AWFC Psychologist & AFC Psychology Assistant

Employer: Arsenal Football Club
Reference: AWFC/AFC Psych
Salary: 
Contract Type: Consultancy Agreement

Arsenal Women Football Club (AWFC) is one of the most successful female football clubs in the history of the women's game. It prides itself on maintaining high standards and delivering excellence. The primary purpose of this role is to work in the areas of Psychology & Personal Development, applying psychological principles within Arsenal FC's women's System, alongside all relevant stakeholders to positively influence the environment, its people, and its processes. The role within the Arsenal FC's Youth/Male Academy would include more strategic psychological support and provision, likely through workshops and educational sessions, across a number of age groups, in keeping with the club's strategy for Psychology and Personal Development and working alongside its existing Psychologists. 

Key Responsibilities:
• Work with the AWFC General Manager, AWFC First Team Manager and AFC Psychology team to contribute to a person centered environment, moreover, influence at a system, cultural, training, team and individual level.
• Work to promote the welfare and well-being of the person (player, coach and practitioner)
• Apply the principles of psychology and personal development to improving individual and team performance
• Provide individual psychological work with players and staff to address performance based challenges
• Work closely with coaches and technical staff to practically develop resilience and well-being within the training environment to lead to enhanced performance both on and off the field.
• Where appropriate identify and facilitate communication methods, to inform and educate players, coaches and technical staff in the effective use of psychological and personal development support
• To support, and help drive an agenda of personal development and contribute to a culture of learning within the football club environment
• Maintain a comprehensive record of work conducted with players, coaches and technical staff
• To engage in targeted self-development, communicate pro-actively and constructively, and make timely contributions to our Psychology and Personal Development team culture, to ensure a one club approach.
• To facilitate extra-ordinary learning experiences for our young (and existing professional) players to learn from, both within and outside the club, regardless of their sporting success. Always championing our club's values.
• To facilitate a variety of personal development sessions throughout the season (where possible within the playing schedule)

Main Job Requirements and Person Specification Education/Qualifications/Training:
• Must be qualified to post graduate level in Psychology or Sport Psychology and be BASES accredited, BPS Chartered, HCPC registered or working towards HCPC registration as a Psychologist.
• Possess qualifications in counselling, and or counselling skills, and an understanding of the importance of relationships to effective practice

Specific Experience:
• Ability to work on own initiative, and maintain independence within the environment
• Experience of working with young people and engaging hard to reach clients.
• Experience of working in a busy, pressurised environment (willingness to work outside 9 to 5 hours when necessary).
• Extensive experience in the provision of psychological and personal development support to elite athletes and coaches to improve performance and contribute to a performance environment. This experience should include extensive work with senior female elite teams and their athletes.
• Experience of contributing positively within a wider Psychology and Personal Development team/department/strategy. 

Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:
• Practical experience of applying psychological knowledge within an elite sport environment.
• An understanding of the needs of elite athletes and coaches in a high-performance environment
• Experience and skills in developing resilience in others, and promoting personal wellbeing and personal development.
• An appreciation of formulation driven practice and clinical psychology, and how this can contribute to productive work with athletes and teams.
• Additional knowledge or skills in a range of psychological therapies (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling)
• The successful applicant will be required to complete a self-declaration and a satisfactory enhanced CRB check. 

Hours of Work
Please note, this is a consultancy agreement and commitment of at least three days a week with observation at training and games (sometimes on weekends and weeknights). Depending on the suitability of the candidate, this role may become 3 days a week with AWFC, with the potential to go FT - spending split time, 1-2 days a week across the Arsenal FC's Youth/Male Academy at Hale End. Arsenal FC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and its policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment

Package description Vacancy website address https://www.arsenaljobs.com/