FGC Key Publications and research 

Family Group Conferences: Where Next? Policies and Practices for the Future

Editors: Ashley C and Nixon P.  Pub date November 2007
The Family Group Conferencing Reader can be ordered now, publication date November 2007. The reader, combines a series of essays from policy, research and practice perspectives. The diverse range of contributors means that the book, much like a family group conference, accommodates a wide range of voices. It is hoped the text will provide practitioners, managers and policy makers with some fresh ideas on how best to deliver and develop family group conference practices.
For further information click here.

Family Group Conference toolkit - a practice guide for setting up and running an FGC service

Editor: Cathy Ashley; Authors: Cathy Ashley, Liz Holton, Hilary Horan, Jane Wiffin (November 2006). The toolkit was published by Family Rights Group, Department for Education and Skills and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The toolkit is published for anyone who is interested in family group conferencing. It is a practical guide which aims to assist agencies to set up, sustain and develop effective family group conference (FGC) services. It is for:

• senior managers in local authorities and other agencies interested in involving children and families in decisions about their lives;
• FGC service staff and managers;
• social workers, family support workers, teachers and other practitioners who may refer children and families to an FGC service, or who can inform children and families about an FGC service in their area;
• social care academics and trainers; and
• children, young people and families who are interested in, have been invited to or have experienced an FGC.

In England and Wales, most FGC projects are focused on addressing child welfare and child protection concerns. The primary purpose of this toolkit is to support these existing projects to sustain and develop their services and to assist agencies to set up FGC projects focused on child welfare in localities where no project currently exists. However, as Chapter 5 illustrates, the FGC model can be used to find solutions to an array of problems affecting vulnerable adults, children and young people. We very much hope that the toolkit will encourage further innovative developments.

To order a copy of the FGC toolkit please download the order form

Principles and Practice Guidance

This guide was published 2002 by Barnardo's/ Family Rights Group/ NCH.

It contains guidance on 'What is a Family Group Conference?', 'Family Group Conferences - the Model' and 'Principles and Practice Guidance'.

An English and Welsh booklet are available for downloading off this website as pdf files. If you would like a hard copy please email office@frg.org.uk or phone on 020 7923 2628.

View English PDF file 'FGC Principles and Practice Guidance'

View Welsh PDF file 'Cynadleddau grwp i'r teulu Egwyddorion a chanllawiau ymarfer'.

Policy and Research

1. Guide on using Family Group Conferences for children who are, or may become, subject to care proceedings. Written for Courts, Lawyers, CAFCASS and CAFCASS CYMRU officers and Child Care Practitioners, the guide was developed by Family Rights Group in conjunction with the Family Group Conference Network and is endorsed by CAFCASS and the Family Justice Council. Click here to download 

2. Recording of information - good practice guide for FGC Services produced by Family Rights Group in consultation with the FGC Network. July 2008. Click here for guide 

3. Results of a web-based international survey on family group conference practices, P Nixon, G Burford and A Quinn, May 2005. Click here for the full report

4. Learning with families, a synposis of FGDM research and evaluation in child welfare, which summarises the messages, themes and findings of more than 25 family group decision-making research and evaluation studies, L Merkel-Holguin, P Nixon and G Burford courtesy of American Humane Assoc. Click here for the full report

5. Camden FGC Service: An Evaluation of Service Use and Outcomes, Kate Morris, University of Birmingham, September 2007. Click here for the full report.

6. Evaluation of Family Group Conferences in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Family and Children's Services. Executive Summary and Final Report, July 2008