Catalans Dragons are currently inviting applications for the role of First Team Sports Rehabilitation Specialist.

The Catalans Dragons are a full-time professional rugby league team who play in the primarily English based Super League. The competitive playing season starts in February and finishes in October each year. They have a multi-national squad and staff mixing French, British and Southern hemisphere populations.

The post holder will provide rehabilitation and physiotherapy services to the Catalans Dragons First Team Squad and will deliver best practice sports medicine services in partnership with the club Physiotherapists and Doctor(s).

The position is being offered on a fixed term basis until November 2024 (season end).

The closing date for applications is strictly 13^th April 12h00

To apply for this role please send a covering letter and CV to the Head of Medical Services, Rob Parkinson: r.parkinson@catalansdragons.com

POST TITLE: First Team Physiotherapist

ROLE AND PURPOSE OF POSITION: The primary purpose of this role is to provide rehabilitation and physiotherapy services to the Catalans Dragons First Team Squad. The successful candidate will be responsible for the management and organisation of the injured first team players. As such, they will need excellent time management skills, clinical reasoning and an excellent knowledge of rehabilitation systems in the elite sport setting.

Whilst carrying out this role you will also be required to deliver best practice sports medicine services in partnership with the clubs Head of Medical Services and performance staff. To liaise and work with medical, athletic performance and coaching staff on all physiotherapy related issues within the Catalans Dragons. You will also be required to support the medical provision to our academy and junior teams

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Head of Medical Services, Head Coach and Sporting Director

KEY QUALITIES

Essential:

Degree or equivalent in physiotherapy

Eligible to live and work in France and travel internationally

A minimum of 4 years post graduate physiotherapy experience working in a clinical setting or sports medicine with a minimum of 2 years' experience working as a physiotherapist in professional elite level sport.

Excellent communication skills in both French and English

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop credible and effective working relationships.

The ability to work well within a team environment with an emphasis on multi-disciplinary collaborative working contributing to non-clinical areas of the organisation when required.

Good organisation skills and ability to manage own caseload.

Flexibility and willingness to work unsociable hours including weekends, evenings and travel to the UK for fixtures on a regular basis.

Desirable:

Postgraduate qualification in sports physiotherapy/musculoskeletal physiotherapy/sports science/Sports rehabilitation/Strength and conditioning.

Experience working as a physiotherapist working in professional rugby (league or union).

Experience in planning and delivering individualised rehabilitation plans for both short- and long-term injured athletes.

Experience of working closely with other disciplines working within a high-performance sport organisation such as strength and conditioning coaches, sport scientists, sports analysts, nutritionists, rehabilitation specialists and team management.

Pitch side traumatology qualification (IMMOFP / PHISIS / ATMMIF or equivalent)

Formal language qualification in French and English.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop rehabilitation programs for long-term injured players in a co-ordinated effort with the performance department staff.

Assist in the completion of musculoskeletal screening for all contracted players at the start of the season and implement individual movement health programmes as required.

Communicate with medical and performance staff as well as coaches regarding progress of injured players on a regular basis

Assist in keeping accurate detailed records of all injuries (training and playing) including type of injuries, frequency of injuries and games missed.

Co-ordinate movement health and rehabilitation programmes of players 

Attend squad training and be available to give treatment at times suitable to you and the player

Provide match day physiotherapy and pitch side trauma cover for the Senior Team matches and training days as required.

Be trained and updated in acute pitch side care, including spinal injury, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Keep up to date on recent research in sports medicine and rugby related physiotherapy issues •

Collaborate with local universities on research projects of interest

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation.