Senior Academy Physiotherapist

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About The Role

Senior Academy Physiotherapist

Salary: Competitive depending on skills and experience

Contract Type: Permanent, full time (40 hours)

Team: Academy and Medical

Reports To: Academy Director supported by Head Physiotherapist (First Team)

Location: Various SCFC sites across Manchester and Salford including Partington Sports Village.

The Purpose:

Salford City FC's Academy is going through an exciting period of growth. This role will support the delivery of our Academy physiotherapy programme and ensure a first-class experience for players. This role will deliver comprehensive care and ensure a holistic approach to optimal player preparation and performance that is in line with the ethos at the Club. This role is vitally important in ensuring the prevention and treatment of injuries, both on and off the pitch, and will have an important presence on match days.

The Role:

• Co-ordinate and lead all medical provision and the physiotherapy service in the Academy from U9s to U18s as directed by Academy Director.
• Manage a small pool of casual Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy staff.
• Provide physiotherapy services to promote the health and wellbeing of all players, including monitoring and assessing all players for their fitness and injury status to train or play.
• Provide treatment and preparation exercises for fit players during the season to maintain their availability and reduce their risk of future injury.
• Assess, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate all injuries and illnesses, analysing and designing the safest and quickest strategy to ensure a full return to training.
• Oversee Academy Sports Therapist in everyday duties.
• Responsible for pitch-side emergency assessment and treatment of players during training and matches, organising evacuation procedures for any injured player from the pitch when needed.
• Provide injury rehabilitation training of players in preparation for return to play.
• Provide pre-habilitation strategies for all players where appropriate and advise the conditioning staff of any individual player specific requirements.
• Attend medical consultations with injured players during their rehabilitation process.
• Communicate injury status, rehabilitation strategies and return to training projections to the Academy Management Team and Medical Team.
• Support where necessary pre-registration medical screenings and musculoskeletal examinations, in conjunction with the Club Doctor.
• In consultation with the Medical and Sports Science Team, develop protocols for management of injuries, which provides an accountable and measurable framework to work from, liaising with the Head First Team Physiotherapist for verification and approval.
• Work with the Medical Team throughout the season in striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of player care, communicating with the Team Doctor and other medical consultants and support staff to ensure excellent communication pathways for all eventualities.
• Maintain accurate and updated medical records of all players.
• Ensure the Club and players are compliant with all medical and anti-doping guidelines, rules and regulations of the governing bodies.
• Manage medical equipment and stock to ensure the department needs are met
• Contribute to the CPD of the Medical Team.
• Contribute to Academy audits when required.
• Ensure communication between staff, players and parents to ensure optimal well-being and development of all players.
• Role model and ensure positive and professional behaviours, ensuring honesty and integrity at all times when working with young players at the Club. This includes being presentable, smart and personable at all times when representing the Club.
• Ensure you contribute to providing a safe Academy environment, demonstrating safe working practices and follow safeguarding policies and procedures, reporting concerns when necessary.

Qualifications
• A degree in Physiotherapy (or equivalent).
• Membership with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• ITMMiF qualification (or higher qualification).
• FA Advanced Resuscitation and Emergency Aid certificate or Advanced Trauma Medical Management in Football.
• Experience in the provision of physiotherapy within a professional football club environment
• FA Safeguarding qualification and a thorough understanding of safeguarding.
• Enhanced DBS Clearance.
• Valid safeguarding certificates.
• Experience in undertaking health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.

It's essential that you are qualified as a minimum at degree level in Physiotherapy (2:1 or above). You must be a registered Physiotherapist member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), a CSP member and as a minimum ITMMiF qualified. An ATMiFF Level 5 qualified is desirable. Ideally you will have experience working in an elite sport setting to ensure a seamless transition of care for any player at the Club. Working knowledge and understanding of EPPP is desirable.

The Club actively encourages Continuous Professional Development and would expect the successful candidate to ensure they are keeping updated with new theory and legislation, attend any necessary FA in-service training, and participate in a program of CPD across the Academy's technical teams.

About The Candidate

• Experience in providing physiotherapy services for elite football players.
• Effective at delivering information to positively affect player and/or coach behaviour.
• Ability to take a hands-on approach to ensuring problems are resolved and objectives are achieved
• Able to work to tight deadlines and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Personable with an ability to build individual relationships and work cohesively within a team.

Conscientious and with a can-do approach, your enthusiasm for player care will ensure a professional approach and match our commitment to ensuring the safeguarding and welfare of all elite players, promoting their wellbeing whilst maintaining professional boundaries.

You will be an integral part of the Medical Team and our Academy, where your work will positively impact player recovery and facilitate key football decisions to meet the needs of our players. We are looking for an exceptional team player who has a calm and flexible approach, with strong interpersonal skills to build strong relationships.

You're required to attend all required/designated games across teams at the Club to provide pre-match preparation, half time treatments and post games assessments/treatments where appropriate. You will fulfil the role of the Club Physiotherapist as per emergency matchday protocols.

With a professional and attentive approach, you'll ensure players needs are met, proactively planning for every eventuality. The role will ensure that the Club adheres to its medical obligations, ensuring that the physiotherapy programme operates with a high degree of integrity and professionalism. The role will be key in taking the Academy to the next level, focussing on creating a first-class player experience and setting high standards of care across every element of a players journey.

You will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards of behaviour and medical practice are in place and ensure that you adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures to create a positive and proactive safeguarding culture which gives players a safe and exciting experience.

The role requires a high degree of flexibility throughout the week to support our busy training and match schedules and as such you should be prepared to work evenings and weekends on a regular basis. You will be required to work every match day including away games. Flexibility is key due to training and matches potentially changing at short notice.

You will need a full, clean driving licence.

About The Club

The Club is fully committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk who engage in our activities. We recognise that we have a responsibility to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable groups and we have policies and procedures in place which all of our staff are trained in and are expected to adhere to as part of their employment. An offer of employment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory DBS check (depending on the role), satisfactory references and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Salford City FC is an equal opportunities employer. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment. We encourage applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality.