The Head of Performance Psychology and Wellbeing will lead the development and delivery of an integrated Academy performance psychology and Academy mental health strategy to support player development, performance, and wellbeing. You will lead and manage Academy Performance Psychologists to ensure an aligned psychology and wellbeing provision across the Academy aiming to create a psychologically informed system that supports elite player development while ensuring all work meets the highest standards of governance and the requirements of a Premier League Category 1 Academy.
* Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing review of Performance Psychology strategies to support the development of academy players to the highest levels of elite football.
* Provide effective leadership, management, and technical supervision of the Academy Performance Psychologists to deliver an aligned and integrated service provision throughout the pathway.
* Collaboratively lead the development, implementation and ongoing review of an integrated & aligned Academy Mental Health & Wellbeing strategy that proactively embeds positive practices within the system and effectively supports mental health.
* Develop an aligned development stage-relevant pathway player psychology profiling process that enables evidence-informed player support at an individual, team, and system level, and that supports effective MDT decision making.
* Lead the development & implementation of a progressive age & developmental stage relevant Psychology curriculum ensuring the development of key psychological skills that support effective performance behaviours.
* Provide effective and integrated psychology support to targeted individuals as required.
* Work in partnership with the Academy MDT, 1st Team Performance, & Group Performance Services staff as required to ensure a joined-up approach to supporting effective transitions for Academy players moving into the first team, out on loan, or away from the club.
* Work with the Academy Director of Performance to develop and implement performance objectives, practitioner development plans, and ongoing learning opportunities that support the growth and development of a world class Performance Psychology workforce aligned to the delivery of the Academy Performance strategy.
* Play a key role in the Academy Performance Management Team (and Wider Academy Management Team) embedding psychologically informed principles throughout the Academy programme and contributing to the ongoing development of a high-performance academy culture.
Qualifications
* MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology or Clinical Psychology (or other relevant area), Professional Doctorate in Sport & Exercise Psychology and be a HCPC registered Psychologist and chartered member of the BPS and/or a CASES accredited Sport & Exercise Psychologist.
* Extensive experience delivering Psychology support in elite sport. Significant experience of working in an MDT and effectively collaborating with MDT staff members (including safeguarding, welfare, player support etc).
* Experience leading/delivering mental health pathways/processes and experience of mentoring, supervising, line management, staff development, education provision with the ability to manage people, skilfully develop practitioners, and effectively evaluate performance.
* The ability to deliver sport psychology services systemically, as well as to teams and individuals, with a desire to want to create a player development system that promotes a psychologically aware environment, psychologically appropriate opportunities and well-developed psychological characteristics.
* The ability to facilitate or provide individual or system formulation and appropriate intervention.
* Adolescent developmental and behavioural understanding alongside clinical governance, confidentiality, and documentation.
* Ability to appropriately challenge staff performance, standards, values & behaviours according to the Academy standards & Competencies.
* Ability to work in a fast-moving environment and be able to work to tight deadlines while being flexible in the expected working pattern.
* Develop networks, create and maintain effective working relationships and have facilitation skills, including the ability to manage and resolve tensions, disputes and conflicts. Influence key stakeholder groups while managing change and embedding new ways of working.
Desirable
* Accredited Spotlight practitioner/FA Emergency First Aid in Football Certification/FA Safeguarding Children Certificate/UKAD Clean Sport Advisor Accreditation.
* Experience working in elite football or Category 1 Academy football experience.
* Understanding & experience of EPPP, PGAAC, EPL requirements/audit processes and EPL elite player care standards. Awareness of PFA & EPL mental health support pathways.
* Training in trauma-informed practice and youth mental health risk assessment.
* Ability to work collaboratively with clinical psychology support to proactively optimise mental health & wellbeing.
Manchester City is an English Premier League club whose roots began in East Manchester. From its first incarnation as St Mark's West Gorton in 1880, the club became Manchester City FC in 1894. Behind each title lies emotion, moments and memories that resonate with millions of supporters around the world. Manchester City fans are known for their commitment and togetherness, as a Club that fights to the end.
MCFC is built on a vision for sustainability, with an academy structure designed to support long-term first team success, to engagement with the communities in which we reside. Together with our passionate fans and valued network of partners, we are developing Manchester City's future history.
As part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and dental cover, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts.
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