Mansfield Town Academy is seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to support the holistic development of its players.
The Academy player care officer will work on the personal development of young people as both a person and a player.
The individual will be responsible for developing a comprehensive wellbeing programme covering topics such as mental health awareness, life skills, and building relationships to ensure that our players are ready for life in, and beyond, football.
The role will also involve coordinating and overseeing the induction and transition of Academy players, the Academy life skills programme and support across wider department/Academy programmes.
Player Care role and responsibilities:
• Delivery of Life Skills Programme to all phases
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Programme and delivery programme
• Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing programme and delivery
• Induction for players and parents
• Exit strategy for players across all phases
• Parent voice
• Player voice
• Loan and work experience support
• Commit to attending EFL workshops and meetings
• Manage the Scholar Homestay Provision
• Managing player transitions across age groups and phases
• Commit to EDI and Safeguarding commitments
• Contribute where necessary to PGAAC Audit and submissions
• Inductions to trialists
• Attend all player reviews - contribute if not face-to-face
• Commit to EFL, PL, PFA, FA, LFE Transition Working Groups
• Support players in CVs, job applications, interview techniques and sourcing work-based experience
• Gather feedback from players and parents that have transitioned out of the club
• Design and implement training for staff to enhance the player care provision given
• Control the player care budget
• Gather feedback from trialists and parents that are not signed after a YD8
• One-to-one player care meetings across all phases periodically
• Commit to a place and contribute to all weekly AMT Meetings
• Design, implement and oversee player engagement with the community
• Coordinate MDT meetings to periodically discuss each player across all phases
• Raise action plans where deemed necessary for players to support emotional wellbeing
• Offer and implement after care and support to alumni and players that have transitioned out of the Academy
Essential attributes:
• Be familiar with safeguarding reporting software such as My Concern
• Demonstratable experience with young people in a performance environment and escalating concerns when necessary
• Demonstrable understanding of wellbeing, duty of care as well as monitoring and referral
• Demonstrable operational and administration experience
• Proven experience of co-ordinating projects and programmes
• Ability to form positive and proactive relationships at all levels and across stakeholders
• Proven experience of working within a team to produce measurable results
• Demonstrable ability to deliver to workshops, Inductions and education to groups
Desirable attributes:
• Sound understanding and knowledge of challenges and pressures young elite athletes face
• Mental health first aid qualification
• A relevant counselling qualification
• Educated to degree level
• A relevant qualification or experience undertaking risk assessments
• Experience of working within a football academy
• Clean driving licence
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check Requirement
BAME Declaration
The EFL has introduced positive action measures aimed at tackling the under-representation of coaches and managers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethic (BAME) backgrounds
MTFC welcomes male and female applicants of BAME origin
Salary: Competitive based on relevant experience
Please note that this is a significant position within the Academy department at Mansfield Town Football Club and will require a high degree of commitment to the role, including evenings and weekends
Please send a C.V. and covering letter – along with completion of the equality form (below) - to neil.bainbridge@mansfieldtown.net (Academy head of operations)
Closing date for applications is Saturday 01 July 2023
To view the Academy's equality form click here
