VACANCY: Western Storm & Welsh Fire (Women) Physiotherapist
Job Title: Western Storm & Welsh Fire (Women) Physiotherapist
Reports to: Regional Director of Women’s Cricket
Location: Bristol, with extensive regional travel
Salary: Up to £33,000 (plus additional Welsh Fire remuneration)
Benefits: 23 days holiday, pension, laptop
Term: Fixed contract until 31st January 2023
Job Context
Western Storm are the Professional Women’s cricket team playing in both the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup competitions, representing the South West & Wales region.
Six counties (Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Somerset and Wiltshire) in the South West, and Wales have joined forces to lead the way in collaborative working for the greater benefit of performance cricket across our vast region. With Western Storm’s existing legacy and the ECB’s wider game strategy to Transform Women’s and Girls Cricket, this key appointment represents a substantial and exciting opportunity to play your part in driving Western Storm and Welsh Fire forward.
The successful candidate will lead the physiotherapy provision for Western Storm, Welsh Fire Women & the Western Storm Academy programme in what is a highly exciting chapter for the Women’s game. It is expected that the successful candidate will be seconded to Welsh Fire for the duration of The Hundred competition and a separate remuneration package exists for this.
Purpose of the Job:
Reporting to the Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, the Physiotherapist will lead the physiotherapy provision and support to the Western Storm Squad, Welsh Fire Women and Western Storm Academy players. The post holder will work within a wider medical team including the Sports Doctor and Strength and Conditioning Coach.
1. Principle Responsibilities:
• Manage and develop the physiotherapy service provision, delivery and facilities for the Western Storm & the Western Storm Academy programmes in accordance with the details outlined in the Science & Medicine Review. This will include attendance and service provision at training sessions, home and away fixtures and overseas camps/tours.
• Work in conjunction with the Strength and Conditioning Coach to prepare the Western Storm and Western Storm Academy playing squad for domestic 50-over and T20 competitions.
• Work in conjunction with the Welsh Fire management team to provide physiotherapy services to the Welsh Fire squad during the Hundred competition.
• In collaboration with the Sports Medicine Doctor, ensure effective governance and processes
underpin the department, including a clear wellbeing pathway and medical screening and profiling.
• Lead on preparation and delivery for the Regional Host’s annual Science & Medicine Review to quality assure processes, resources and effectiveness of the department. Communicate key findings and actions of the Audit to the Regional Director of Women’s Cricket.
• Support ongoing player monitoring with Science and Medicine and coaching staff, including workload management, and any other relevant physical and/or mental parameters.
• Ensure adherence to Covid-19 medical guidelines and regulations during training and competition.
• Communicate non-confidential headline availability and fitness status information with the Western Storm and Welsh Fire Head Coach.
• Ensure medical record-keeping standards are maintained at a satisfactory level as per Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) guidelines and are entered on to the ECB’s Injury Management Database (‘Cricket Squad’).
• Liaise with the ECB’s Science and Medicine team regarding support and management for England Women’s Pathway players at Western Storm and Welsh Fire.
• Liaise with the relevant regional hosts and international cricket boards regarding players from outside of the Western Storm region who will be part of Welsh Fire.
• Ensure all physiotherapists employed/contracted to the team have a current qualification in a relevant Cricket Trauma Management course.
• Within the rules of professional confidentiality liaise with athletes, parents, coaches and other support staff as appropriate.
• Undertake appropriate professional development to keep abreast of world’s best practice and current evidence-based research.
Note: The Job Description summarises the major role and responsibilities of the job. It is not intended to exclude the job holder being asked to undertake any other activities as required from time to time by the Regional Head Coach, nor future changes to the job holder’s responsibilities. The precise duties and responsibilities of any job may be expected to change over time. Job holders will be consulted over any proposed changes to this job description before implementation.
2. Nature and Scope of Job:
A. Job Context:
The successful applicant will demonstrate high-standard clinical skills and ideally have experience working in a team environment with elite athletes/high-performing teams. Previous experience working within cricket is not essential. Registration with the HCPC and Chartered Society of Physiotherapists is required.
The role does require extended hours and regular travel throughout the country during the women’s domestic season (April-September) which will include weekends and Bank Holidays.
B. Working Relationships:
• Regional Director of Women’s Cricket
• Western Storm Head Coach
• Western Storm Senior Regional Talent Manager
• Western Storm Strength & Conditioning Coach
• Western Storm Sports Doctor
• The Hundred – Medical Staff (all teams)
• The Welsh Fire Head Coach and Support Staff
• ECB Head of Sport Science and Medicine – Women’s Cricket
3. Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
Essential
• Current member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) and registered with the HCPC.
• Minimum of three years’ post-graduate experience in the provision of physiotherapy services.
• Advanced Life Support and Trauma Management training within past two years (needs to be in place prior to starting role).
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate – A disclosure is an impartial and confidential document that details an individual’s criminal record and where appropriate gives details of those who are barred from working with children.
Desirable
• Experience working with elite athletes / teams including touring with high performance squads.
• A postgraduate qualification specialising in Sports Physiotherapy/Sports and Exercise Medicine/Sports Rehabilitation.
• An understanding of cricket.
4. Personal Attributes:
• Ability to motivate, support and influence individuals and organisations.
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, both written and verbal.
• A positive attitude with initiative, focus and drive.
• Patience with an orderly approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work independently and effectively under pressure.
• Ability to work within a team and contribute to the overall success of the team.
• Ability to interact effectively with all departments and personnel at Western Storm.
• Passionate to be part of the development of women’s cricket.
Western Storm is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our services.
Due to the nature of this role and the substantial travel requirements for the region, a full, clean driving licence is essential. The successful applicant will also appreciate the varied working hours for this post which will include evenings and weekends in line with training and fixture requirements.
To Apply:
Your application should include a covering letter (specific to the job description and job advert and no longer than one A4 page) and CV outlining why you should be considered for the role.
Please send applications to: recruitment@westernstorm.co.uk
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th January (9am) with interviews to be held on Friday 14th January in Bristol.
