Job Description
Job Title: Academy Education and Player Care Officer
Reports to: Academy Education, Safeguarding & Player Care Manager
Location: Blackpool FC Academy and other Club, school and partner venues as required
Hours: 40 hours per week - 15 hours Education / 25 hours Player Care
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Competitive / Dependent on Experience
Who we are:
Blackpool Football Club is an English Professional Association Football Club based in the
seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire.
The Club was founded in 1887 and has a very storied history, from being a founding
member of the Lancashire League in 1889, rising to the top flight of the Football League (the
old First Division) in 1930, to winning the FA Cup in 1953 and being promoted to the
Premier League in 2010 (becoming the first Club to gain promotion from every division of
the Football League via the play-off system).
The Club currently competes in League One, the third tier of the English Football League.
The Club has played its home games at Bloomfield Road since 1901.
Job Purpose:
The Academy Education and Player Care Officer is responsible for coordinating high-quality
education support for Academy players aged U9-U16 and contributing to a consistent,
inclusive and developmentally appropriate player-care provision across the wider Academy
pathway.
The postholder will work closely with players, parents/carers, schools, Academy staff and
external partners to ensure players are supported to develop both on and off the pitch. The
role will provide a key link between the Academy, education providers and families, while
coordinating education monitoring, personal development, transitions, accommodation and
host-family arrangements, and appropriate support for individual player needs.
The postholder will help create an environment in which Academy players are known,
supported and prepared for the demands of football, education and life beyond the game.
The role will contribute to the Academy's wider multidisciplinary approach, working
collaboratively with Coaching, Safeguarding, Medical, Psychology, Sports Science,
Recruitment and Operations to promote the welfare, development and long-term
progression of Academy players.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
Education Provision – U9-U16
• Coordinate the Academy's education provision for players aged U9-U16, working
alongside each player's school and recognising the school as the lead provider of
their education.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with schools, teachers,
parents/carers and Academy staff to ensure appropriate communication and
information sharing.
• Monitor educational attainment, expected progress, attendance, punctuality,
engagement and emerging support needs.
• Maintain accurate and confidential education records and ensure relevant
information is available for player reviews and Academy planning.
• Produce clear termly education progress reports, identifying strengths, areas of
concern, agreed actions and appropriate review dates.
• Monitor progress in key areas including English and mathematics and work with
schools and families to coordinate timely and proportionate support where a player
is below target or attendance becomes a concern.
• Coordinate structured study and homework support for relevant U14-U16 players,
taking account of school requirements and the Academy training programme.
• Support players with education and football pathway planning from U14 onwards,
including progression into the U18 programme, further education, training,
employment or alternative pathways.
• Coordinate education-related inductions and support for new players joining the
Academy.
• Represent the Club at relevant education, EFL, FA and other meetings, workshops
and CPD opportunities, sharing relevant learning with Academy staff.
• Monitor agreed education objectives and contribute to action plans where provision
or player outcomes are below the expected standard.
Player Care & Personal Development
• Act as a visible, trusted and accessible point of contact for Academy players and,
where appropriate, parents/carers.
• Develop and coordinate an age-appropriate Personal Development and Life Skills
programme across the Academy.
• Ensure player-care and life skills provision supports the development of wellrounded young people and prepares players for the demands of professional football
and life beyond the game.
• Coordinate age-appropriate sessions and development activity covering areas such
as identity and values, resilience, healthy relationships, mental wellbeing, equality
and inclusion, nutrition, social media, financial awareness, media skills, contracts,
career planning and life beyond football.
• Coordinate start-of-season and new-player inductions, ensuring players and families
understand Academy expectations, available support, key contacts and appropriate
routes for raising concerns.
• Provide appropriate individual player support and signpost or refer players to
specialist services where required, working within Club procedures and professional
boundaries.
• Work closely with safeguarding and multidisciplinary colleagues to identify players
who may require additional support and ensure appropriate actions are recorded,
communicated and reviewed.
• Lead player and parent/carer feedback and engagement mechanisms, ensuring
feedback is considered by Academy leadership and appropriate actions are
identified.
• Organise parent/carer education sessions covering relevant areas such as the
pressures of Academy football, wellbeing, transitions, education and career
development.
• Coordinate appropriate mentoring, community engagement and social responsibility
opportunities which support independence, leadership and personal development.
• Maintain appropriate records of player-care activity, interventions, attendance and
outcomes to demonstrate the quality and impact of provision.
Transitions & Career Development
• Coordinate the Academy's transition approach for players joining the Academy,
moving between phases, progressing to the next stage of their football
development, supporting players during loan periods where applicable, or leaving
the Academy.
• Provide appropriate individual support to players during periods of transition and
change.
• Develop and maintain individual transition or exit plans for players where
appropriate, ensuring education, employment, training, vocational and career
options are considered.
• Support players to understand and access dual-career opportunities alongside their
football development.
• Provide appropriate guidance and signposting for players whose Academy journey is
coming to an end, including further education, employment, vocational training,
scholarships, coaching and other career pathways.
• Maintain appropriate records of player destinations and undertake follow-up where
required to support the evaluation of Academy transition provision.
Accommodation & Host Families
• Coordinate the operational management of Academy accommodation and hostfamily arrangements in partnership with safeguarding and relevant Academy
colleagues.
• Support the recruitment, due diligence, induction, training and ongoing support of
host families and accommodation providers.
• Ensure accommodation arrangements meet Club requirements and that appropriate
checks, agreements, risk assessments and records are maintained.
• Support appropriate matching and placement of players with host families or
accommodation providers, taking account of the player's individual circumstances
and needs.
• Maintain regular contact with players, parents/carers and host families and
coordinate planned reviews and visits.
• Respond promptly to concerns relating to accommodation or host-family
arrangements and escalate matters in accordance with Club safeguarding and
operational procedures.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and auditable accommodation records, including
agreements, checks, emergency information, reviews and any actions or concerns
raised.
Staff Development, Quality Assurance & Compliance
• Plan and deliver an appropriate programme of player-care CPD and development for
Academy staff, including areas such as safeguarding, wellbeing, transitions and the
holistic development of young players.
• Provide practical advice and support to Academy staff on player-care matters and
promote a consistent, child-centred approach across all Academy phases.
• Support the development and maintenance of an annual education and player-care
action plan, calendar and evidence base aligned with Academy objectives and
applicable EFL, FA and EPPP requirements.
• Contribute to evaluating the quality and impact of education and player-care
provision and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Monitor agreed education and player-care objectives and provide appropriate
reporting to the Education and Player Care Manager and Academy leadership.
• Evaluate the quality and impact of education and player-care provision and identify
opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensure relevant education, player-care and accommodation records are accurate,
confidential and maintained in accordance with data protection requirements.
• Contribute to Academy audits, reviews and regulatory submissions where required,
ensuring appropriate evidence is available.
• Work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary Academy team to ensure
player-care provision is integrated into the overall player development programme.
Safeguarding, Welfare & Professional Standards
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in accordance with
Club safeguarding procedures and relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Recognise and appropriately escalate safeguarding, welfare or other concerns in
accordance with the Club's safeguarding procedures.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries when working with players, families
and external organisations.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information professionally and only share
information where appropriate and in accordance with Club procedures.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion and contribute to an Academy
environment in which players, families and colleagues are treated fairly, with dignity
and respect.
• Adhere to all Club policies and procedures, including safeguarding, equality, diversity
and inclusion, health and safety, data protection, confidentiality and safer working
practices.
General Responsibilities
• Promote and uphold the values, culture and behaviours of Blackpool Football Club.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Academy and wider Club.
• Represent Blackpool Football Club professionally at external meetings, events,
education settings and partner organisations.
• Undertake all mandatory training and maintain appropriate professional
development relevant to the role.
• Be flexible in working hours to meet the operational needs of the Academy,
including evenings and weekends.
• Travel between Academy, school, accommodation and other partner locations as
required.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role as requested by
the Education and Player Care Manager or Academy leadership.
The above job description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities
may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the Club. The job
description may be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in legislation, football
regulations, Academy structure or operational requirements.
Safeguarding and Pre-Employment Checks
The postholder has a responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and
young people and must report any safeguarding or welfare concerns promptly in
accordance with Blackpool Football Club's safeguarding procedures.
Appointment to this role will be subject to the Club's safer recruitment process and
satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an appropriate DBS check, references and
confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK.\
The postholder is expected to support the Club's commitment to equality, diversity and
inclusion and to work in accordance with the Club's relevant policies and procedures.
