Evaluating Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in 10–17-year-olds coming into contact with the police

INTERVENTION: Participants in the intervention arm will receive Brief Solution Focused Therapy (SFBT) alongside services as usual. SFBT is a six‐session manualised intervention, delivered face‐to‐face bi‐weekly over 12 weeks, on a one‐to‐one basis, that helps people to change by focus on building solutions rather than getting stuck thinking about problems. Through a programme of SFBT, it is hoped that children and young people can be diverted away from the criminal justice system, reducing their risk of serious youth violence. The si Xsessions are detailed below. The intervention will be delivered from month si Xto 19 of the trial. The therapists have been recruited from the existing Liaison and Diversion workforce within LSCFT. Practitioners are from a health and social care skill mi Xand are in band 5 / 6 clinical roles as per Agenda for Change. All three practitioners recruited to support the trial already have experience in supporting children through custody. For the trial, they have then undertaken 36 hours of SFBT training, facilitated by the same training provider at the same time. Children will be offered a choice of where to participate in the sessions, but choice will be limited to home, school, LSCFT clinical site, community clinic e.g. youth centre. Si Xsessions will be included and will last no less than 15 minutes and no more than one hour each. The si Xsessions will be facilitated over a 12‐week period. Sessions will be no more frequent than once a week and no less frequent that bi‐weekly‐ this should allow for sickness / absence and inconsistent engagement. Existing fidelity measures are to be adapted. Usual practice arm Participants in the usual practice arm will receive service CONDITION: Offending behavior ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: Antisocial behaviours are measured using the Self Report Delinquency Measure (CYP completed) at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post randomisation. SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Criminal offence data are collected from the Police National Computer over the 6‐month period prior to the commencement of treatment, and at 12‐months post randomisation.; 2. Emotional and behavioural difficulties are measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent completed and CYP completed) at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post randomisation.; 3. Gang Affiliation is measures using The Gang Affiliation Risk Measure (CYP completed) at baseline and 12 months post randomisation.; 4. Details of other therapies received will be collected (parent completed for under 16s and CYP completed for 16+) at baseline and 12 months post randomisation.; ; Potential moderators:; In addition to the primary and secondary outcomes, we have considered that the following outcomes may moderate the outcomes of this trial.; 1. Callous and Unemotional Traits will be measured using the 24‐item Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits (parent completed and CYP completed) at baseline and 12 months post randomisation.; 2. Learning disabilities (LD): Children and young people will be invited to complete two subtests of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence‐II (WASI‐II; Wechsler, 2011) to inde Xtheir Verbal Comprehension Inde Xat baseline only. We are also including a closed question asking if the child has a learning disability (parent completed for under 16s and CYP completed for 16+).; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Aged between 10 to 17 years 2. Referred to the L&D team by the police