Job description - casual soft tissue therapist

Job purpose

To deliver soft tissue therapy support to identified athletes, coaches and sports to improve performance through working as part of an inter-disciplinary team and developing, implementing and evaluating soft tissue services.

Main duties

• Proactively manage, deliver and develop a coordinated and comprehensive performance focused soft tissue therapy service which includes the implementation of innovative and practical soft tissue therapy support tailored to the needs of identified athletes and sports.
• Monitor and collect information relating to rehabilitation and deliver appropriate soft tissue intervention strategies together with the means of monitoring and evaluating these measures. 
• Ensure excellent communication with coaches, athletes and appropriate members of performance services. 
• Ensure that the delivery of soft tissue therapy services effectively meet the Sport Wales strategies and objectives. 
• Develop and deliver soft tissue therapy programmes to athletes to enhance elite performance, and support recovery from training and competition. 
• Where agreed provide soft tissue therapy support at training camps and competitions in the UK or internationally. 
• Maintain a comprehensive, indexed and secure database of work conducted with athletes and utilize the electronic medical records system.

Sport Wales’ Values

Our approach to enabling sport in Wales to thrive is evolving. We are committed to continually challenging ourselves to: 

1. Learn Together - Constantly exploring, testing and reviewing
2. Deliver Together - Sharing outcomes, nurturing open and honest relationships, providing robust feedback, constantly improving performance
3. Celebrate Together - Recognising our shared successes through effective partners

By:

1. Acting with Integrity - Understanding and Respecting each other’s culture and values. Promoting equality and diversity
2. Adding Value - Ensuring the optimum mix of support, challenge, investment, skills and expertise to achieve our shared outcomes.
3. Encouraging Innovation - Welcoming new ideas and approaches and supporting ambition and fresh thinking.  Not being afraid to feel uncomfortable.

Person specification

Education:

Hold a minimum Level 4 Sports massage qualification attained through an accredited school that meets QCF/RQF standards

Member of a Professional Association (PA) or GCMT (General Council for Soft Tissue Therapies) or CNHC (Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council)

Full membership (Silver and above) of the Sports Massage Association. 

Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate

Experience:

Considerable experience – 4 years minimum, in the provision of sports massage therapy to athletes whichshould include work with high performance sports teams or squads - although this does not preclude applicants without this from applying if they feel they have the necessary knowledge and skills

Experience of developing and implementing innovative ideas and putting them into practice, including working in an applied and integrated manner.

Extensive experience of successfully implementing strategies to reduce the impact of injury.

Experience of working effectively within a multi-disciplinary team in the delivery of soft tissue therapy services to high performance sport.

Experience of dealing with national performance programmes within national governing bodies of sport

Experience of travelling with a team to national/international competition or training camp at senior or junior level

Skills, Aptitudes & Abilities:

An understanding of the needs of elite athletes and coaches in a high performance environment

Comply with the rules of the SMA or equivalent governing body and the HCSI professional code

To develop, implement and evaluate sports massage therapy service programmes for individual athletes within these sports

High level of problem solving & decision making skills around clinical reasoning and treatment options, with a clear understanding of parameters of interventions and knowing when to refer on, often in high pressure or time dependent situations

An ability to demonstrate up to date and advanced knowledge of sports massage therapy techniques related to musculoskeletal medicine in the sporting environment

Ability to modify programmes according to the results of assessment data, in conjunction with coaches and other support staff

Ability to work under pressure

Ability to prioritise own workload

Ability to balance conflicting demands and tight deadlines

Communication skills that can motivate behavioural change to have a positive impact on performance

An understanding of the various sports science and medicine disciplines. 

Personal integrity and the ability to invoke trust and respect from others.

Having the willingness to engage with and support continuous professional development in anti-doping, i.e. UKAD Clean Sport Advisor Course

Due to possible requirement to work with athletes under 18 (Enhanced DBS check will be required)

Comprehensive contemporary knowledge of technical skills underpinning the delivery of soft tissue therapy management in the sporting environment.

An interest in sport and recognition of the importance of promoting and supporting equality, safeguarding and anti-doping within sport.

Skilled in building and maintaining productive relationships with high performance staff within national governing bodies of sport.

Highly motivated with a passion for high performance sport

Open minded with a view to adopting new practices