We are Wolves; progressive, determined, bright, unified and humble. A pack that is hungry for success. Wolves is one of the fastest growing professional football clubs in the UK, and also boasts one of the richest histories in the beautiful game.
Formed in 1877, Wolves was a founder member of the Football League, and was one of the country’s most successful sides in the fifties and sixties. During a two decade spell the Black Country’s most decorated side won three First Division titles and one of its four FA Cups.
Fast forward to 2022, three seasons at Molineux saw Wolves clinch the Sky Bet Championship trophy with 99 points, followed by a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, which included memorable wins over Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal. The next season saw the team complete a memorable double over the reigning champions, equal the previous season’s seventh place finish and reach the quarter finals of the Europa League all as part of the ‘longest season’ in league history, either starting before or finishing after all other teams.

But this post is about not what we have done, but what we will achieve next.

We take seriously our commitment to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and to ensuring that Wolves is free from discrimination and harassment.

Job purpose

• To be passionate about adolescent sports physiotherapy in football with a drive to continue to develop your knowledge and become a world-leading specialist in this area.


• To lead the foundation phase provision and elevate the Wolves academy to the forefront of adolescent Sports Medicine within the UK.


• Through innovation, research and best practice you will help us become regarded as the leading academy medical department in the Premier League.


• To mentor and develop the junior physiotherapists within the department.


• To develop links with partner universities to develop the Wolves Academy Medical and Physiotherapy Research Programme.


• To oversee and supervise all medical provision for the U16s squad in conjunction with the Academy Doctor.


• To contribute to the success and achievement of the Youth Development Phase Squads.

Key responsibilities

MANAGEMENT OF INJURIES

• Oversee the provision of physiotherapy services to all players in the schoolboy age groups.
• Providing medical support when required to Women’s and Girls RTC.
• Implement evidence-based practice and utilise advanced clinical reasoning skills during the rehabilitation process.
• Demonstrate effective communication with all Academy MDT staff members at all times, providing information regarding player injury status and rehabilitation progress where appropriate.
• Ensure the management of injuries effectively meets its commitments to the players, coaches and senior management through clinical audit and accurate documentation.

INJURY PREVENTION

• Liaise with all MDT members on a daily basis in order to effectively communicate individual player availability and readiness to train.
• Work alongside the Academy Sport Science Department in order to develop and implement effective injury prevention and pre-habilitation strategies across the schoolboy squads.
• Oversee and implement daily injury prevention strategies for all schoolboy players.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of the evidence based musculoskeletal screening/profiling of all players on a regular basis throughout the season.
• Ensure each U16s squad players have an individualised injury prevention programmes that are focused on addressing relevant injury risk factors.
• Ensure the delivery of injury prevention strategies effectively meets its commitment to the players, coaches and senior management through clinical appraisal and an evidence-based approach.

MEDICAL PROVISION AT MATCHES/TOURS

• Ensure appropriate physiotherapy match day cover and advanced medical care for all U16s squad fixtures and support other academy games when required.
• Ensure adequate support is present at all U16s squad fixtures and training sessions to maintain standards set out in MEAP.
• Ensure all medical equipment and MEAP procedures are regularly reviewed and maintained at the training ground in line with EPPP criteria.
• Ensure appropriate medical provision for all U16 squad training camps.

PRE-SIGNING MEDICALS/MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS

• Play an active role within the pre-signing medical of academy players liaising closely with the Head of Academy Physiotherapy – Schoolboys, Foundation, Loans & Women and Academy Doctors.
• When necessary, accompany players to medical consultations at short notice (either in this country or abroad), ensuring the player receives optimal care and advice at all times.

DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take an active role providing mentorship to FDP, Women’s and Girls RTC and part-time staff.
• Ensure that the Academy Performance Plan is regularly reviewed and updated to maintain EPPP category one status.
• Take a key role in implementing Academy Medical Department CPD sessions.
• Ensure all key administrative tasks are completed and appropriately managed:
- Review the EPPP document three times a year and review/update KPI targets.
- Oversee and manage the Ultralinq online system for all cardiac screens (U16s).
- Review and update relevant Academy EAPs along with the Lead Academy Doctor – annually.
• Input all medical notes onto the PMA system within 24 hours of completion.
• Complete monthly SMART targets focused on service development and continued professional development.
• Take an active role in the development of the medical aspect of the PMA system.

CONTINUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Take responsibility for continued professional development and keeping an up-to-date portfolio of achievements.
• Strive to advance working practices both within the Medical Department, and in the wider sports physiotherapy setting by promoting and performing clinical research.
General responsibilities
• Compliance with Club policies
• Compliance with the Club’s health and safety procedures
• Compliance with the Club’s safeguarding policies
• To promote the Club’s values
• To work consistently to embed equality & diversity into the Club
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected
• To maintain professional conduct at all times

Safeguarding

• This role carries a specific safeguarding responsibility. This means that the post-holder is required to apply all relevant policies and uphold the Club’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable people.

Key relationships

• Head of Academy Physiotherapy – Schoolboys, Foundation, Loans & Women
• Head of High Performance
• Academy Manager- Football
• Academy Manager- Operations
• Academy Doctors
• Academy Coaches

Person Specification

Knowledge:

Essential

• An understanding of working in the football environment with previous experience of working (PT/FT) as a physiotherapist in an academy setting
• Experience of clinically assessing, diagnosing and rehabilitating a wide range of neuromuscular and orthopaedic conditions in young elite athletes
• Experience of modifying training and rehabilitation programmes in order to address an individual’s needs, demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning skills
• Experience of implementing profiling and screening methods for young elite athletes
• Experience of utilising injury prevention strategies in a professional sporting environment
• An understanding of the Elite Player Performance Plan including the audit process and categorisation of football academies

Technical/work-based skills: skills specific to the job e.g. language competence, typing skills, coaching skills etc

Essential

• Experience of developing and implementing innovative ideas and putting them into practice
• Experience of using the PMA system to input medical notes / pre-habilitation sessions
• Ability to communicate fluently (in English), demonstrating advanced communication skills in order to meet the requirements of an individual

General skills and attributes: more general characteristics e.g. flexibility, communication skills, team working etc

Essential

• Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or adults at risk and uphold generally accepted practice when working with those participants.
• Promote, adhere to and implement the Club’s Equality Policy and to work consistently to embed equality and diversity within Club.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills whilst working in a pressurised situations
• Personal integrity and the ability to invoke trust and respect from others
• Excellent time keeping and organisational skills

Experience: proven record of experience in a particular field, profession or specialism.

Essential

• Experience in the provision of physiotherapy to young elite athletes
• Evidence of developing, implementing and evaluating physiotherapy programmes for young elite footballers
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team in a professional sporting environment

Desirable

• Working with children and/or adults at risk

Qualifications: the level of educational, professional and/or occupational training required

Essential

• Post-holder must hold or obtain at the earliest opportunity the relevant safeguarding training (i.e. FA Safeguarding Children Workshop)
• Post-holder will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level and cleared by the Wolves Safeguarding Manager
• BSc in Physiotherapy
• Minimum of 1 years membership to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP) and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Advanced pitch side first aid qualification
• FA ATMMiF trained

Desirable

• MSc (completed or working towards)