Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) Specialist Team

The London Borough Of Merton has been working with the London Boroughs of Merton, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Kingston, Lambeth, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton and Wandsworth (The Pan-London FDAC Partnership) to develop a FDAC service to prevent children and young people entering the care system. The purpose of this specification is to outline the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) service required across the Pan-London partnership.

The service aims to achieve better outcomes for vulnerable children at risk from harm caused by parental substance misuse, domestic violence and/or mental health. The service will run for an initial two year contract period, with two possible one year extensions.

The service will deliver a flexible bespoke multidisciplinary support service. The service will support treatment regimens for parents and this will involve coordinating a range of services so that the families' needs, concerns and strengths are all taken into account with everyone working towards the best possible outcomes for the children. The service will adhere to the following principles of care: • Service users have the right to dignity, privacy and independence; • Respect for the service user and his or her way of life; • Maintaining a confidential service; • Involving service users in decisions relating to the service.