Senior Social Worker - Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC)

Senior Social Worker - Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC)

About the role

The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) Team is a multi-disciplinary team providing expert independent assessment and support to families in care proceedings where drugs and or alcohol are a significant issue.

FDAC has an established track record of forming effective working relationships with parents to address problem drug and alcohol use so that children in our communities are provided with safe and secure care. It is a unique safeguarding role that provides an opportunity to work with a broad range of professionals and organisations, including being part of the growing national network of FDACs

You will be a part of a multi-disciplinary FDAC Team, ensuring effective collaboration with partner agencies. FDAC has an established track record of forming effective working relationships with parents to address problem drug and alcohol use so that children in our communities are provided with safe and secure care. It is a unique safeguarding role that provides an opportunity to work with a broad range of professionals and organisations, including being part of the growing national network of FDACs.

What will you be doing?

You will contribute to the provision of an emotionally safe space for parents to address their difficulties, achieve abstinence and become able to focus on their child and address the concerns about their parenting. Intervention is parent focused but child centred.

As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, you and your colleagues' practice would be enriched through collaborative support of each other and learning from each other's specialisms.

You will be part of a specialist team, undertaking assessments and making important and key recommendations for parents and children. You will work to support provision of timely and effective intervention. Your role will be to contribute to every child being able to grow up safely and reach their full potential.

You will be required to work in multidisciplinary and multi-agency settings; work with autonomy but equally closely with FDAC colleagues and partners.

You will be based in Northampton but there would be a requirement to travel across the county where necessary to support our families effectively

We welcome the opportunity to speak to any interested candidates so please feel free to email: and they can agree a mutually agreeable time to call you

About you

You are an experienced qualified Social Worker, registered with Social Work England.

You have experience of frontline Social Work and have worked within care proceedings, Child Protection and Child in Need. You are a good communicator, a team player and equally capable of individual practice.

Your work draws on specialist knowledge, skills and experience to support and develop practice. In this important and varied role, you will provide support and guidance to colleagues, including supporting new starters and mentoring some team members.

Working directly with parents you contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment, formulation and intervention planning. You undertake some key work and drug and alcohol screening of parents.

Attending FDAC lawyer and non-lawyer hearings you verbally update and advise the FDAC Judges.

You contribute to the development of team policies, procedures and practice, undertake scheduling activity, promote and maintain strong collaborative relationships with partner agencies and oversee feedback.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check

Our benefits

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.

We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

• SWE Registration paid yearly (social care colleagues)

• Recruitment Welcome Bonus of £6,000

• Relocation costs of up to £8,000

• 28 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years

• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.

• Opportunity to purchase up to 25 days annual leave

• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.

• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.

• Flexible and family working arrangements including enhanced maternity benefits

• A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions

• Extensive Learning & Development and career development opportunities

• Subsidised town centre car parking scheme

About us

At Northamptonshire Children's Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do - in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils.

Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be.

We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed.

At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.

Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.

Attached documents

• Job Description and Person specification