PURPOSE AND SCOPE
- Position Type: Full time
- Location: The PFA has facilities and offices in Manchester and London. We are flexible in terms of where the ‘home’ office will be
- Salary: Competitive remuneration package plus generous benefits
We are excited to be recruiting for a Player Support Associate, who as part of the Brain Health department will take a lead on our brain health education programme for the English Football League (EFL).
This person will work closely with the Head of Brain Health and the Brain Health department to lead the brain health education programme in the EFL, ensuring that our members are up to date on the latest evidence associated to brain health.
The successful candidate will have responsibility for the scheduling, delivery, and review of the brain health education programme, including delivery to our members across the EFL. In addition, the post-holder will work with the Player Support Manager to work with members and their families on issues associated with their brain health. They will be a first and ongoing point of contact to offer non-clinical practical and emotional support.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Education
- schedule, deliver, and review player-centred brain health and concussion education to professional footballers.
- organise, facilitate and/or support the delivery of memories initiatives both virtually and face to face.
- research, create and/or develop resources to support members and their families on brain health.
Player Support
- Act as a first and ongoing point of contact for members and their families with the PFA on issues related to brain health.
- Triage and assess member and family needs on issues associated with brain health and develop appropriate action plans of support.
- To offer members and their families, information, advice and guidance on issues associated with brain health, including dementia and neurodegenerative disease.
- Support members and their families with non-clinical emotional and practical support on issues of brain health, including dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Signpost and refer members and their families to additional services (both internally and externally) to support them with their individual needs.
General
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop the services and offer of the brain health department for our members and their families.
- Maintain excellent contemporaneous records and data of all activities delivered within brain health on the PFA systems.
- Ensure you are current with your knowledge and practice on issues and services associated with brain health at the PFA.
- Maintain professional practice particularly on issues of Consent, Safeguarding, Confidentiality, and GDPR in line with legal, morale and organisational responsibilities.
- Report issues or concerns to line-managers and/or the Head of Brain Health in a timely manner.
- To undertake reasonable activities as necessary for the PFA as directed by the Head of Brain Health.
SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant field (i.e. Sports Science)
- Teaching, coaching or educating experience, including a range of teaching approaches including face to face, remote, group
- Must be able to demonstrate a strong understanding and knowledge of concussion, brain health and dementia in sport and society.
- Ability to demonstrate clear, concise and practical written and oral communication that is audience centered.
- Able to cope with pressurised situations and tight timeframes whilst maintaining a professional approach.
- Approachable and low-ego personality.
- Strong organisational and interpersonal skills.
- High level of integrity and confidentiality.
Desirable
- Experience of working or participation in football.
- Experience of dementia and neurogenerative disease in personal or professional life.
- Additional spoken language skills.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) is the union for all current and former footballers and scholars in the Premier League, the Women's Super League and English Football Leagues.
We are committed to helping each member understand their purpose both as a professional player and a person. We provide the information, advice and support you need to help maximise the opportunities that come with playing professional football.
We're the only football organisation that solely prioritises players' needs. We offer a variety of educational, financial and wellbeing support services.
Throughout our history, the PFA has been instrumental in supporting the women's game, decreasing mental health stigma across the sport, leading the fight against discriminatory abuse of players and pushing for research into the links between neurodegenerative conditions and playing football.
We proudly amplify the players' voice to ensure their views are represented to the game's stakeholders and governing bodies.
We also protect and enhance their rights and working conditions by holding stakeholders and governing bodies to account.
Our team is passionate about helping footballers navigate personal or professional challenges, and we use our own experiences to relate to players and help prepare them for the future.
We are here to protect and support players, for football and for life.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please email an up-to-date CV, Covering Letter (which expresses your motivation for the role and highlights your relevant experience) to: recruitment@thepfa.com
- The closing date for applications is: Friday 1 September 2023.
- Interviews are scheduled to be held Monday 11 September 2023 at our London office.
The PFA is an equal opportunities employer. Our employment policies for recruitment ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
