FDAC Mental Health Specialist

Mental Health Specialist Intervention Worker in the Family Drug & Alcohol Court (FDAC) Team.

SALARY: £42,839 - £51,356

RESPONSIBLE TO: FDAC Manager

LOCATION: Stirchley, Birmingham, West Midlands.

HOURS OF WORK: 36.5 Hours

CLOSING DATE: 17th October 2025

Do you want to achieve the following aims?

• Improve permanency outcomes for children

• Achieve higher rates of control/cessation of substance misuse

• Provide parents with a problem solving rather than adversarial approach

If so, you may be interested in an exciting opportunity that has arisen for a Mental Health Specialist in the Family Drug and Alcohol Court Team. This is an exciting opportunity where we are being supported by the Centre for Justice who are the national leaders for change within care proceedings. Birmingham and Solihull FDAC are one of 14 FDAC’s nationally.

The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) help families where children are put at risk by parental substance misuse. FDAC is a problem-solving court where the same Judge reviews the case every fortnight and is supported by an independent multi-disciplinary intervention team. FDAC work focuses on the parents while keeping the child central. Parents are given ‘a trial for change’ that provides them with the best possible chance to overcome their problems. At the same time FDAC tests whether the family can make enough change in a timescale compatible with the children’s needs.

FDAC achieved significantly better outcomes than normal proceedings in an independent evaluation led by Lancaster University:

• More parents addressed their problems by the end of the proceedings.
• 40% of FDAC mothers were no longer misusing substances, compared to 25% of the comparison mothers.
• 25% of FDAC fathers were no longer misusing substances, compared to 5% of the comparison fathers.
• More children remained with or returned to their parents at the end of proceedings. 35% of FDAC mothers stopped misusing and were reunited with their children, compared to 19% of the comparison mothers.

Within the last three years Birmingham and Solihull FDAC have evidenced that:

• 69% of children were reunited with one or both parents or family and friends
• 63% of parents had not had a lapse or relapse
• 52% of parents had achieved abstinence
• 26% had returned to employment, education or volunteering
• 97% of parents had no further arrests or cautions during proceedings or during the post-FDAC support period.

We are looking for a Mental Health Specialist who has experience in clinical/therapeutic settings to undertake specialist assessments and one to one and group interventions to join our team. You will become part of the established team on this exciting journey of innovative practice across Birmingham and Solihull.

This is a specialist role in our Birmingham and Solihull FDAC, so naturally we’re looking for experience of working with vulnerable children, families, statutory bodies and voluntary agencies. Possible court experience and experience is clinical using tools and assessing individual mental and physical health needs. You’ll back all this up with excellent interpersonal skills – including communication, sound judgement, analytical thinking and teamwork.

Interviews will take place on :Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th October 2025

For an informal discussion about the post please contact:

Helen Davies FDAC Manager

Mobile Number: 07860906073

Email Address- Helen.Davies@Bham-SolFDAC.co.uk

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the job early should we reach the required number of applications, therefore please ensure you submit your application and supporting statement early to avoid any disappointment.