Academy Player Care Officer

This role will be highly player-facing, building positive relationships and ensuring players are supported, challenged and given a voice throughout their Academy journey. We want this individual to lead the personal development of our U9–U14 players, creating and delivering meaningful opportunities that develop them as people beyond football.
The Academy has been driving towards excellence over the years and since achieving Category One, this is a really exciting time to join us, as we move on to the next stage, and continue to support the First Team.
Academy Values:
- Players First: Every player valued. Every decision made with care.
- Togetherness: Working as part of a wider team and willing to contribute beyond own interests.
- Integrity: Carrying out academy and club values in an open and honest manner.
- Accountability: Willing to take responsibility for actions, allowing for learning, growth and reflection.

Key Responsibilities

- Build and develop relationships within the U9-U14 players to be a part of the player development journey. Manage each relationship individually to connect and maximise each individuals potential.
- Liaise with the Coaching, Performance, Medical, Analysis, Education and Psychology departments to give support to the players alongside sessions and games.
- Develop and deliver a Player Care & Life Skills programme for U9-U14 players, including workshops and enrichment activities for players, as well as parents.
- Lead and host workshops throughout the season, using internal providers or covering and leading topics that enhance the player journey.
- Manage the U9-U14 player induction process for trialists and new players. Support with the transitions throughout the U9-U14 age groups, both internally and externally.
- Ensure the transition processes are completed and appropriate after-care support is provided for players across the FP and YDP.
- Retain a long-term term record and contact with released players to ensure that players are tracked, information is logged and whereabouts is provided.
Connect with families to build strong relationships and better understand each player, so we can provide the right support throughout their Academy journey.
- Organise and facilitate the player & parent voice meetings, documenting points raised by players, feeding back to relevant staff, and ensuring actions are addressed.
- Be occasionally present at training or matches across the U9-U14 age groups, providing parents with a familiar point of contact for any questions, worries or concerns.
- Contribute to the Develop Better People newsletter, highlighting the Academy’s holistic approach.
- Working with key staff to organise and communicate to parents annual reviews. Support players during review periods, offering support and guidance where needed.
- Use the My Concern platform to record concerns and ensure clear actions are identified and followed up.
- Be part of the Shared Space, supporting players who may be struggling with their mental wellbeing.
- Be a Safeguarding Champion
- Safeguarding champions are responsible for advocating and raising awareness of
- Safeguarding throughout their department.
Provide support to colleagues, players and parents for any safeguarding concerns or issues, ensuring these are signposted to the Safeguarding Team
- Support in maintaining accurate, up to date and confidential reports in relation to safeguarding and welfare concerns onto My Concern case management platform.
- Attend safeguarding champion meetings, providing valuable/considered feedback to the Head of Safeguarding on the safeguarding strategy, relevant campaigns, issues or activities.
Other duties:
- As a member of staff to ensure in all matters, you follow and actively promote the club’s mental health policies and practices to ensure an open, non-judgmental and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.
- As a member of staff to ensure that you to adhere to the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures and are committed to our safeguarding values, creating a safe and positive environment for all those who interact with the club.
- Obligation to adhere to the club’s health and safety policy and procedures.
- Responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and all related Company policies, taking reasonable care for their own safety and that of others, reporting hazards or incidents, following safe systems of work, and co-operating with all training and emergency procedures.
- As a member of staff to ensure in all matters you follow and actively promote the club’s equality policies and practices to ensure a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.
The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential
- Previous experience of working with children.
Desirable
- Experience of working with elite young athletes or educational environment.
- Hold or working towards qualifications in education, psychology or social work.
- Mental Health First Aid Certification

Benefits

- Free onsite parking.
- Season ticket and allocation of complimentary/purchased tickets (subject to availability).
- Subsidised lunches and complimentary healthy snacks throughout the day.
- Discounts at the club Superstore.
- Access to Health Cash Plan with Simplyhealth.
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
- Discounts and benefits from partners and local businesses.
- Club pension & Life Assurance Scheme.
- Paid parental leave (bank of five days per year).
- Club events or other social events throughout the year run by our club social team.
- Paid volunteer opportunities (2 days per year).
- Paid day’s leave on your birthday.