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Senior Practitioner – Family Drug and Alcohol Court Team

Salary: Band F, £45,091 – £51,356 per annum. Pay award pending.

Full time, permanent

A Family Drug and Alcohol Court is an innovative approach to the problem of parental substance misuse (drugs or alcohol), domestic abuse and poor mental health which is having a negative impact on parenting capacity.

The model is of a specialist court operating within the framework of care proceedings. The specialist multidisciplinary FDAC team, which includes adult and child focussed clinicians, is attached to the court. It advises the court and links the parents into relevant local treatment services.

FDAC are looking for a Senior Practitioner to join our FDAC team. Employed by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, you will be part of the exciting journey of innovation and the development of FDAC across Birmingham and Solihull.

Purpose of the Role:

• Improve permanency outcomes for children
• Achieve higher rates of control/cessation of substance misuse
• Provide parents with a problem solving rather than adversarial approach
• To work with the courts as part of a specialist multidisciplinary team providing an accessible community based assessment and intervention service for high needs families with a history of substance misuse.

You’ll play a lead role on our relationship-based, family-led practice model, and providing technical and professional expertise, mentoring and quality assurance across the multi-agency partnership.

This is a key role in our Birmingham and Solihull FDAC, so naturally we’re looking for extensive experience of working with vulnerable children, families, statutory bodies and voluntary agencies. You’ll back all this up with excellent interpersonal skills – including communication, sound judgement, analytical thinking and team work.

To be considered for this post, you will also need to demonstrate:

• Professional social work qualification and Social Work England registration
• Extensive experience of working with vulnerable children and their families
• Experience of working closely with statutory and voluntary agencies
• Demonstrates current knowledge of professional social work practices
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the social work task
• Demonstrates experience and understanding of key legislation
• Evidence of supervising students and/or colleagues
• An ability to intervene effectively within situations of increasing complexity and challenge

In return, we offer:

• A range of flexible working options including a flexi-time scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlements with the opportunity to purchase up to 10-days additional leave per year
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24-hour independent, free and confidential advice and support service
• Family and carer friendly policies
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee benefits including staff discounts, subsidised travel passes and Cycle 2 Work Scheme

For an informal discussion about the post please contact:

Helen Davies FDAC Manager - Helen.Davies@Bham-SolFDAC.co.uk

Mobile Number: 07860 906073

Closing Date: 2 August 2026

Interviews will take place during week commencing 10 August 2026.

Further Information

Please note, previous applicants need not apply.

This post will require a DBS check.

This role does not offer sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship.

This is an essential car user post as the demands of the job make it operationally essential and there is a contractual requirement to make a suitable vehicle available to ensure the requirements of the job can be carried out effectively.

Applicants must be able to drive, have a driving licence and be a car owner or have use of a car, however for disabled applicants, reasonable adjustments will be made where required.

This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.

Please note: As part of our compliance and safer recruitment requirements, references will be sought for all successful candidates following interview. A reference must be provided by the candidate’s current or most recent employer or training provider. Where this does not cover the last three years, an additional reference will be required from the candidate’s next most recent employer or training provider. Posts subject to statutory regulation may require additional scrutiny. Personal/character references will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.