Senior Academy Physiotherapist

Job purpose: To provide a high-quality Sports Physiotherapy service for the Milton Keynes Dons Academy.

Role Competencies:

Planning Timescales:

·        To Plan, deliver and review the Emergency Action plans throughout the season in conjunction with medical colleagues.

·        To Plan and conduct pitch side first aid during Academy matches and training sessions, ensuring all protocols and procedures are met in the event of injury.

·        To plan, develop and evaluate rehabilitation programmes for elite academy footballers.

·        To support the planning, delivery and review of evidence-based preparation and injury prevention strategies for both groups and individuals, to replace players for training/matches and reduce injury risk, in collaboration with performance support colleagues.

·        To support the organisation, delivery and review of a thorough medical and neuromusculoskeletal screening process. This will include appropriate report generation, referral and the formulation and delivery of subsequent treatment and management strategies.

·        To support the collection of performance and medical testing data throughout the season.

 Decision Making:

• To utilise a wide range of subjective and objective data to provide key insights to players and staff to advise on injury status, rehabilitation programming, return to play decisions and injury prevention strategies.  
• To ensure that physiotherapy and pitch side first aid is delivered in accordance with the Elite Player Performance Plan, as well as club and governing body requirements.
• Knowledge and understanding of company and governing body policies/procedures and regulations relating to your role.

Impact & Influence:

·        To actively contribute to the creation of a high-performance environment by ensuring all duties are completed with pride, consistency and to the best of your ability.

·        To advise players, staff and parents on a variety of issues in relation to injuries, rehabilitation and injury prevention, and any other areas related to your discipline.

·        To maintain high standards of professionalism while acting as an ambassador for the Performance Support Department and Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.

• To maintain appropriate medical and physiotherapy records in keeping with Club, FA, EFL CSP and HCPC regulations.
• To maintain all legal and professional qualifications as required by the Club, PL, EFL and FA.

Skill Level:

·        Excellent clinical assessment and treatment skills and a sound understanding of the rehabilitation and reconditioning process, including the ability to apply a wide range of reasoned techniques and methods.

·        Excellent organisational, logistical and time management skills with an ability to meet stringent deadlines.

·        An ability to work within the scope of your practice while recognising the need to refer for further investigation or specialist input.

·        IT Skills allowing for the collection and analysis of screening data via various systems such as Microsoft, FIP, TMA and VALD.

Communication:

• To liaise professionally and effectively with the Performance and Coaching staff to provide clear reports on all injuries, outcome measures and treatment plans.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to liaise with footballers, coaches, management, medical staff and such individuals in a personable and professional manner.

Budget Management:

·        To experience and give consideration to the contents of equipment and supplies budgets but not to have management responsibility for this.

Lead & Develop:

• To remain up to date with advances in the fields of physiotherapy and Sports Science and Medicine through regular CPD activities including, contributing to Departmental CPD and attending any courses required by the PL, EFL and FA.

·        To provide a clinical supervision pathway for all Academy Therapists to ensure they are appropriately supported within their roles.

• To develop and deliver an appropriate CPD program for Academy therapists.
• To support the management Physiotherapy support Staff to ensure all objectives are achieved.

·        To be responsible for reviewing and formulating clinical governance strategies.

·        To ensure all actions are in-line with club policies, including but not limited to, safeguarding, GDPR and health and safety.

Operating Parameters:

·        To provide pitch side cover during Academy training and matches.

·        To provide physiotherapy/sports therapy including assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to Academy players.

·        To support the development, implementation and evaluation of rehabilitation programmes for elite academy players.

·        To ensure the medical and therapy equipment is maintained appropriately in conjunction with medical colleagues.

·        To maintain appropriate medial and therapy records in keeping with the Club, FA, CSP, and HCPC councils.

·        To provide, where required, training/matchday warmups, recovery and pre-activation sessions.

• To assist with any other reasonable duties as directed by management staff.

Essential & Desirable Job Criteria:

Essential:

Education:

·        BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy or equivalent or higher qualification.

·        Advanced Trauma and Medical Management in Football (ATMMiF) qualification or equivalent, or a willingness to work towards. The Intermediate Trauma Medical Management in Football (ITMMiF) qualification will also be accepted with a view to progress to ATMMiF completion.

·        Full membership to the Charted Society of Physiotherapy.

·        Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

·        Relevant CPD Portfolio.

Experience:

·        Previous qualified experience of providing physiotherapy for young athletes in an elite sport environment, including the delivery of injury diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies.

·        Qualified experience in supporting the management and co-ordination of therapy staff, with particular focus on Clinical governance.

·        Qualified experience of working within the framework of the Elite Player Performance Plan, ideally Category 3 level or above.

·        Knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures and regulations relating to your role.

Personal Qualities:

·        An ability to work in a high-pressured environment with a flexible approach to dedicate time to the programme as the schedule determines.

·        A strong 'can do' attitude.

·        The ability to adapt to different, changing and challenging situations.

·        Possess the drive and enthusiasm to set high standards and lead by example while achieving agreed objectives.

·        The ability to work independently under your own initiative and as part of an extensive high-performance team.

·        Honest and trustworthy with a high level of confidentiality and exceptional personal integrity.

Desirable:

·        S&C/Sports science qualifications

·        Working knowledge of TMA, FiP and VALD.

·        FA Learning Safeguarding Children Certificate.

·        A full, clean driving license

Safeguarding - We are committed to safeguarding and protecting children and young people  (CYP) and at-risk Adults (ARA) Our expectation is that you will fully accept your responsibility for the safety and welfare of all CYP and ARA by being fully conversant with all our safeguarding policies and reporting anything that does not appear to be correct. The post maybe subject to an enhanced DBS check and yearly self-declarations.

Equality & Diversity – must be able to demonstrate that equality, diversity and inclusion will be maintained and developed across all programmes and areas of the business.