Head of Player Care - Academy (Full-Time)

Stevenage Football Club; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A professional football club in Stevenage is seeking a Head of Player Care for the Academy. The successful candidate will ensure a supportive environment for young players, oversee safeguarding practices, and act as a point of escalation for welfare issues. Candidates should have relevant safeguarding qualifications and experience working with children. This position is vital for the well-being and development of players aged 8-18. Enhanced Criminal Records Checks will be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in working with children and young people.
• Knowledge of welfare and equality issues within sports.
• Understanding of DBS and safeguarding compliance.

Responsibilities

• Implement the club wide, Welfare and Equality philosophy at the Academy.
• Prevent abuse or discrimination within the Academy department.
• Act as Disclosure Manager for the Academy's DBS system.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding support is in place for players under 16.
• Manage safeguarding, welfare, and equality issues for players.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Relationship building

Knowledge of safeguarding principles

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Relevant qualifications in safeguarding or welfare support

Job description

Overview

Stevenage Football Club are looking for highly motivated, talented, enthusiastic, and dedicated individual to join as the Head of Player Care for the Academy. The key objective of this role is to ensure an effective environment of support is in place for young players associated with Stevenage FC Academy. Being a member of the Club's Safeguarding Team, you will primarily focus on registered Academy players aged 8 - 18 years. You will also provide aftercare provisions for players recently released from the Academy environment and ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of players in our pre-academy, development programs and U18s.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the implementing and embedding of the club wide, Welfare and Equality philosophy at the Academy and ensure the key principles and practices associated with this philosophy are adopted as appropriate.
• Work to actively prevent poor practice, abuse or discrimination occurring within the Academy department and respond effectively in the event such behaviour occurs.
• Act as Disclosure Manager for the Academy department's DBS system for criminal record checking and work with Academy Operations Manager to ensure the Club's Safer Recruitment strategy is effectively implemented.
• Work with the Academy Safeguarding and Education Teams to ensure appropriate safeguarding and welfare support is implemented for all players under 16 years of age including players in the pre-academy group.
• Develop professional relationships with all Academy players, in order to create an environment where players feel comfortable talking about safeguarding and welfare issues.
• Point of escalation for all safeguarding, welfare and equality issues/complaints relating to players aged under 18 years.
• Report all safeguarding, welfare and equality incidents/issues/complaints to the Head of Safeguarding, Academy Manager and Academy Operations Manager as required.
• Work closely with FA, LFE and Football League to ensure the Academy's safeguarding, welfare and equality provision meets the standards expected of a Category 3 Academy.
• Proactively manage the Academy section of the club's Safeguarding, Welfare and Equality plans (and subsequent actions identified within these plans).
• Work with the Club Secretary, Academy Manager, Head of Recruitment to ensure arrangements for players on loan are satisfactory and the welfare of such players upheld at all times whilst away from the Club.
• Plan and run meetings and workshops throughout the season as appropriate with players, parents and scholars, keeping all informed of issues and procedures relating to Academy Welfare.
• Maintain accurate records and auditable accounts of relevant Safeguarding, Welfare and Education work undertaken, and ensure relevant qualifications are kept up-to-date.

Safeguarding and compliance

Safeguarding Statement: Stevenage Football Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment. This post requires Enhanced Criminal Records Checks and may include checks against the Barred Lists, as such it is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Therefore all convictions including spent convictions that have not been subject to filtering by the DBS should be declared.

Relevant information and/or documents will be distributed as part of the recruitment process.

EEO and BAME information

The English Football League has introduced positive action measures aimed at tackling the under-representation of coaches and managers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. New regulations require clubs to shortlist at least one suitably qualified BAME candidate (where an application has been received) for all roles in Academy football that require a UEFA A or UEFA B Licence.