Job Title

Stevenage Football Club are looking for highly motivated, talented, enthusiastic, and dedicated individual to join as the Head of Player Care for the Academy. The key objective of this role is to ensure an effective environment of support is in place for young players associated with Stevenage FC Academy. Being a member of the Club’s Safeguarding Team, you will primarily focus onregistered Academy players aged 8 – 18 years. You will also provide aftercare provisions for players recently released from the Academy environment and ensure the mental and physical wellbeing of players in our pre-academy,development programs and U18s. About The CandidateTake responsibility for the implementing and embedding of the club wide, Welfare and Equality philosophy at the Academy and ensure the key principles and practices associated with this philosophy are adopted asappropriate. Work to actively prevent poor practice, abuse or discrimination occurring within the Academy department and respond effectivelyin the event such behaviouroccurs. Act as Disclosure Manager for the Academy department’s DBSsystem for criminal record checking and work with Academy Operations Manager to ensure the Club’s Safer Recruitment strategy is effectively implemented. Work with the Academy Safeguarding and Education Teams toensure appropriate safeguarding and welfare support is implemented for all players under 16 years of age including players in the pre-academy group. Develop professional relationships with all Academy players, in order to create an environment where players feel comfortable talking about safeguarding and welfareissues. Point of escalation for all safeguarding, welfare andequality issues/complaints relating to players aged under 18years. Report all safeguarding, welfare and equality incidents/issues/complaints to the Head of Safeguarding,Academy Manager and Academy Operations Manager asrequired. Work closely with FA, LFE and Football League to ensurethe Academy’s safeguarding, welfare and equality provision meets the standards expected of a Category 3 Academy. Proactively manage the Academy section of the club’s Safeguarding, Welfare and Equality plans (and subsequent actions identifiedwithin theseplans). Work with the Club Secretary, Academy Manager, Head of Recruitment to ensure arrangements for players on loan are satisfactory and the welfare of such players upheld at all timeswhilst away from theClub. Plan and run meetings and workshops throughout the season as appropriate with players, parents and scholars, keeping all informedof issues and procedures relating to AcademyWelfare. Maintain accurate records and auditable accounts of relevant Safeguarding, Welfare and Education work undertaken, andensure relevant qualifications are keptup-to-date. About The ClubFounded in 1976 as Stevenage Borough Football Club, we dropped the 'Borough' from our name in 2010 when we won promotion to the English Football League for the first time in our history, although it has stuck as our nickname. We currently play in Sky Bet League One, the third tier of English football. Our home games are played at The Lamex Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,800 supporters. Over the years, we have achieved a huge amount in our relatively short history: including 2 FA Trophies, 2 Conference National titles, a League Two Play-Off Trophy & automatic promotion to League One in 2023. Safeguarding Statement Stevenage Football Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment. This post requires Enhanced Criminal Records Checks and may include checks against the Barred Lists, as such it is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Therefore all convictions including spent convictions that have not been subject to filtering by the DBS should be declared”. Relevant information and / or documents will be distributed as part of the recruitment process. The English Football League has introduced positive action measures aimed at tackling the under-representation of coaches and managers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethic (BAME) backgrounds. New regulations require clubs to shortlist at least one suitably qualified BAME candidate (where an application has been received) for all roles in Academy football that require a UEFA A or UEFA B Licence. As part of the application process, you will therefore be asked to declare your ethnicity. Equality and Diversity Statement – Stevenage Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and staff will be regarded equally and will be given equal opportunities irrespective of sex, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin. Further training on Anti-Discrimination and Inclusion is available to all.#J-18808-Ljbffr