Research protocol: A randomized controlled trial of functional family therapy: An Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) partnership between Croydon Council and Queen's University Belfast

•Research protocol for randomized controlled trial (RCT) of functional family therapy.•Primary outcome is reduced offending/reoffending in young people.•RCT involving up to 154 families.•Funded by Economic & Social Research Council UK/Early Intervention Foundation.

The paper presents a protocol for ‘A randomized controlled trial of functional family therapy (FFT): an Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) partnership between Croydon Council and Queen's University Belfast’. The protocol describes a trial that uses FFT as an alternative intervention to current use of the youth justice system and local authority care with the aim of reducing crime/recidivism in young people referred to Croydon Council. The trial will take place over a period of 36 months and will involve up to 154 families. Croydon Council will employ a team of five Functional Family Therapists who will work with families to promote effective outcomes. The Centre for Effective Education at Queen's University Belfast will act as independent evaluators of outcomes for families and young people. The work is supported from the United Kingdom Economic & Social Research Council/Early Intervention Foundation Grant Number ES/M006921/1