Family Support Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our innovative Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) Team as a Family Support Specialist.

We are looking for a dynamic, compassionate, and forward-thinking professional to work directly with parents involved in care proceedings. You will provide one-to-one and group interventions to support parents with substance misuse challenges, helping them make and sustain positive lifestyle changes through a trauma-informed approach.

About FDAC

FDAC is a problem-solving court designed to help families where children are at risk due to parental substance misuse. Unlike traditional proceedings, FDAC offers parents “a trial for change”—giving them the best possible chance to overcome their difficulties while ensuring children’s needs remain central. Cases are reviewed every fortnight by the same Judge, supported by a multi-disciplinary intervention team.

What You’ll Do

As a Family Support Specialist, you will:

• Assess parents and deliver tailored one-to-one and group interventions.
• Hold a caseload and contribute to comprehensive assessment reports.
• Work closely with a dynamic multi-disciplinary team and gain valuable experience within the court setting.
• Support families across Birmingham and Solihull on their journey toward positive change.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience working in therapeutic settings with vulnerable children and families.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and substance misuse interventions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including communication, sound judgment, and analytical thinking.
• Ability to work collaboratively with statutory bodies and voluntary agencies.

Benefits

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.