Jobs
Head of Physiotherapy

Heart of Midlothian

Head of Physiotherapy

Salary

Competitive salary plus excellent staff benefits

Location

Oriam (Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre), Edinburgh, EH14 4AS; Tynecastle Park, Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2NL; and away fixture venues.

Closing date

April 4th, close of play
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The role

Heart of Midlothian is a Scottish Premiership Football Club based in Edinburgh with a proud history dating back to 1874. We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Physiotherapy to join our Performance Department, working with the Men’s First Team.

The Head of Physiotherapy is primarily responsible for the diagnosis and acute/ long-term care associated with our Men’s First Team players’ musculoskeletal injuries. The Head of Physiotherapy is required to attend all Men’s First Team fixtures, both home and away, and to provide emergency on-pitch care of our players when required. The Head of Physiotherapy is responsible for the line-management of our Physiotherapists working within our Men’s professional teams, including our First Team, B Team and u18s.

We are looking for a candidate who has previous experience of leading Physiotherapy services within full-time professional team sport, ideally within football. In addition, we are seeking someone who can develop good working relationships with a variety of groups including fellow practitioners, coaches, and players.

  • Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, includes evenings and weekends. To be worked flexible as per the Men’s First Team training and fixture schedule.
  • Department: Performance.
  • Reports to: Head of Performance.

Key responsibilities

  • Provide Physiotherapy cover during Men’s First Team fixtures, both home and away, including emergency on-pitch care/ treatment when required.
  • Provide Physiotherapy cover of players on a day-to-day basis at the training ground including diagnosis, acute care/treatment and short to long-term rehabilitation from injury. This includes the design and delivery of both pitch and gym-based exercise programmes.
  • Line-management of our Physiotherapists working within the Men’s First Team, B Team and u18s.
  • Work collaboratively with other members of the Performance Department including Doctors, Sport Scientists, Nutritionists and other specialists.
  • Liaise with the Head of Performance and other members of the Club’s Performance Department, to assess players’ health status and contribute to informed professional decision-making on players’ fitness and readiness to train and play.
  • Conduct pre-signing player medical examinations, where necessary.
  • Maintain appropriate, current, legible and accurate medical records on the Club’s AMS/EMR platform, ensuring to always maintain confidentiality of records and compliance with Data Protection Regulations.
  • Ensure the Club has the appropriate range and quantity of Physiotherapy supplies.
  • Within the limits of professional scope and qualifications, prescribe medication to players as appropriate.
  • Liaise with external stakeholders to facilitate medical procedures taking place outside of the Club, including hospital-based operations, consultations with medical specialists and other such activities.
  • Assist the wider Performance Department with regular fitness testing of Men’s First Team players throughout the season.
  • Facilitate and proactively contribute to applied research projects, as directed by the Head of Performance.
  • Any other reasonable activities requested by the Head of Performance.

Essential qualifications & experience

  • Previous experience of leading Physiotherapy services within a full-time professional team sport environment, preferably football.
  • Undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
  • Postgraduate qualification in Sports Physiotherapy or equivalent.
  • HCPC registered as a Physiotherapist.
  • Advanced pitch-side care qualification, such as sportPROMOTE, SCRUMCAPS.
  • Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals qualification (Desirable).
  • PgCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (Desirable).
  • Able to evidence Legal Right to Work in the UK.

Essential skills & abilities

  • Able to build strong working relationships with fellow practitioners, coaches and players.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Conscientious and committed to attention to detail.
  • Able to operate within a high-pressure working environment.
  • Confident IT user.
  • Critical thinking and analytical mindset.
  • Displays honesty, openness and an approachable demeanour.
  • Committed to professional development.
  • A high standard of professionalism and confidentiality.
  • Flexibility with weekly working patterns.

How to apply

If you think that you are suitable for the position and meet the criteria above, please send a covering letter and CV to Recruitment@homplc.co.uk

The role will have regular contact with children, and it is therefore required by law to have a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check through Disclosure Scotland as a condition of employment.

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN FOOTBALL CLUB IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER AND FULLY COMMITTED TO THE SAFEGUARDING AND WELFARE OF VULNERABLE GROUPS. HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN IS A LIVING WAGE ACCREDITED COMPANY.