Player Care Officer (Girls Academy)

Organisation: Southampton Football Club
Salary: Competitive
Location: Southampton
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 9 June 2025
Job Description: Be part of our journey...
Location: Staplewood Training Ground

Hours: Full Time, hours will also include some evenings and weekends

Contract Type: Permanent

Criminal Record Check: DBS Enhanced with Child’s Barred List

What is the role?

To be responsible for the organisation and support for all players within the Girls’ Professional Game Academy (PGA) program, supporting the welfare of all players within our care and building Education links to support their ability to manage the training and match day programme.

What will you be doing?

You will need to be available, at all reasonable times, as a first contact for staff, parents and players in the PGA (age groups U21s and U16s) with regards to player welfare concerns ensuring you escalate anything to the safeguarding department where necessary. This role will work 5 days a week, however these days will need to be flexible as you’ll be expected to attend evening and weekend PGA training sessions and matches, (attendance at Wide Lane and either a Saturday or Sunday Matchday fixture) this will also include cover at some away matches.

You will lead on the delivery of a holistic lifestyle and development curriculum, whilst facilitating a pathway that prepares players to compete in senior professional football. Liaising with player education providers ensuring the player’s welfare is at the forefront and building key relationships with schools will be a crucial element to this role, whilst working closely with the Girls’ Academy Manager on all Education provider relationships and maintaining these relationships.

You will design and deliver an off pitch educational programme, working collaboratively with the Academy Technical lead, Psychology department and surrounding MDT to ensure the content is appropriate and fit for purpose, whilst ensuring compliance in all areas of Education delivery are met and leading on the completion of IDP’s each season to ensure this is embedded as part of each player’s technical programme review.

Other duties include:

Work collaboratively with all departments within the PGA Program to support players within your care.
Undertake administrative tasks related to the role, including monitoring attendance; logging school sport in the correct manner as set out by the Club and maintaining records securely.
To support any retain and release meetings and processes where required.
To attend multi-disciplinary meetings and Club Player Care meetings and undertake any actions raised at the meetings
To support the day-to-day management of safeguarding issues and pro-actively promote safeguarding awareness.
Assist with supporting the induction process for new players and parents.
To work closely with the Player Care department to ensure all applicable aspects of the clubs Player Care philosophy are adhered to within the PGA Programme.
To coordinate and attend quarterly Parent forums, encouraging parent voice and feedback on the programme.
To ensure contact and support offered to players is logged on TMA (system where all player data is stored), and where necessary, escalated to be reported on CPOMS (safeguarding platform) and shared with the Safeguarding team.
To record and refer on to the Head of Safeguarding all incidents, concerns, allegations, evidence of poor practice and evidence of best practice, in confidence.
To work with the Clubs Head of Safeguarding to implement procedures relating to safeguarding children and young people.
To support the Head of Safeguarding in promoting the moral and legal responsibilities in implementing and communicating procedures to provide a duty of care for children and vulnerable adults, safeguard their wellbeing and protect them from abuse and poor practice.
To handle sensitively, in confidence, any safeguarding concerns raised within your area of responsibility.
Is this you?

Skills & Experience

Flexibility, this role will demand the flexibility to support the schedule of the PGA program needs.
Relevant pastoral/education/player care/performance lifestyle experience.
Experience of working with children and parents.
Good communication and listening skills.
Must have good IT literacy skills.
Good organisational skills.
Qualifications:

Level 3 Talented Athlete Lifestyle Support (TALS) or Level 3 Certificate in Athlete Personal Development and Lifestyle (APDL)
FA Level 1 Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF) or FA Emergency First Aid
If you do not currently have the above qualifications it will be mandatory to complete this either before starting or shortly after starting in this role.

How this benefits you…

If you are successful, you can look forward to a healthy benefits package;

Access to x2 free match tickets for every home league game
Access to our staff Health & Wellbeing initiatives (Mental & Physical Health).
Discounted Southampton Football Club merchandise.
25 days holiday per year excluding bank holidays plus your birthday off each year.
Contributory Pension Scheme.
Worldwide Travel Insurance for you and your family.
Learning & Development opportunities - supporting you to develop your potential and achieve in your career.
Free onsite parking.
Cycle to Work Scheme.
Collaborative & inclusive working culture.
How can I apply?

Just click on the apply button, enter your details and answer a quick pre-screening questionnaire, then attach your CV.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 8th June 2025.

*We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if a high volume of applicants are received.*
How to apply: https://saintsfc.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SFC001/job/Staplewood-Campus/Player-Care-Officer--Girls-Academy-_RQ-032392