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home > news > fdac claims british medical journal 'working in partnership' award

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) recognised excellent teamwork between Coram and the Tavistock, awarding FDAC the prestigious ‘Working in Partnership’ award. The category pays tribute to "an outstanding project developed in partnership between separate organisations that has improved patient care".

 

FDAC’s joined-up approach was seen to conduct different agencies 'like an orchestra', to meet patient needs. A BMJ spokesperson said: “FDAC is involving the law, involving psychiatry, involving social workers, involving housing and in particular, and most impressively, involving ex-service users themselves.”

 

FDAC provides support to families trying to break the cycle of substance addiction. The court uses specialist judges who encourage and motivate parents as they progress through the programme, as well as a specialist team who work intensively with the families.

 

This is the fifth national award that the pioneering service has won in the past year. The annual British Medical Journal awards mark the highest level of achievement and reward excellent practice in the field of health. FDAC was also commended in the Government's Family Justice Review. 

 

Research has shown that FDAC has significantly higher rates of re-uniting families and parents ceasing substance misuse. It is estimated that FDAC saved the public purse £40,000 year.

 

A mother who used the service said: "FDAC has helped me be the sort of person I want to be. It helped me remain focused and motivated and instilled in me a real sense of achievement and confidence."

 

ENDS

 

Notes to the Editor

 

• The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) is commissioned by Camden, Islington and Westminster councils and is a service provided in collaboration between The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the UK children’s charity Coram.

 

• Coram, the UK’s first children’s charity, creates better chances for children through its work in adoption, creative therapies, parenting, health and social education and the Family Drug and Alcohol Court. Visit www.coram.org.uk

 

• The idea for the court came after research showed that two-thirds of all care proceedings initiated by Camden, Islington and Westminster are because of parental substance misuse.

 

• The Family Drug and Alcohol Court team has expertise across a wide range of disciplines. There are drug and alcohol treatment specialists, psychiatrists, nurses and social workers. The team provide a holistic approach, addressing the full range of parents' problems including addiction, parenting, debt, housing, relationships, mental health and domestic violence.