PDP Psychologist

About the club

We are the heartbeat of the city. Come and be a part of a long and proud history where we strive to be the best in everything we do, on and off the pitch. Bringing the people and communities together, join the Newcastle United Family, as we embark on the next steps of our exciting journey.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Psychologist to develop and deliver an inspiring, purpose-led strategy that will impact positively on the performance and wellbeing of our staff and players.

At Newcastle United, we are empowering wholeness by building a progressive environment where the focus is about thriving individuals. A place where we foster robust personal qualities and capabilities, well-resourced environments, shared understanding, and where successful teams are built on a foundation of unshakeable well-being.

This role will ensure the embedding of psychologically informed practice across the academy system and collaboration with the men’s senior team, subsequently enhancing a good psychology culture.

Working specifically with players in our Professional Development Phase (PDP) to create, you will oversee and deliver the (age specific) academy psychology curriculum that covers PDP to YPD (Youth Development Phase). Additionally, you will develop skills and capabilities of PDP players enabling them to deal with the demands and challenges of daily life, both in and outside of football.

Your impact

You will hold an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in psychology, sports psychology, or a related field of study and hold HCPC registration with substantial experience in leading and delivering psychology programmes in elite/professional programme players/athletes and staff.

With an advanced understanding of psychology, wellbeing and player development you will also have substantial experience in the translation of evidence-based research into context specific resources for elite/professional programme players/athletes and staff.

You will have a passion for, and proven track record of, the development of psychological assessment in elite/professional programme players/athletes.

About the team

We are not just another psychology team. Our approach is holistic where we cultivate resilience and nurture a culture of growth, where individuals not only perform at their peak, but also navigate the mental demands that accompany elite football.

Join us and be part of a team that empowers individuals to reach their full potential. This is your chance to work in a team where psychology and well-being is not just valued but celebrated.

Why choose us?

We’ve got a range of great benefits and rewards, from flexible ways of working, participation in our non-contractual employee bonus scheme, NUFC life assurance, free parking, discount at Shearers Bar and the Club Shop, Helping Hand – where you can access free GP appointments, Wellbeing Resources, Legal and Financial Support, pension contribution, free lunch and the best part, free tea and coffee. In addition, we run a salary sacrifice scheme which includes, tech, car, cycle to work and many more.

Job summary

Delivering an inspiring, purpose-led strategy that will impact positively on the performance and wellbeing of our players. Ensuring psychologically informed practice across the academy system, subsequently enhancing a good psychology culture.

Role responsibilities

• Oversee psychology practice within the PDP phase, ensuring alignment across game
  and training models.
• Inform and support strategic planning to enhance wellbeing, development of
  psychological characteristics, and performance opportunities throughout the
  Academy.
• With coaches and support staff, co-create and deliver an age-specific psychology and
  wellbeing curriculum for PDP players, informed by appropriate development principles.
• Increase the knowledge of PDP players through education, training, and developing a
  shared language around psychological characteristics.
• Develop and deliver a psychology and wellbeing resource to inform the academy
  environment.
• In collaboration with others, integrate psychology within the PDP support team
  practices.
• Enhance understanding of PDP individual and team needs through comprehensive
  assessment and formulation.
• Develop skills and capabilities of PDP players enabling them to deal with the demands
  and challenges of daily life, both in and outside of football.
• Targeted 1-1/ group wellbeing and performance support for players.
• Ensure evidence-based practice through collaboration with external research and
  domain-specific experts.
• Integrate psychology services with existing wellbeing, safeguarding, and medical
  support that is in place at the Academy.
• Support the delivery of key psychology projects that help develop the understanding
  of psychology and wellbeing throughout the PDP and Academy.
• Disseminate key information through coaches and staff and support the implementation of best practice that is aligned to learning and the respective context
• Any other reasonable duties.

Role requirements

• Perform duties with due regard to club policies and procedures and legislative
  requirements at all times;
• Ensure implementation of the clubs health & safety, safeguarding, welfare and equality
  policies to create a safe working environment for all;
• Ensure working practices are compliant with relevant legislation and data protection
  legislation and/ or general data protection regulations (GDPR) requirements;
• Undertake continuous professional development (CPD) training and/ or additional training as identified or as required.

Qualifications & training

Essential:

• Undergraduate degree in psychology, sports psychology, or a related field of study.
• HCPC registered.

Desirable:

• Doctorate in a related field of work or equivalent experience.
• Related coaching qualification.

Knowledge, skills & experience

Essential:

• Substantial experience in leading and delivering psychology programmes in
  elite/professional programme players/ athletes and staff.
• Advanced understanding of psychology, wellbeing and player development.
• Substantial experience in the translation of evidence-based research into context
  specific resources for elite/ professional programme players/ athletes and staff.
• Substantial experience in the development of psychological assessment in
  elite/ professional programme players/ athletes.
• Highly credible academic with applied knowledge and experience.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
• Impactful and influential leadership skills, to ensure that psychological practice is
  embedded into our ways of working.
• Excellent operational planning skills.
• IT literate; comfortable in designing presentation content, using data, and sports coding
  for player behaviour during games and training.

Desirable:

• Technical video analysis and data presentation skills.
• Understanding of adolescents/working with young elite athletes.
• Knowledge of professional football & the demands of the modern game.
• A second language would be of benefit, from basic through to fluent.

How to apply

Click ‘Apply Now’ via THIS LINK

Please apply as soon as possible as this vacancy may close early should we receive a high volume of suitable candidates.

Recruitment Agencies – please note that we do not accept unsolicited / speculative candidate details or applications. Any candidates supplied, unless formally requested, will be taken as a direct / free candidate.

Criminal Record Check Requirement:
This role requires a criminal records check (CRC) deemed suitable by the Club at the following level; enhanced with BLC. The requirement of a CRC for this role is due to responsibilities relating to children under the age of 18 years and/ or adults at risk of harm. Where a role requires a CRC this must be obtained by the Club.

General Statement:
All employees of the Club must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regards to all policies and procedures and in particular health and safety, confidentiality and data protection.

Safeguarding & Welfare Statement:
The Club is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm and requires all staff, volunteers and others associated with the Club to share and endorse this commitment. As part of this commitment, all staff are expected to undertake regular safeguarding and welfare related training and to ensure the environments in which they work remain safe at all times. This includes ensuring ‘best practices’ are adopted at all times and incidents or concerns are proactively reported. Safeguarding is considered everybody’s responsibility.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement:
The Club is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, encapsulated by the Club’s brand United As One, and believes in equal opportunities for all. We expect that all staff, volunteers and others associated with the Club share and endorse this commitment in a positive manner. The club does not tolerate any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment. Your behaviour must align to the principles of equality as outlined in the
Clubs equality policy which can be found at www.nufc.co.uk/UnitedAsOne

Health & Safety Statement:
The Club is committed to effective management of the Health and Safety risks to all employees, visitors, supporters, and any others associated with the Club. As part of this commitment all staff are expected to conduct your business in a proactive way that prevents injury and ill health to those who may be affected by your activities. All staff are expected to undertake regular Health & Safety related training and to ensure the environments in which they work remain safe at all times, with the mindset that Health & Safety is everybody’s responsibility.