A family group conference is a process led by family members to plan and make decisions for a child who is a risk. Children and young people are normally involved in their own family group conference, although often with support from an advocate. It is a voluntary process and families cannot be forced to have a family group conference.
Families are assisted by an independent family group conference coordinator to prepare for the meeting. They have the chance to get the information they need from a social worker and others professionals and then meet on their own to make a plan for their children. The family should be supported to carry out the plan, unless it is not safe. Read more about the family group conference process.
Three quarters of local authorities In England and Wales run or commission family group conferences for children in their area. However, only a small minority of councils routinely offer families a family group conference before a young child is taken into care.
The origins of family group conferences and in what situations are they used?
The family group conference approach originated in New Zealand. Family group conferences are now used in over 20 countries in the world. We are key players in the European family group conference Network.
Family Rights Group led the introduction of family group conferences in England and Wales, and runs the National Family Group Conference Network.
Family group conferences can be used in any serious situation where a plan and decision needs to be made about a vulnerable adult or child. In the United Kingdom family group conferences are mainly used in child welfare, particularly when a child is at risk of going into care, although some areas are using the approach to tackle youth exclusions, anti-social behaviour, criminal justice and in planning for vulnerable adults.
What is the evidence the family group conferences work?
Family group conference are effective in making safe plans for children, enabling many to stay within their family network as an alternative to going into care and are cost effective, often preventing children unnecessarily entering into care. Our publications and research section pulls together the latest evidence on family group conferences.
How can I find out contact details about my local family group conference?
The FGC projects section gives contact details of local family group conference projects. If your local authority does not have a family group conference project and you think it would really help your child’s situation, then you could ask them to spot purchase a family group conference.
What does Family Rights Group offer existing family group conference projects or local authorities wanting to set up a service?
We run the national Family Group Conference network, which offers regular opportunities for networking, expert workshops, newsletters, a practitioner message board and more. We have led on the development of family group conference standards, including family group conference principles, a toolkit for setting up family group conference services and practice guides including one on family group conferences and the courts. We are working with the Network to trial an accreditation scheme for family group conference projects.
We run an extensive training and events programme for family group conference co-ordinators and projects, and have pioneered an accredited post graduate certificate for co-ordinators with the University of Chester.
We also offer a free consultancy day to local authorities in England who want to set up a sustainable family group conference service.
