The FFT-EFH study: An evaluation of functional family therapy for child criminal exploitation, county lines involvement and extra-familial harm

Not Applicable

Conditions: This therapy aims to address severe behavioural problems and offending behaviour in adolescents who are at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), gang involvement, County Lines involvement and other Extra-Familial Harm (EFH).
Not Applicable

Registration Number: ISRCTN88238231

Lead Sponsor: niversity of Greenwich

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Ongoing

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 288

Inclusion Criteria

ONE OR MORE OF:
Known to services due to concerns in the last 12 months around:
1.Child sexual exploitation (CSE)
2.Child criminal exploitation (CCE)
3.Missing (from home or care) episodes
4.Potential or actual gang or CLDN affiliation as identified by police or other statutory service
5.Repeated school exclusion or absence
6.Involvement as a perpetrator or victim of youth violence or criminality

TWO OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING (OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS):
7.Family conflict or inadequate supervision
8.Associating with antisocial peers
9.Concerns about alcohol or drug use

AND EITHER
10.Index child/young person is living at home 50% or more each week.
OR
11.Index child/young person is currently in an out of home placement, but with a clear return home plan (discussed on a case-by-case basis).
AND
12.Caregiver(s) and index child/young person are willing to engage in family therapy.

Exclusion Criteria

1.Index child/young person is actively homicidal, suicidal, or psychotic.
2.Problem sexual behaviour is the central concern.
3.Presence of organic and/or cognitive conditions that may have prevented family members making use of talking therapy.
4.Key family members, defined as major players” in FFT-G, refuse family-based therapy.
5.Significant child protection concerns: basic needs of children are not being met.
6.Family have plans to move out of borough, thereby making therapy unfeasible within five months.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Offending is measured using the International Self-Report Delinquency Study 4 survey offending scale (ISRD4; Marshall et al., 2022), completed by YP at baseline, post-treatment (6 months after randomisation) and follow-up (12 months after randomisation).

Secondary Outcome Measures