client if mine actually let me record the whole process, so look out for that.

The other win for this month is my first my online course going live which I shared last week. I’m really proud of myself. I’ll be adding a couple more lessons from feedback so will be planning that too. Because it’s life time access, everyone who has it will have access to any updates or additions. Feedback is so important right. It only helps make things even better!

I hope to do some more online courses as well, so if you have any ideas then please do let me know. Areas where you think maybe I’ve done a YouTube video and you want me to go more in depth about it, then let me know.

Challenges:

As for challenges, I would say it would be my sleep. When I am really into something, it honestly takes over my whole life. It takes all of my energy. Also, having two younger ones that deprive me of sleep can be a little bit of a challenge as well.

However, it is what it is. When you’re building something, you have to put your all into it, and I feel like that’s something I really need to do.

I wasn’t sure whether to share this, but as this is my reflections, why not.

For years now, I think it’s been four years since I started Not a Pod, I’ve done loads and loads of free content over on my YouTube channel, as well as replying to messages people send me and giving loads and loads of advice.

With that being said, I need to value myself a little bit more.

I know that what people see me do and give, it’s often, “Thanks for sharing that, Jess,” which is lovely. However, I’m giving a lot of my time and energy, and in a way I’m not really getting anything back from it apart from a thank you.

So I’m really looking at how I can generate a little more income from the things I create. As like everyone else, I have a family to run and bills to pay. Especially being part-time for my children.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for this week.

I’d love to know what your wins and challenges have been recently.

See you next Sunday,

Jess x

I am so, so excited, because I’ve officially launched my very first online course !

Honestly, grab a cup of tea because I want to tell you all about it ☕.

So the decision came from people messaging me on social media asking how I film my overhead foot care treatment videos and what equipment I use to film.

And whilst I don’t mind helping people, I got to the point where I thought there has to be a better way than repeating myself over and over again right.

I was also a little bit fed up with only creating PDFs, if I’m honest. I know lots of people love video-based learning, and I love video too. I’m a bit of a techie if you know me, and an online course just made sense.

I spent a lot of time looking to see whether there was already a course out there showing foot care professionals how to film overhead treatment videos, and you guessed it, I couldn’t find one.

There are so many videos about filming in general, but I couldn’t find anything specifically for what we do, down there dealing with the feet 😂.

So I thought, I’m just going to create it myself! And you know what, I am so happy to say that the course is now complete and live on my website.

The course is called Overhead Filming for Foot Care Professionals, and inside I show exactly how I film my treatments as well as other important factors when filming!

Another reason I wanted to create this course is because I remember myself, watching treatment videos online and wondering how people were filming hands-free whilst still capturing everything clearly. I honestly couldn’t work it out.

As you know I’ve obviously figured it out, my way, and I’ve now been filming my own treatments for quite some time, a system that works really well for me. So I thought I’d share it.

I’m also happy to share that I’ve already had a few people enrolled, which blows my mind. As I’ve only shared it on my Instagram stories prior to the first enrolments.

But honestly, I’m so proud of it, not just because it’s my first course, but because I genuinely know it will help people who want to start filming their foot care treatments to showcasing their work, creating content, or even creating educational videos of their own.

This week I plan to shout it out from the roof tops on all my platforms, and where ever I can really. And of course sharing it with you! Hence the early email this week instead of the late evening. I’m too excited to wait 😄.

So if you’ve ever wanted to show off your skills or to share yourself in acton carrying out treatments on video , I’ll pop the course link here for you.

Thank you, as always, for supporting me, whether that’s watching my videos, reading these newsletters, buying a template, enrolling on a course, or simply following along on this journey.

It honestly means so much.

See you next Sunday.

Jess ❤️x

It’s half term this week, so technically I’m not working, although when you’re self-employed work still follows you around anyway 😂

Before switching off, I do have a few messages to reply to here and there. One thing I’ve really noticed recently is the amount of people contacting and booking in for nail reconstruction and nail correction.

What’s surprised me the most is how far some people are travelling because they can’t find anybody locally offering it. I’ve had people travelling from other towns and areas just to come and see me, and nearly every person says the same thing.

It’s actually made me stop and think a little bit this week, that a big part of why I think I’m being ‘discovered’ by people, is because I’ve given it a dedicated space on my website (it’s own separate page) and Google really pushing me out there, as most people say I’m the first name that comes up. So, thank you Google !

It’s funny really, because sometimes as practitioners we assume everyone offers the same things we do, until clients start telling you otherwise. However I’m not complaining, I’ll happily be the practitioner that pops up for this. Its a great service to offer.

I was a bit gutted this week though as I did a really good reconstruction using LCN on two nails, and forgot to take the after photo. I’m pretty new to LCN, so was wanting to capture as many before and afters to add to my catalogue. Gutted.

Anyway, I’m going to try and properly switch off for half term, as I have a few plans with the family :)

See you next Sunday,
Jess x

Anyway, I’ve been managing it on and off successfully…. until the last couple of appointment. She arrived with hypergranulation and the area very tender to touch, had also bashed it a few times too, and I knew this time she would need to see a Pod as I wouldn’t be able to help her any further. It was now beyond me.

So while she was still in my treatment chair, she agreed for me to phone a Podiatrist there and then and get an appointment for her to get the toenail sorted.

Afterwards, I asked whether she’d like me to come along for support, and she actually said yes. She told me she would feel more comfortable having me there with her as she knows and trusts me.

So the appointment is this week, and honestly I’m so glad we’re got to this point where she is finally seeing a Pod.

You know it did remind me that this job is so much more than simply “doing feet.” Sometime it’s being that reassurance, guidance, or someone to help them take the next step (even if it does take a couple of years!).

And professionally, I also think it’s important to know when something has gone beyond our scope and needs referring onwards. I’m just hoping the Pod I’ve referred my client onto is friendly towards FHP pod, as it would be a great opportunity to work together collaboratively. …I guess I’ll see at the appointment.

Anyway, I just thought I’d share this and hopefully it encourages you. Would love to know if you’ve experienced anything similar since starting.

Also, thank you for all the lovely messages about the filming project I mentioned last week. I’m still quietly working away on it behind the scenes and it’s coming together really nicely.

See you next Sunday,

Jess x

I thought I’d give you a little update on what I’ve been working on lately, because a few people have noticed I’ve been a bit quieter than usual online!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been filming and putting together something that I’ve been asked about A LOT of recent… how I film my overhead treatment videos.

Honestly, I thought nobody would really care about that side of things. But from the private messages I’ve been getting, I realise many practitioners want to film their foot care treatments, whether its to document their work professionally, educate online, or for social media / Youtube.

So that’s what I’ve been building. And let me tell you! Creating something from scratch can be mentally exhausting sometimes 😂 Not because filming is necessarily difficult, but because there are so many things running through my head.

The good news is that all the filming is finally done 🎉 and I’m now in the final stages of pulling everything together properly and making it feel engaging and easy to follow.

One thing I’ve really tried to focus on whilst creating this is keeping it realistic. I don’t want anyone feeling like they need an expensive camera, fancy lighting, or influencer-style videos before they can start creating content. Because most of us are just working with what we’ve got and figuring things out as we go along.

So yes, that’s where a lot of my time and energy has been going lately. Alongside clinic work, of course!

I’ll let you all know once everything is finished and ready.

I hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend. 😊

See you next Sunday,

Jess x

Since it’s the first Sunday of the month, I thought I’d do a little reflection on what’s come up recently.

Wins

As the seasons are becoming warmer, I’ve had loads of new enquires and bookings, especially for specialist treatments like nail reconstruction or nail correction. And a few cracked heels here and there.

One of my clients suggested online booking, as he works shifts, so I’ve finally enabled this on my clinical system to make it much easier for people to get appointments without waiting for a reply from me.

Challenges

I did have two enquiries from people wanting to book in that stood out.

Both asked if they could send a photo of their toe first, just to check if it was something I could deal with (they were just thick toenail and I think one was fungal). Now I understand they want reassurance before booking, and I don’t want to come across as unhelpful or anything. But I’ve realised more and more that those quick looks aren’t actually helpful, as I can’t make a judgement from a photo without a full picture and observation. So of course I told them to book in for a consultation. One did, the other didn’t.

The only time I would accept a photo is if it was an ingrown toenail, where I actually ask them to send me a photo, as often you can see if it needs referring to a Pod or not, for example, if there is hyper-granulation.

Also, Just to note, my website has all the details of the treatments I can do!

What I’m taking from it

For me, I’m continuing to learn the importance of professional boundaries. Direct people to my website if needed if they are unsure of what I offer. And also not feel bad for refusing to give my opinion from a photo sent to me from them, but instead, thank them for contacting me, and let them know I’d need to see them in person to properly assess.

Also now with the online booking, that should help also (**fingers crossed).

See you next Sunday,
Jess x

I found out today that one of my clients passed away unexpectedly .

She was in her 90s, and you wouldn’t have thought it! She was sharp, funny, full of life. We always had a good natter when I visited her. Her daughter sent me an email this afternoon to let me know, and honestly, I felt so sad 😢.

When people think about foot health, they often think about the practical side of the job. Treatments, tools, appointments, business. But what people don’t always realise is how attached you can become to your clients, especially when you work closely with people in their homes. You hear their stories, about their childhood, their family, their marriage, the jobs they used to do, the places they’ve lived. Sometimes you’re the only person they’ve had a good natter with for a while.

So, this entry is dedicated to a lovely client I’ll genuinely miss visiting. I’m really grateful our paths crossed, even if it was only for a small part of her life.

See you next Sunday,
Jess x

Something I’ve noticed recently, is that there’s been quite a few conversations popping up in the FHP community about dust extraction drills for home visits (or lack of).

And to be honest, I’m not surprised because when you think about it, a lot of dust can be created doing what we do, especially when using burs regularly. I personally notice it most on those really sunny days when the light hits right through the window and you can actually see all those particles in the air. It’s a lot and it does make you think.

For me right now, I’m currently using a Mask and face shield and using my nippers as much as possible first before reaching for a bur (as much as I love a good bur). However, I do find myself thinking more and more about long-term exposure and a need to invest in a good dust extraction drill for dom visits.

I’ve looked into dust extraction drills, but I haven’t found one yet that I think will work for me, because I don’t want one that’s bulky, loud, or having to plug into someone else’s home. I was even looking at a portable battery pack as an option for that!

But for now, it’s doing what I can with what I have right now.

Something else that doesn’t get talked about as much, and that’s the fine nail dust that can get into the handpiece. My first nail drill was a Melodi Suzie, it had mixed reviews, but because I was just starting out I felt at the time it was the best option. The thing is, a common problem was the drill head not working properly over time, and it does make me wonder whether it had something to do with the dust in there from treatments over time. My husband did take it apart clean one out one time and it worked fine after. So it does make you wonder.

With this in mind, one of the things I’ve added into my setup is using dust protection caps on my burs when on home visits mainly. I’ve found they’re a simple way to help reduce dust getting into the handpiece so helping protect my drill. I just leave them on the bur, so yes, I wash the bur with them still on, and then put it in the autoclave as they’re autoclavable too.

I’ve put the ones I use on my website if you need them too.

If you’re already using a dust extraction drill, I’d genuinely love to know what you’re using and how you’re finding it.

Always learning over here.

Jess x