Academy Player Care Officer

Job Description
Post Title
Academy Player Care Officer. Department/Location
Huddersfield Town AFC Academy, the Millers Oils High Performance Complex. Reports To
Academy Manager.
Head of Academy Education and Player Care. Purpose of the Role

• To lead, develop, and deliver a comprehensive player care package in support of our Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase, also supporting the Professional Development Phase programme, working closely with the Head of Academy Education and Player Care and the Head of Safeguarding.
• To work with and support Academy colleagues to help players achieve positive outcomes, both personally and within their Academy journey.
• To contribute to the long-term strategic direction of the Academy's Player Care Provision, in partnership with the wider Club, and working alongside other colleagues as required.
• To act as the Designated Safeguarding Officer for the Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase

Functional Links Internal:
Academy Manager.
Head of Academy Education and Player Care.
Head of Safeguarding.
Academy Staff.
Football Administration Manager.
Players.
Chief Operating Officer.
Staff and Managers throughout the organisation

External:
Other Clubs' Academy staff.
Premier League and English Football League.
Football Association (FA).
League Managers Association (LMA).
Professional Football Association (PFA).
Parents/Carers.
Local Authority.
Local Authority Designated Officer for Safeguarding (LADO). Key Performance Indicators

• Effective delivery of a comprehensive player care programme across our Foundation and Youth Development Phases, while supporting delivery within the Professional Development Phase as required.
• Able to work effectively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, to help players achieve positive outcomes, both personally and within their Academy journey.
• Able to demonstrate a significant contribution to the long-term strategic direction of the Academy's Player Care Provision, in partnership with the wider Club.
• Safeguarding incidents and concerns are recorded and managed in a timely, sensitive, and professional manner.

Role Specific Responsibilities The post holder will be required to:

• Build and maintain an effective relationship with host families and facilitate communication with players' parents/carers as well as designing, developing, and implementing an education programme for our host families.
• Work with the Academy Manager and Head of Academy Education and Player Care to recruit accommodation providers, where necessary.
• Develop and deliver a comprehensive life skills programme for players in the Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase, e.g., nutrition, finance management etc.
• Assist in planning and preparing Academy Trips, Tours, and Tournaments and attend in a safeguarding role when required.
• Implement the Academy's Player Transition Strategy to best support players and their families through periods of transition throughout their Academy journey.
• Assist with the monthly Wellbeing Forum for Academy players.
• Work collaboratively within the Academy Welfare team, promoting the Academy's safeguarding standards for children and young people and ensuring that Club policies and procedures are always adhered to.
• Undertake safeguarding training, including Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) training, and maintain up to date knowledge, considering local authority and national guidance including 'Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, Keeping Children Safe in Education'.
• Be responsible for recording and/or reporting any incidents relating to the safeguarding and/or welfare of a child/young person.
• Uphold and promote the Club's policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and Equality policies and procedures.
• Liaise with governing bodies and organisations such the FA, Premier League, and PFA to provide relevant support to players and parents/carers.
• Develop strong relationships with key Academy stakeholders.
• Support the Player Care and Education department in school visits across the Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase.
• Work closely with the Head of Academy Education and Player Care to support Professional Development Phase players' academic and vocational development.
• Attend and contribute effectively to multidisciplinary department meetings and welfare team meetings.
• Support staff in various Academy stakeholder meetings, including parent/carer complaint procedures, school meetings, and other pastoral meetings.
• Be a visible presence for both players and parents during Academy activity; this will require travelling with teams for away fixtures and tours.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the changing priorities of the Academy and the Club. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is also required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Academy Manager, the Huddersfield Town Chief Executive Officer, or any other senior leader within the Club, commensurate with the level of the post Huddersfield Town AFC

Academy Player Care Officer Up to £25,000 per annum (depending on skills, qualifications, and experience)
Full-time (35+ hours per week, including occasional evenings and weekends)

Permanent We are currently recruiting for a Player Care Officer to support the welfare and safeguarding requirements of our Academy environment, as we work towards expanding our provision to encompass a broader age spectrum.

This is a new opportunity in which the successful candidate will lead, develop, and deliver a comprehensive player care package in support of our Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase players, also working with other age groups as required.

This is a crucial role in our developing Academy structure, and the post holder will ensure that the care and wellbeing of younger players is paramount, while also supporting them to develop personally in terms of important life skills, alongside their professional development as young players.

The successful candidate will need to build rapport with players and their parents/carers to ensure optimum outcomes for all parties through the Academy journey.

Applicants must have previous experience of working with young people in an education, wellbeing, or other support position, combined with a good understanding of best practice in safeguarding.

You must hold a Youth Work qualification or similar, and awareness of the mental health issues that may affect young people.

This role requires flexibility and a willingness to work non-standard hours on occasion in accordance with the needs of the Club.

Passionate about making a difference through sport, the successful candidate must be an effective communicator with the ability to form positive relationships with young players and their parents/carers, and other team members.

If you have the specified experience, qualifications, and personal attributes, and are enthusiastic about the variety and opportunities that this role offers, we would love to hear from you.

We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and as such, we encourage you to ensure that your application details how you feel you match our requirements.

The volume of applications received prevents us from being able to provide feedback at short-listing stage.

Please ensure that your application is:

• Fully completed.
• Tailored for the requirements of the role – Section 6 of the application form should reflect how you meet the 'essential' and 'desirable' criteria for the position as detailed on the person specification (please follow the instructions on the application form).
• Accurate in terms of content and presentation.
• Submitted by the specified deadline. Please also highlight any factors that you would like us to consider, for example, if you have a disability or health condition that may require us to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Safeguarding We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and other stakeholders to share this commitment.

As this role is likely to involve the supervision of and work with children and young people or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will require clearance to work in football and an Enhanced Criminal Records Check (CRC) through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Applicants must disclose all previous convictions including spent convictions in accordance with the associated legislation.

The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered 'protected'.

This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot consider them.

Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed is available on the Ministry of Justice website.

Equality and Inclusion Huddersfield Town AFC is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where everyone can be themselves and in which everyone feels valued, included, and supported to achieve their full potential.

We offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment arrangements, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination.

We are committed to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate. We are a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from disabled candidates. We are also seeking to diversify our workforce, particularly by gender and ethnicity.

Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website:
To apply, please download an application form from our website. Please note that we do not accept CVs. Please send your completed application by email to by 9:00am on Thursday 30th May 2024. Interviews are likely to take place in June 2024.
Organisation Huddersfield Town AFC Salary Up to £25,000 Location Huddersfield Contract type Permanent (Full time) Closing date 30 May 2024 Interview date 6 June 2024 Job Description Job Description
Post Title
Academy Player Care Officer. Department/Location
Huddersfield Town AFC Academy, the Millers Oils High Performance Complex. Reports To
Academy Manager.
Head of Academy Education and Player Care. Purpose of the Role

• To lead, develop, and deliver a comprehensive player care package in support of our Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase, also supporting the Professional Development Phase programme, working closely with the Head of Academy Education and Player Care and the Head of Safeguarding.
• To work with and support Academy colleagues to help players achieve positive outcomes, both personally and within their Academy journey.
• To contribute to the long-term strategic direction of the Academy's Player Care Provision, in partnership with the wider Club, and working alongside other colleagues as required.
• To act as the Designated Safeguarding Officer for the Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase

Functional Links Internal:
Academy Manager.
Head of Academy Education and Player Care.
Head of Safeguarding.
Academy Staff.
Football Administration Manager.
Players.
Chief Operating Officer.
Staff and Managers throughout the organisation

External:
Other Clubs' Academy staff.
Premier League and English Football League.
Football Association (FA).
League Managers Association (LMA).
Professional Football Association (PFA).
Parents/Carers.
Local Authority.
Local Authority Designated Officer for Safeguarding (LADO). Key Performance Indicators

• Effective delivery of a comprehensive player care programme across our Foundation and Youth Development Phases, while supporting delivery within the Professional Development Phase as required.
• Able to work effectively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, to help players achieve positive outcomes, both personally and within their Academy journey.
• Able to demonstrate a significant contribution to the long-term strategic direction of the Academy's Player Care Provision, in partnership with the wider Club.
• Safeguarding incidents and concerns are recorded and managed in a timely, sensitive, and professional manner.

Role Specific Responsibilities The post holder will be required to:

• Build and maintain an effective relationship with host families and facilitate communication with players' parents/carers as well as designing, developing, and implementing an education programme for our host families.
• Work with the Academy Manager and Head of Academy Education and Player Care to recruit accommodation providers, where necessary.
• Develop and deliver a comprehensive life skills programme for players in the Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase, e.g., nutrition, finance management etc.
• Assist in planning and preparing Academy Trips, Tours, and Tournaments and attend in a safeguarding role when required.
• Implement the Academy's Player Transition Strategy to best support players and their families through periods of transition throughout their Academy journey.
• Assist with the monthly Wellbeing Forum for Academy players.
• Work collaboratively within the Academy Welfare team, promoting the Academy's safeguarding standards for children and young people and ensuring that Club policies and procedures are always adhered to.
• Undertake safeguarding training, including Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) training, and maintain up to date knowledge, considering local authority and national guidance including 'Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, Keeping Children Safe in Education'.
• Be responsible for recording and/or reporting any incidents relating to the safeguarding and/or welfare of a child/young person.
• Uphold and promote the Club's policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and Equality policies and procedures.
• Liaise with governing bodies and organisations such the FA, Premier League, and PFA to provide relevant support to players and parents/carers.
• Develop strong relationships with key Academy stakeholders.
• Support the Player Care and Education department in school visits across the Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase.
• Work closely with the Head of Academy Education and Player Care to support Professional Development Phase players' academic and vocational development.
• Attend and contribute effectively to multidisciplinary department meetings and welfare team meetings.
• Support staff in various Academy stakeholder meetings, including parent/carer complaint procedures, school meetings, and other pastoral meetings.
• Be a visible presence for both players and parents during Academy activity; this will require travelling with teams for away fixtures and tours.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the changing priorities of the Academy and the Club. This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is also required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Academy Manager, the Huddersfield Town Chief Executive Officer, or any other senior leader within the Club, commensurate with the level of the post Huddersfield Town AFC

Academy Player Care Officer Up to £25,000 per annum (depending on skills, qualifications, and experience)
Full-time (35+ hours per week, including occasional evenings and weekends)

Permanent We are currently recruiting for a Player Care Officer to support the welfare and safeguarding requirements of our Academy environment, as we work towards expanding our provision to encompass a broader age spectrum.

This is a new opportunity in which the successful candidate will lead, develop, and deliver a comprehensive player care package in support of our Foundation Phase and Youth Development Phase players, also working with other age groups as required.

This is a crucial role in our developing Academy structure, and the post holder will ensure that the care and wellbeing of younger players is paramount, while also supporting them to develop personally in terms of important life skills, alongside their professional development as young players.

The successful candidate will need to build rapport with players and their parents/carers to ensure optimum outcomes for all parties through the Academy journey.

Applicants must have previous experience of working with young people in an education, wellbeing, or other support position, combined with a good understanding of best practice in safeguarding.

You must hold a Youth Work qualification or similar, and awareness of the mental health issues that may affect young people.

This role requires flexibility and a willingness to work non-standard hours on occasion in accordance with the needs of the Club.

Passionate about making a difference through sport, the successful candidate must be an effective communicator with the ability to form positive relationships with young players and their parents/carers, and other team members.

If you have the specified experience, qualifications, and personal attributes, and are enthusiastic about the variety and opportunities that this role offers, we would love to hear from you.

We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and as such, we encourage you to ensure that your application details how you feel you match our requirements.

The volume of applications received prevents us from being able to provide feedback at short-listing stage.

Please ensure that your application is:

• Fully completed.
• Tailored for the requirements of the role – Section 6 of the application form should reflect how you meet the 'essential' and 'desirable' criteria for the position as detailed on the person specification (please follow the instructions on the application form).
• Accurate in terms of content and presentation.
• Submitted by the specified deadline. Please also highlight any factors that you would like us to consider, for example, if you have a disability or health condition that may require us to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Safeguarding We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and other stakeholders to share this commitment.

As this role is likely to involve the supervision of and work with children and young people or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will require clearance to work in football and an Enhanced Criminal Records Check (CRC) through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Applicants must disclose all previous convictions including spent convictions in accordance with the associated legislation.

The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered 'protected'.

This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot consider them.

Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed is available on the Ministry of Justice website.

Equality and Inclusion Huddersfield Town AFC is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where everyone can be themselves and in which everyone feels valued, included, and supported to achieve their full potential.

We offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment arrangements, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination.

We are committed to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate. We are a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from disabled candidates. We are also seeking to diversify our workforce, particularly by gender and ethnicity.

Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website:
To apply, please download an application form from our website. Please note that we do not accept CVs. Please send your completed application by email to by 9:00am on Thursday 30th May 2024. Interviews are likely to take place in June 2024. How to apply

Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website:
To apply, please download an application form from our website. Please note that we do not accept CVs.
Please send your completed application by email to by 9:00am on Thursday 30th May 2024. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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