Academy Player Care and Wellbeing Officer

Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

1/30/2025

Salary: Please state your expectations within your application

Contract: Full Time, 42 hours a week

Location: The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR

Department: Academy

Reporting to: Academy Player Care & Wellbeing Lead

Closing Date For Applications: 14th February 2025

About The Role

The role will have responsibility for supporting player care and wellbeing matters for our players within the Academy at Nottingham Forest FC with a specific focus on the Foundation and Youth Development Phases and predominately U9s-U14s. Working as part of the player care and safeguarding team the role will ensure there is comprehensive delivery of pastoral care on and off the pitch and assist in the delivery of a high-quality player care and life skills provision across the Academy programme.

The Perks Of The Job

• Opportunity to access tickets for events at The City Ground.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to high street and gym discounts.
• Discount within our Club shop.
• Free on-site parking.
  
  

Key Tasks And Responsibilities

• Support the development, implementation and delivery of the player care and wellbeing programme in line with the strategic plan across all phases of the Academy.
• Contribute to and support the delivery of a high-quality Academy life skills programme including the education of players, parents, academy staff and host families.
• Contribute to and support the delivery of the Academy’s mental and emotional wellbeing strategy and development plan.
• Regularly attend and contribute to Academy SWEP Group meetings as deemed appropriate.
• Build strong working relationships to provide one-to-one support for Academy players as required and ensure that they are aware of internal and external support available to them.
• Work closely with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure the holistic development, wellbeing and personal development are at the centre of player support.
• Support the Academy Player Care and Wellbeing Lead in the appropriate recruitment, assessment, on-boarding and continual development of all host family arrangements to ensure compliance with the highest levels of safeguarding standards.
• Assist the Academy Player Care & Wellbeing Lead in the player care, welfare and wellbeing aspects of Academy audits that are carried out, e.g. PGAAC, Barnardo’s, Premier League and EFL.
• Support the induction process of newly registered players into the Academy as well as existing players who progress through into different stages of the pathway.
• Work with the Recruitment Team and Lead Phase Coaches to create and maintain an induction and monitoring process to include support for players on trial with the Academy.
• Support the process for player transition through age groups, player release and progression from the Academy.
• Engage with Academy players and parents through consistent regular dialogue and visits to support each players development off the football pitch.
• Lead parent and player voice initiatives and support key parent education programmes.
• Attend where appropriate trips and tours, leading on all player care, welfare and wellbeing matters pre, during and post trips.
• Work with the Player Care & Wellbeing Lead and Head of Education & Audit Co-ordinator to develop the Alumni programme, ensuring regular contact with previous Academy players.
• Liaise with the Academy Safeguarding Officer and Head of Safeguarding for all necessary safeguarding concerns.
• Liaise with schools and parents in relation to all aspects of player care, welfare and wellbeing.
• Support the Academy Safeguarding Officer and Head of Safeguarding with safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in our care across the player pathway.
• Lead on safeguarding and welfare support on matchdays when required. This will involve occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Implement the Academy’s reporting and recording procedures and act as a point of contact for safeguarding and wellbeing concerns at the Academy.
• Help support and implement the club and academy’s equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Maintain player information, confidentiality and professional distance from all playing staff acting within professional codes of conduct and scope of practice at all times.
• Act, at all times, in a manner appropriate to a representative of Nottingham Forest FC.
  
  

Essential

What are we looking for:

• FA Safeguarding Children
• A recognised qualification in Player Care / Safeguarding.
• Understanding of Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Experience of working with children and/or young people, ideally in an elite sport environment.
• Experience of working and contributing in a team environment by collaborating with others.
• Experience in contributing to the design, delivery and evaluation of education and development interventions for individuals and groups.
• Experience of having honest and difficult conversations.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience of working with and supporting young people with mental health or wellbeing concerns.
• Ability to build strong relationships with players, parents and other key stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation, planning and communication skills.
• Ability to engage and communicate with people of all ages, especially young elite athletes.
• Ability to work under pressure and with tight deadlines to ensure priorities are met.
• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills with the ability to multi-task and balance conflicting demands.
• Flexible, caring and a non-judgmental approach and attitude.
• Conscientious and motivated with a high level of personal initiative.
• Always hold a professional manner and remain compliant with confidentiality.
  
  

Desirable

• Educated in a sports or education related degree relevant to the role.
• Experience in a player care/safeguarding role in academy football.
• Knowledge and understanding of current best practice in player care and wellbeing.
• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of local statutory agencies (social services, police, and local safeguarding children board).
• Mental Health First Aid training qualification
• FA Welfare Officer training
  
  

Forest For Everyone

We aim to create a culture which embraces and celebrates our differences, enables individuals to feel comfortable, maximise their potential and eliminate discrimination.

Nottingham Forest Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital / civil partnership status, pregnancy / maternity leave, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Nottingham Forest Football Club is a signatory of the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code. We are committed to developing policies to promote equal opportunities and diversity within our workforce. To monitor our progress against these commitments, we require all applicants to provide accurate diversity data during the application process.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

As part of the Club’s commitment to safeguarding, the successful applicant may be required to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (“DBS”) check or an enhanced DBS check. The results of a DBS check will be considered on an individual basis, and the Club will act in a proportionate manner when deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.

An FA Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all relevant new appointments to the Club. Individuals will be asked to declare any convictions, cautions or reprimands, warnings or bind-overs that may have been incurred. The Club reserves the right to carry out risk assessments where content has been disclosed on a DBS disclosure if it feels that it is relevant to the job requirements. Failure to satisfy the Club and the PL's safeguarding requirements may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or, if they have already started employment, summary termination of the employment.