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Problem-Solving Courts

by Owen Donovan

October 8, 2026

in Issues, Social Justice

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Image Source: Centre for Child & Family Justice Research

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Problem-Solving Courts

Is this devolved to Wales?

Where is this happening?

What's happening?

Why is this happening?

Who has been affected?

What's happening?

Why is this happening?

Who has been affected?

Charts (if needed)

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Souce text, source text, source text.

£ 234,000 Thomas Commission figure in 2019, adjusted for inflation

18,000 - estimated cost of an FDAC case

Who has raised this at the Senedd?

Delyth Jewell MS

Deputy Minister for Social Care

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd MS

Backbencher

Thomas Montgomery MS

Shadow Skills Minister

Louise Emery MS

Shadow Culture Minister

Art Wright MS

Backbencher

Natasha Asghar MS

Backbencher

Jane Dodds MS

Backbencher

Delyth Jewell MS

Deputy Minister for Social Care

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd MS

Backbencher

Thomas Montgomery MS

Shadow Skills Minister

Louise Emery MS

Shadow Culture Minister

Art Wright MS

Backbencher

Natasha Asghar MS

Backbencher

Jane Dodds MS

Backbencher

What are the party positions on this?

Plaid Cymru backbenchers supported the members motion, believing problem-solving courts make a positive impact on families.

Let me tell you about what that (FDAC) actually did. A judge who heard your case properly, rather than whoever happened to be sitting that day. A team of people around you who were there to help, not to judge. Parents were given a chance to get clean while the case was still running, instead of being watched and measured and found wanting. And when it worked, a child stayed at home. They were not moved, not placed, not separated from their brothers and their sisters—at home with a mother who had been given the help that she so desperately needed. Everywhere else, these cases take about a year. Think about what a year is to a three-year-old. It is a sixth of everything they have ever known spent waiting to be told where they are going to live.

Reform UK supports the rollout of problem-solving courts, believing they can help address addiction problems.

Unlike standard proceedings, FDAC uses a trauma-informed approach, which includes listening to parents without judgment, focusing on parents' strengths and the resources that they currently have available to them, and allowing flexibility. Parents are given a key worker from the FDAC team and a judge who provides them with support and a problem-solving approach. There is weekly substance misuse testing, which involves the parents, and fortnightly non-lawyer reviews with consistent legal monitoring that creates a forum for judges and professionals to problem solve with the parents, set clear goals and delegate tasks for the following two weeks.

Mothers reunited through FDAC were more than likely to still be off drugs or alcohol five years on. This is not a performance for the courtroom. This is a life rebuilt. Even when children cannot go home, FDAC keeps parents in treatment so that they can still play a healthy part in their children's lives, so the next baby does not end up in court and maybe taken away from the family.

What strikes me about family drug and alcohol courts is that they do not lower the standards or compromise children's safety; they do the exact opposite. They recognise the best way to protect children, and it's often to address the root causes that place families in crisis and not simply manage the consequences. The evidence presented today shows that, when parents receive intensive support to overcome addiction and address traumas, and child benefit too, more parents successfully stop misusing drugs and alcohol, more families achieve stability, and more children are able to remain safely or return safely to their parents and family.

Labour MSs haven’t spoken on this but backed the member’s motion in October 2026.

Test Test Test

The Conservatives believe problem-solving courts would save public money when compared to care proceedings.

As well as bringing family benefits, it also fits into the Government's preventative health agenda and can deliver savings to the public purse long term. According to the Centre for Justice Innovation, these courts have the potential to save local authorities nearly £10,000 per case in legal costs compared to the standard care proceedings. The Department for Education echoed these findings with their own analysis, concluding that family drug and alcohol courts generate significant savings whilst also achieving significantly better outcomes for children and families.

Green MSs haven’t spoken on this, but voted in favour of the member’s motion in October 2026.

Test Test Test

Jane Dodds believes problem-solving courts would help parents facing care proceedings stand a better chance of keeping their children with them.

We know that the best place for a child is with their parents. But imagine if you were a parent, possibly with a care background, possibly experiencing mental health difficulties, stressed, living in poverty. I've described it as you are trying desperately to get up the escalator that is coming down—you have very little chance....You don't mean to get addicted, but it happens. You have your own children, and you can't look after them. Social services....then become involved. As a parent, you fight....But you have no resources. You have no services that work with you. Instead, services make you jump through hoops. More stress, more drugs, more alcohol.

Who is responsible?

Delyth Jewell MS

Deputy Minister for Social Care

What have ministers said?

Of course, the evaluation also noted that there were many barriers and complications associated with the courts model. That is particularly true in Wales due to the combination of devolved and non-devolved responsibilities. The commission also recommended that the law relating to children and family justice in Wales should be brought together under one coherent legal system that is compatible with functions in the areas of health, education and welfare.

Drug and alcohol family courts offer a model of intensive support for families once court proceedings have been initiated. But in Wales, our Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 already includes a similar model, namely the integrated family support service. This intervenes earlier by providing intensive support to families with multiple needs. This model has evolved and different forms of it can be found across Wales. I therefore intend to review this service and have an open discussion about which elements work well and what needs to work better.

What's being done about this?

What do the Welsh Government want to do?

Does this need a new law or regulations?

How long will this take?

What do the Welsh Government want to do?

Does this need a new law or regulations?

How long will this take?

What have the Senedd's Committees said?

Nothing has been discussed yet.

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Relevant Votes

Date	Motion Number	Subject	Tabled As	Binding Vote?	Votes For	Abstentions	Votes Against	Absent/No Vote	Outcome
07/10/26	NDM9297	Support the roll-out of Family Drug & Alcohol Courts		No	71	16	0	6	AGREED

Further Reading

Commission on Justice in Wales (October 2019). p 320-340 (pdf)
Cardiff University, School of Psychology (March 2024). “Evaluation of the Family Alcohol & Drug Court pilot in Wales“

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Tags: CON-04 LD-01 National PC-13 PC-13-M PC-44 RF-11 RF-23 RF-25 SJ 07