Job description:

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 1975 as Heathfield Rovers, initially as a West Midlands League second division club, they later became Wolverhampton & Wednesbury Tube and then Wolverhampton Ladies before taking the name Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1993. In the 1993/94 season they we promoted to the Premier League, which was then the top flight of Women’s football. 

In 2008/09 the women and girl’s programme was taken on board by the Wolves community trust, this support continued until 2021/22 season where the academy took control of the female provision, ensuring the boys and girls alike are given opportunities to play at Wolves. 

2019/20 season and 2020/21 season saw Wolves Women top the table in both seasons only to have the leagues ended abruptly due to COVID. This prevented promotion to tier 3, however Wolves were successful in an ‘upwards movement’ initiative allowing them to move into the FA Women’s National League, Northern Premier Division.   

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

Job purpose

The role of the Women’s Senior Team Lead Physiotherapist is to manage, coordinate and supervise all medical provision for the Women’s first team and also support in the medical delivery in the Professional Development Phase (PDP) academy squads. As a result, this role will contribute to the success and achievement of the Women’s Senior Team and Academy programme. A key component of this role is the ability strive for excellence to ensure that the optimal service is provided for all Women’s senior and PDP academy players and the medical department. 

Key responsibilities

MANAGEMENT OF INJURIES

• Lead the provision of physiotherapy services to all Women’s players and PDP players, ensuring evidenced based, best practice is adhered to all times.
• Implement evidence-based practice and utilise advanced clinical reasoning skills during the rehabilitation process.
• Demonstrate effective communication with all MDT staff members across the academy age-groups at all times, being fully briefed and up-to-date on all ongoing player injuries and rehabilitation progress.
• Ensure the management of injuries across the Women’s and PDP academy squads effectively meets its commitments to the players, coaches and senior management through clinical audit and accurate documentation.

  INJURY PREVENTION

• Liaise with age-group physios on a daily basis in order to have input into decisions relating to individual player availability and readiness to train.
• Work alongside the Academy Sport Science and Athletic Development Department in order to devise and implement effective injury prevention and preventative strategies across all Women’s and PDP academy age groups.
• Ensure effective and appropriate delivery of squad pre-activation sessions across all age-groups and monitor the provision of injury prevention strategies for all players, including individual and group sessions.
• Ensure individualised injury prevention programmes focused on addressing relevant injury risk factors are in place across all Women’s and PDP academy age groups.
• Ensure the delivery of injury prevention programme effectively meets its commitment to the players, coaches and senior management through clinical appraisal and an evidence-based approach.

  MEDICAL PROVISION AT MATCHES/TOURS

• Provide physiotherapy match day cover and advanced medical care at all Senior Women’s fixtures.
• Ensure all medical equipment and MEAP procedures are regularly reviewed and maintained at the training ground in line with the correct criteria.

PRE-SIGNING MEDICALS/MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS

• Play an active role within the pre-signing medical of all Academy and Senior women’s players, liaising closely with the Academy Doctor.  Although not expected to conduct all examinations, you are required to discuss findings of exam with the medical staff involved in the process to assist with risk stratification.
• Accompany players to medical consultations at short notice ensuring the player receives optimal care and advice at all times. 

DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT

• Share the leading role in MDT meetings appropriately.
• Ensure all administrative tasks are completed and appropriately managed.
• Ensure all squad injury prevention sessions and medical notes are entered on to the KitmanLabs system within 24 hours of completion.
• Complete monthly SMART targets focused on service development and continued professional development (reviewed by line manager prior to submission).
• Ensure all age-group audits are completed to the highest standard before the summer break by the relevant staff, providing accountability for the department and allowing us to see and act upon patterns and trends.
• Take an active role in the development of the medical aspect of the KitmanLabs system.

DEPARTMENT STRATEGY

• Take responsibility for your own continued professional development, ensuring that you attend regular courses/conferences 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 involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults in a Regulated Activity (or in close proximity to children and/or vulnerable adults). 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 Sport Science and Medical
• Head of Women and Girl’s football
• Head coach
• Lead Academy Doctor
• Club Doctor
• PDP Physiotherapists
• Women’s and Girls Sport Scientist

Scope of job

• Flexibility in this role is essential – ability to work irregular and unsocial hours as required.
• Work may be subject to change with less than 24 hours’ notice on occasions.
• Work will regularly be outside ‘normal’ working hours, in evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
• Attendance at consultant appointments/special events/dinners/tournaments.
• All annual leave is to be taken during breaks in the footballing season.

Person Specification

Knowledge: the level and breadth of knowledge to do the job e.g. understanding of a defined system, method or procedure, legal or regulatory frameworks etc

Essential

• Ability to manage, coordinate and supervise all medical provision for various academy squads
• An understanding of the Elite Player Performance Plan including the audit process and categorisation of football academies
• An understanding of working in the football environment with previous experience of working (PT / FT) as a physiotherapist or sports therapist in an academy or first team setting

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

Essential

• Ability to communicate fluently (in English), demonstrating advanced communication skills in order to meet the requirements of an individual
• Ability to prioritise own workload and that of colleagues
• Highly motivated individual that demonstrates a proactive attitude towards service development and demonstrates a passion for working as part of MDT in professional sport

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

Essential

• A positive attitude to information technology
• Advanced personal commitment to continuous professional development
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills whilst working in a pressurised situation
• Excellent time keeping and organisational skills
• Open minded individual with a view of adopting new practices
• Personal integrity and the ability to invoke trust and respect from others
• Promote, adhere to and implement the Club’s Equality Policy and to work consistently to embed equality and diversity within Club.
• Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or vulnerable adults and uphold generally accepted practice when working with those participants. 

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

Essential

• Evidence of developing, implementing and evaluating physiotherapy programmes for elite footballers
• Experience in the provision of physiotherapy or sports therapy to elite athletes
• Experience of clinically assessing, diagnosing and rehabilitating a wide range of neuromuscular and orthopaedic conditions in elite athletes
• Experience of developing and implementing innovative ideas and putting them into practice
• Experience of implementing profiling and screening methods for elite athletes
• Experience of modifying training and rehabilitation programmes in order to address an individual’s needs, demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning skills
• Experience of utilising injury prevention strategies in a professional sporting environment

Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team in a professional sporting environment

Desirable

• Experience of using the KitmanLabs system

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

Essential

• BSc in either Physiotherapy / Sports Therapy / Sports Rehabilitation
• FA ATMMiF trained or ITMMiF
• MSc (completed or working towards)
• Minimum of 3 years membership to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP) or BASRaT or STO/STA and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Advanced pitch side first aid qualification
• Full UK driving license and car
• 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