Academy Player Care Lead

Watford FC; London Colney; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Watford Football Club is seeking an Academy Player Care Lead to coordinate player care across the Academy and support players into the Men’s First Team. You will work with safeguarding, education, coaching and other specialists to help players access timely support from induction through development, transition and release.

You will be based at the Watford FC Training Ground in London Colney with travel as needed, supporting players from U9 to U21 and liaising with families and staff.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children in a welfare or pastoral role.
• Understanding of child protection and safeguarding responsibilities, including appropriate reporting and escalation.
• A valid FA Safeguarding Children Certificate or equivalent.
• A valid FA Welfare Officers Workshop Certificate or equivalent.
• Commitment to the club’s equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding policies.
• A full UK driving licence or the ability to travel to the locations required by the role.
• The successful candidate will be subject to safeguarding and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and children’s barred list check where applicable to the role.

Responsibilities

• Promoting safeguarding and welfare practice across the Academy and following club procedures and requirements.
• Maintain accurate records and support compliance with club, statutory and governing body requirements.
• Coordinate player care with Academy and Men’s First Team staff, especially PD1 players moving to the First Team.
• Build relationships with players and families and coordinate support throughout the Academy pathway.
• Receive and record welfare concerns in CPOMS and escalate as needed under club procedures.
• Coordinate the Academy host family provision with safeguarding colleagues, including placements and monitoring.
• Organise the Academy Life Skills Programme, including facilitators and session logistics.
• Build relationships with Academy players from U9 to U21 and monitor their welfare.
• Coordinate inductions, transitions and release aftercare, preparing information for clubs.

Skills

Welfare support

Safeguarding awareness

Record keeping

Communication skills

Stakeholder liaison

Driving licence

Education

FA Safeguarding Children Certificate

FA Welfare Officers Workshop Certificate

Tools

CPOMS

Office software

Job description

Employer: Watford Football Club
Job Title: Academy Player Care Lead
Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience
Location: Watford Football Club - Training Ground, London Colney
Type: Permanent Full Time
Passport/Visa: Must be eligible to work in the UK
Closing Date: Friday 20th November 2026

Watford Football Club is recruiting an Academy Player Care Lead, to coordinate player care
across the Academy and supporting Academy players into the Men’s First Team. Working with
safeguarding, education, coaching and other specialists, you will help players and their families
access timely support from induction through development, transition and release. The role
reports to the Head of Safeguarding.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the Head of Safeguarding in promoting safeguarding and welfare practice
  across the Academy and following club procedures and relevant requirements.
• Working with relevant colleagues to maintain accurate records and support compliance
  with club, statutory and football governing body requirements.
• Coordinating player care with Academy and Men’s First Team staff, with particular
  attention to Professional Development Phase players moving into the First Team.
• Building relationships with players and families and coordinating appropriate support
  throughout the Academy pathway.
• Receiving and recording welfare and safeguarding concerns in the club’s designated
  system, including CPOMS where applicable, and promptly escalating them under club
  procedures. Specialist safeguarding decisions remain with the designated safeguarding
  leads.
• Coordinating the Academy host family provision with safeguarding colleagues, including
  placements, ongoing contact, welfare monitoring and escalation of concerns under
  club procedures.
• Organising the Academy Life Skills Programme, including facilitators, session logistics
  and feedback.
• Building supportive relationships with Academy players from U9 to U21 and monitoring
  their welfare in collaboration with the appropriate staff.
• Coordinating inductions, mid-season transitions and release aftercare, including the
  club’s three-year release strategy. Working with the relevant colleagues, prepare
  appropriate player information for football clubs and build contacts that may offer
  released players further opportunities.
• Working with staff on Player Voice, Parent Voice and end-of-season surveys, and using
  feedback to inform action plans.
• Coordinating player welfare arrangements for loans, community visits, matchday
  activities, off-site events and tours, including consent forms and risk assessments with
  the relevant teams.
• Participating in the Safeguarding Management Group and coordinating player wellbeing
  meetings and action plans with the appropriate staff and designated safeguarding
  leads.
• Supporting the Academy’s Mental and Emotional Wellbeing pathway by coordinating
  access to support and referrals to qualified practitioners where specialist assessment
  or treatment is needed.
• Contributing to the Academy Performance Plan in education, life skills and welfare.
• Championing Watford Welcomes values and following the club’s equality, diversity,
  inclusion and safeguarding policies.
• Carrying out other duties appropriate to the Player Care Lead role and agreed priorities
  of the Safeguarding Team.

You will work well with players, families and colleagues, communicate sensitively, keep appropriate records and manage competing priorities across the Academy and First Team.

The role is based at the training ground in London Colney and requires travel to other locations as needed. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.

Essential Experience and Qualifications:

• Experience of working with children in a welfare or pastoral role.
• Understanding of child protection and safeguarding responsibilities, including appropriate reporting and escalation.
• A valid FA Safeguarding Children Certificate or equivalent.
• A valid FA Welfare Officers Workshop Certificate or equivalent.
• Commitment to the club’s equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding policies.
• A full UK driving licence or the ability to travel to the locations required by the role.
• The successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate safeguarding and preemployment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and children’s barred list check
  where applicable to the role.

Desirable Experience and Qualifications:

• Experience of working in football, preferably within an Academy environment.
• Mental Health First Aid qualification and Basic First Aid for Sport, or equivalent