Job Description
Accommodation required from local families for our apprentices.
Gillingham FC are looking to recruit Host Families who can provide a home away from home to our young players, aged 16 to 18.
Could you provide a supportive, safe, and caring ‘home-from-home’ environment for our academy players who are away from home whilst training at Gillingham FC?
We are looking for host-families to provide live-in accommodation for our academy players, aged 16-18, local to MEMS Priestfield Stadium to undertake their two-year football scholarship.
The host family provider will help fulfil the club’s duty of care to our young people by ensuring a safe, supportive, and nurturing home.
The host family will be supported by Gillingham FC and will maintain consistent liaison with the Player Care Manager and Academy DSO.
Role Description:
Could you provide a supportive, safe, and caring ‘home-from-home’ environment for our academy players who are away from home whilst training at Gillingham FC?
We are looking for host-families to provide live-in accommodation for our academy players aged (16-18) local to Priestfield Stadium to undertake their two-year football scholarship.
The host family provider will help fulfil the club’s duty of care to our young people by ensuring a safe, supportive, and nurturing home.
There would be a requirement that accommodation is offered through to the end of the season (December 2024 – May 2025).
The Host-family will be supported by Gillingham FC and will maintain consistent liaison with the Player Care Manager and Academy DSO.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide a homely and friendly environment for our young people while they are away from home.
- Supporting our young people with basic independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, self-care and laundry.
- Provide nutritious meals in line with guidance from the Academy.
- Ensure that accommodation has access to local amenities with good transport links to the Academy training ground.
- Make our young people feel comfortable and included in family life.
- Be open to regular inspections and visits from the Player Care Manager/ Academy DSO.
- Report any welfare concerns to the Academy Safeguarding and Player Care Manager should they occur.
Education/Qualifications/Training:
- Experience and knowledge of working with young people either as a parent, foster parent or professional environment.
- Ability cope with young person’s flexible schedule throughout the season.
- Provide the young person with their own bedroom.
- Excellent communication and listening skills and ability to build trusted working relationships.
- Understanding of safeguarding principles and practices.
- Willingness to complete induction any additional training to help support young people.
Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:
- An understanding of the emotional impact and well-being challenges that academy/ professional football life may bring.
- Child-focused approach.
- Ability to promote and demonstrate anti-discriminatory practice.
- Capacity to accommodate more than one player. NOT ESSENTIAL
As part of the recruitment process the club would arrange an informal chat along with a number of home visits to determine suitability and ensure that the home meets the requirements for hosting young players within the academy.
Additional Information:
- Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK;
- Gillingham FC is committed to following relevant health & safety regulations and all members of staff are expected to be fully aware and adhere to, at all times, the Club’s H&S and fire safety procedures;
- Gillingham Football Club are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment;
- GFC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and its policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, color, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment.
Safeguarding:
Gillingham Football Club are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. The successful candidate may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post, as all cases are mediated individually according to the nature of the role and the information provided.
