An Evaluation of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court in NI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Evaluation of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court in The Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland
IRAS ID
256296
Contact name
Anne Campbell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
QUB
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
B18/44,
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) is one of 5 problem solving justice initiatives. The overarching objective of the pilot phase of the FDAC is to establish whether a problem solving approach to care proceedings can lead to better outcomes for families in terms of levels of substance misuse and children remaining in the family. To aid a determination in that regard, qualitative research aims to ascertain the views of professionals and service users on the problem solving approach to care proceedings. It will also consider the views of participants on the impact of the problem solving approach on outcomes, focusing on their well-being and the well-being of their children at the end of proceedings (to include levels of substance misuse and other difficulties experienced by the family e.g. health problems, parenting skills, familial relationships and self-efficacy alongside perceptions of fairness and transparency and acceptance of the decision of the court.
Qualitative data will be obtained through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. All FDAC participants subject to a treatment plan will be invited to take part in the study with the expectation that the parents of approximately 25 families accessing the service will be involved. Participant parents will be interviewed on an individual basis and wherever feasible, efforts will be made to engage parents at the beginning and end of their involvement in the FDAC programme. It is also intended that the FDAC Judge, lay magistrates, FDAC Team and the Assistant Director of Family Support and Safeguarding, SHSCT will be asked for views through individual interviews . In addition, it is anticipated three interest specific focus groups will be held to garner the views of professionals interacting with the FDAC court:
• SHSCT Social Workers and DLS;
• GALs and VOYPIC; and
• Parents legal representatives.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
19/NI/0027
Date of REC Opinion
1 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion