ACADEMY PSYCHOLOGIST

Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in League One, the third tier of English Football, and is under the management of Head Coach, Paul Warne. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014. Derby County is embarking on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

Derby County Football Club are looking for a psychologist to join our Academy Medical Team at our Category One Academy.

The successful candidate will develop and lead on the delivery, implementation, and continuous review of an academy psychology program that aims to enhance performance and support wellbeing.

Your skills, experience and knowledge will allow you to offer specialist support and advice to lead academy staff, whilst taking leadership of the Academy Wellbeing Group.

Previous experience in delivering psychological support to youth athletes in elite sport is essential to ensure the delivery of effective and appropriate mental health and wellbeing support through the implementation of a comprehensive referral pathway.

Key responsibilities:

• Design and deliver an evidence based psychological framework, that provides players of all ages within the academy the psychological support and interventions to achieve performance potential
• Support the development of a psychologically safe culture, providing ongoing CPD training and development for coaches and staff, so they are equipped to deliver the psychological framework effectively, to support the players performance potential
• Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary leadership team to integrate and embed the psychology programme in the player development curriculum, coach competency framework, and the education and player care provision
• Design and deliver appropriate parent/guardian and host family education workshops
• Offer specialist support and advice to lead academy staff
• Provide individual performance psychology support to players
• Lead the Academy Wellbeing Group to ensure the highest levels of support are provided for the players, within timescales that are appropriate to the individual circumstances
• Deliver a psychoeducation curriculum to coaches, staff and players, that supports the key objectives of the Academy Performance Plan
• Conduct age-appropriate psychometric profiling to support player development, coach development, and team dynamics across all the Academy age-groups

Personal characteristics and experience:

• A minimum of MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology
• A qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology (Stage 2/BASES)
• Demonstrable membership to the Health Professionals Council (HPC)
• Proven track record of working as part of an interdisciplinary team
• 2 years post qualification experience in high performance sport is desirable
• Comprehensive understanding of adolescent development
• Excellent verbal and written communication & presentation skills
• Committed to high standards
• Resilient, self-motivated and driven
• An experienced team player that is naturally collaborative in style, and thrives within a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Ability to work irregular and unsociable hours as required

This is a full-time role of 35 hours per week. Due to the nature of working in an elite sport environment, the successful candidate must be flexible and able to work evenings and weekends as required.

Competitive salary up to £45,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

Derby County employee benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm

Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.

Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.