Academy Player Care Manager

The Academy Player Care Manager will be responsible for developing, coordinating and delivering a comprehensive player care programme that supports the physical, emotional, psychological, educational, social and personal development of Academy players.

The role holder will ensure that players and their families receive appropriate guidance, support and information throughout their Academy journey, from entry into the development programme through to scholarship, professional contract, release or transition into alternative pathways.

The Academy Player Care Manager will work collaboratively with Academy staff, parents and carers, education providers, club departments and external agencies, to help create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment in which every player can develop and reach their potential.

• To develop and help implement a comprehensive life skills and personal development programme for all players and parents across the 3 phases of the Academy including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing. The role holder will link in with specialist staff, internally and externally, to ensure individual players develop skills and qualities, whilst ensuring they feel listened to, valued and supported.
• To act as a principal point of contact for Academy players requiring pastoral support, guidance or advice.
• To support the Academy DSO in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in our care across the player pathway, be a member of the Club’s Safeguarding Team and liaise with the Head of Safeguarding regarding all safeguarding matters.
• To be a visible presence across all age groups following both the Pre-Season and In-Season schedules to ensure all Academy players and parents are aware of the wellbeing reporting processes.
• To provide appropriate one to one support and co-ordinate referrals to specialist services where required.
• To design, develop and implement a player and parent induction process for trialists and newly registered players into the Academy. This will include the formulation of a Player Biography for distribution to key Academy members of staff.
• To develop Individual Development Action Plans (IDAPs) for all players within the Academy, in conjunction with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.
• To manage the Academy Transition process for existing players at the key stages of their journey through the age groups, on entering full-time football education as scholars, or progressing into the professional environment. This will include implementing the action plan supporting those players under 18, who enter the senior game.
• To design an effective ‘tracking’ process to support Academy players exiting the Professional Development Phase with opportunities both in and out of football.
• To lead Parent and Player initiatives to ensure that they both have a ‘voice’ in the Academy.
• To lead on the coordination and arrangements for host families for scholars and trialists and support senior PDP members with accommodation and transport co-ordination, in line with the Academy Transport Policy.
• To work with the Head of Safeguarding and Academy DSO to build an effective relationship with host families and facilitate communication with the parents and guardians.
• To design, develop and implement a host family education programme and assisting with safer recruitment and risk assessment process as required.
• To lead on the player care aspect of Academy audits that are carried out by external bodies such as the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC), English Football League (EFL), and NSPCC Sport.
• To be a member of the Academy Management Team.
• To be the Academy representative on the Club's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.