Head of Academy Medical

Role and Responsibilities

South Shields Football club was founded in 1888 and is over 135 years old. With 4 promotions in the last 7 seasons the men’s first team now resides in the National League North. The women’s first team currently resides in the North-East Regional Women’s League. Our academy competes in various leagues including the National Football Youth League, Association of Colleges, National Alliance League, as well as competing in the FA Youth Cup. As a club we are very ambitious, we aspire to achieve football league status and with this mindset we’re driven to build the infrastructure and strategy to, not only get us there, but to sustain our place once achieved. We are also driven to continue the success and growth of the academy program and pathways by the facilitation of an elite environment for players to maximise their individual development alongside embedding them into our South Shields FC philosophy and playing style. We are motivated everyday by the desire to create as many exciting exit routes as possible from our academy, whether that be into our first team or onto other exciting journeys outside of South Shields FC. We’re extremely excited to be moving onto the next stage in our academy journey and roll out our ongoing strategy, exploring key growth areas alongside sustaining success.

We are therefore looking for a talented individual to join and lead our Academy Medical Department to oversee the medical treatment and emergency cover, needed to effectively run a professional football club academy. The successful candidate will provide detailed assessment and treatment for players both at training and games. It is vital they collaborate with all other staff to ensure the highest possible standards of medical provision throughout the football club. 

Key Responsibilities and Duties

·       To coordinate the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of all injuries within the academy and to ensure these processes are reviewed appropriately

·       Write the Academy Performance Plan and ensure it underpins the work of the department, and that all medical specific auditing / league & competition requirements are met

·        To coordinate and lead the delivery of physiotherapy services to all 16-19 & International Academy players

·       To deliver, or manage staff to deliver, injury clinics to the academy teams within the YDP and FP

·       To provide the appropriate support to ensure the medical department contribute the necessary information to enable suitable targets are set and reviewed in line with the relevant time scales of the Players Performance Assessments and IDP’s

·       To design and deliver the club’s academy Continued Professional Development for the medical department

·       To develop, lead and implement evolving injury prevention strategies for the academy with particular focus on relevant injury audit data

·       To provide pitch side support and cover for both trainings and games

·        To coordinate study visits of other clubs and elite sports medical and sports science departments

·       To ensure staff provide reports and feedback from these visits

·       Continually review and assess the department in accordance with the latest research

·        Identify key performance indicators in relation to progress within the field

·       To ensure all staff have / gain the relevant qualifications, and these are maintained and updated in line with the requirements of their role, and those of their Professional bodies such as the FA, National League, National Football Youth League and the Health and Care Professions Council

·       To ensure all screening is carried out at relevant times and the data produced is used to produce both individual and squad prehabilitation programmes

·       To coordinate review meetings of daily practices

·        To coordinate the updating and informing of staff from other departments of significant issues related to players which may affect their performance

·       To ensure the Academy Director is provided with a weekly update

·       To update and maintain all qualifications in line with the requirements of your role and those of the Professional bodies such as the FA, National League and the Health Professions Council

·        To adhere to club policies with particular emphasis to safeguarding children and equity and to ensure all staff within the department do likewise

·       To ensure all medical staff update the Players Performance Diaries appropriately

·        To ensure all relevant medical and sports science data is processed into the relevant online documentation

·        To ensure all medical staff coordinate Individual Player Programmes and contribute to player reviews

·       To carry out and lead on the staff management of all academy medical staff; including, timetabling, appraisals, CPD and communications

·       Manage academy medical stock and equipment

·       Manage the maintenance of academy medical “run on” pitch bags

·       Attend weekly Academy Management Team meetings

·       Lead the recruitment process, and management, of medical interns in order to aid the delivery and cover across all academy players

Qualifications, Education and Personal Requirements

Essential

•       BSc in Physiotherapy (or equivalent / relevant)

•       FA Trauma Management Qualification (ITMMIF Level 4)

•       Experience of working in the professional sporting environment (or a high level or what it entails)

•       Leadership and management experience (Or a good understanding of what it takes to lead and manage a team)

•       Knowledge of LTAD frameworks

•       Experience of working in sport

•       Excellent communication skills

•       Extensive delivery experience

•       Team player

•       Positive attitude

•       Maintaining confidentiality at all times

•       Desire to improve young athletes

•       Two satisfactory references from previous employers & DBS Check

·       Energy & Enthusiasm

Desirable

•       MSc in related subject (or working towards)

•       FA Trauma Management Qualification (ATMMIF)

•       Experience of working within a professional football or elite sports environment

Safeguarding:  South Shields Football Club Ltd are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment.  Posts advertised may require Enhanced Criminal Record Checks and may include checks against the Barred lists, as such it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).  Therefore, all convictions, including spent convictions that have not been subject to filtering by the DBS should be declared. 

Recruitment checks: You will also be required to provide details of referees for the previous five years working history or referees whilst in full time education (minimum of 2 referees).

Equality and Diversity:  Employees must always carry out their duties with due regard to South Shields Football Club’s policies and procedures.  The employee must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders.

Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Mission Statement: At South Shields Football Club we aim to provide an enjoyable experience for all supporters and hold inclusion and anti-discrimination at the core of our values. We are committed to creating an environment which welcomes and respects people from all communities, promoting equality and diversity at all South Shields premises. As a Club we recognise the nine protected characteristics (age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation) under the Equality Act 2010 and will play an active role in supporting inclusion and putting an end to discrimination.  The employee must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders.

South Shields Football Club is an equal opportunities employer. 

Applications:

 Please send a CV and covering letter via email to adam.shaw@southshieldsfc.co.uk . Deadline is 17:00 on the 7/7/25.