Development Group Physiotherapist / Sports Therapist

Overview

Job purpose: To provide a Performance Support service to the Development Group Squad at Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.

Responsibilities

Planning Timescales

• Plan, deliver and review the Emergency Action Plans throughout the season in conjunction with medical colleagues.
• Plan and conduct pitch side first aid during Development group matches and training sessions, ensuring all protocols and procedures are met in the event of injury.
• Plan, develop and evaluate rehabilitation programmes for elite young professional footballers.
• Support the planning, delivery and review of evidence-base preparation and injury prevention strategies, to prepare players for training/matches and reduce injury risk, in collaboration with Performance Support colleagues.
• Support the planning, delivery and review of individualised recovery strategies to minimise injury and maximise recovery and player availability, in collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues.
• Support the collection of performance and medical testing data throughout the season.

Decision Making

• Utilise a wide range of subjective and objective data to provide key insights to players and staff to advise on injury status, rehabilitation programming, return to play decisions and injury prevention strategies.
• Ensure that physiotherapy/sports therapy and pitch side first aid is delivered in accordance with the Elite Player Performance Plan and Club and Governing Body requirements.

Impact & Influence

• Actively contribute to the creation of a high-performance environment by ensuring all duties are completed with pride, consistency and to the best of your ability.
• Advise players, staff and where required, parents, on a variety of issues in relation to injuries, rehabilitation and injury prevention, and any other areas related to your discipline.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism while acting as an ambassador for the Performance Support Department and Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.

Skill Level

• Possess excellent organisational, logistical and time management skills with ability to meet stringent deadlines.
• Possess the ability to work within the scope of your practice while recognising the need to refer for further assistance or input from Performance Support Staff.
• IT Skills allowing collection and analysis of screening data via Microsoft Office applications and various medical software tools.

Communication

• Liaise professionally and effectively with the Performance and Coaching staff to provide clear reports on all injuries, outcome measures and treatment plans.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to liaise with players, parents, coaches, management, medical staff and any such individuals in a personable and professional manner.

Budget Management

• Experience and give consideration to the contents of equipment and supplies budgets but not to have sole responsibility of this.

Lead & Develop

• Remain up to date with advances in the fields of Sports Science and Medicine through regular CPD activities including, contributing to Departmental Continual Professional Development and attending any courses required by the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association.
• Ensure all actions are in-line within Club policies including, but not limited to, safeguarding, GDPR and health and safety.
• Maintain all legal and professional qualifications and a comprehensive knowledge of relevant policies, procedures and regulations as required by the Club, FA, EFL, PL and any other appropriate bodies.

Operating Parameters

• Provide pitch side first aid cover at Development Group matches and training sessions.
• Provide Physiotherapy/Sports Therapy including assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to Development group players.
• Support the development, implementation and evaluation of rehabilitation programmes for elite young professional footballers.
• Ensure the medical and therapy equipment is maintained appropriately in conjunction with medical colleagues.
• Maintain appropriate medical and therapy records in keeping with Club, FA, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Heath and Care Professions Council/Society of Sports Rehabilitators and Trainees requirements.
• Provide, where required, training/match-day warmups, recovery and pre-activation sessions.
• Oversee, where required, the Development group participating in their Strength and Conditioning Programmes as planned by Performance Colleagues.
• Oversee the management of Development group players whilst on loan, including but not limited to monitoring of schedules, loading and injuries.
• Provide hands on treatment, including but not limited to, Manual therapy and Soft Tissue massage to First team and Academy players where required.
• Assist with any other reasonable duties as directed by management staff.

About The Candidate

Essential and Desirable Job Criteria

Education

• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy / Sports Therapy or equivalent
• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Health and Care Professions Council registered or Member of the Society of Sports Therapists/British Association of Sports Rehabilitators and Therapists
• FA Pitchside first aid qualification- minimum ITMMiF or equivalent.

Experience

• Ability to demonstrate experience of Physiotherapy/Sports Therapy delivery in an elite team sport environment.
• Sound clinical assessment and treatment skills
• Knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures and regulations relating to your role.
• An ability to work in a high-performance environment with a flexible approach, to dedicate time to the programme as the schedule determines.
• A strong ‘can do’ attitude.
• The ability to adapt to different, changing and challenging situations.
• Possess the drive and enthusiasm to set high standards and lead by example while achieving agreed objectives.
• High self-motivation
• The ability to work independently under you own initiative and as part of an extensive high-performance team.
• Honest and trustworthy with a high level of confidentiality and exceptional personal integrity.
• ATMMiF certificated
• Working knowledge of TMA, FiP, VALD.
• Previous experience of physiotherapy/sports therapy delivery to young athletes within the framework of the Elite Player Performance Plan.
• Full clean driving license

About The Club

Safeguarding – We are committed to safeguarding and protecting children and young people (CYP) and at-risk Adults (ARA) Our expectation is that you will fully accept your responsibility for the safety and welfare of all CYP and ARA by being fully conversant with all our safeguarding policies and reporting anything that does not appear to be correct. The post maybe subject to an enhanced DBS check and yearly self-declarations.

Equality & Diversity – must be able to demonstrate that equality, diversity and inclusion will be maintained and developed across all programmes and areas of the business.

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