Women's Team Senior Sports Therapist in Bournemouth

Location: AFC Bournemouth Performance Centre, Wimborne

Description

To lead on high‑quality sports therapy services that support injury prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of players within an elite Women’s Football environment. To oversee the performance and medicine department within the Women’s team. The role leads on player availability, long‑term athlete health, and integrated performance support in line with WNL and WSL Performance Support Regulations.

Women’s Club Values

• Professionalism: Always acting with integrity and respect to the badge in a competent and reliable manner.
• Togetherness: Working collaboratively through high levels of communication in a manner that supports an environment where everyone feels included, respected and valued.
• Opportunity: Providing fair and equitable chances to all individuals by encouraging a growth mindset through empowering the natural abilities of others in service of the overall mission.
• Team First: Prioritising the team beyond personal or individual interests.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Women’s Team performance and medicine department at an operational level in conjunction with the co‑ordinator of performance and medicine.
• Deliver comprehensive sports therapy services including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries.
• Design and deliver individualised rehabilitation programmes aligned with best practice and performance demands.
• Support injury prevention strategies in collaboration with strength & conditioning and medical staff.
• Contribute to return‑to‑play planning and decision‑making through multidisciplinary processes.
• Provide pitch‑side medical and emergency cover for training sessions and matches as required.
• Maintain accurate medical records in line with data protection, confidentiality, and clinical governance standards.
• Communicate effectively with coaching and performance staff regarding player availability and progression.
• Support ongoing monitoring of player health, load tolerance, and injury trends.
• Adhere to club medical policies, FA regulations, and WNL/WSL medical requirements.
• As a member of staff, ensure that you follow and actively promote the club’s mental health policies and practices to ensure an open, non‑judgmental and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.
• As a member of staff, ensure that you adhere to the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures and are committed to our safeguarding values, creating a safe and positive environment for all those who interact with the club.
• Obligation to adhere to the club’s health and safety policy and procedures.
• Responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and all related company policies, taking reasonable care for their own safety and that of others, reporting hazards or incidents, following safe systems of work, and co‑operating with all training and emergency procedures.
• As a member of staff, ensure in all matters you follow and actively promote the club’s equality policies and practices to ensure a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise – Essential

• BSc or MSc in Sports Therapy.
• Member of The Society of Sports Therapists or the British Association of Sport Rehabilitators.
• Level 5 ATMMIF certificate.
• Experience managing a multidisciplinary performance or medical team.
• ATMMIF‑R reaccreditation certificate.
• Appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
• Emergency First Aid for Sport.
• Safeguarding and DBS clearance.
• UK anti‑doping introduction to cleared sport certificate.
• Experience working in elite sport or high‑performance environments.
• Experience managing musculoskeletal injuries in athletes.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise – Desirable

• Experience within professional or elite Women’s football.
• Experience with pitch‑side emergency care.
• Knowledge of FA or WSL medical governance frameworks.

Key Attributes

• Strong clinical reasoning and hands‑on treatment skills.
• Knowledge of football‑specific injury profiles and demands.
• Understanding of return‑to‑play frameworks and risk management.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Aware of female athlete health considerations.
• Player‑centred and evidence‑based approach.
• High standards of professionalism and clinical integrity.
• Collaborative team member within an integrated performance model.
• Calm and effective under pressure.
• Committed to diversity, inclusion, and the growth of women’s football.
• Effective communicator with players, staff, and stakeholders.

Benefits

• Free onsite parking.
• Season ticket and allocation of complementary/purchased tickets (subject to availability).
• Subsidised lunches and complimentary healthy snacks throughout the day.
• Discounts at the club Superstore.
• Access to Health Cash Plan with Simplyhealth.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Contribution toward eye tests and glasses.
• Discounts and benefits from partners and local businesses.
• Club pension & Life Assurance Scheme.
• Paid parental leave (bank of five days per year).
• Club events or other social events throughout the year run by our club social team.
• Paid volunteer opportunities (2 days per year).
• Paid day’s leave on your birthday.