When children’s services become involved with their child, young parents can sometimes feel that social workers are making all the decisions and that they and their families are not really being given much say.
To make it easier for families to be involved in making plans for their child, children’s services can offer families a family group conference (FGC). This is a planning meeting led by the family that is arranged by an independent person. FGCs are also sometimes called family group meetings.
The information on this page will tell you more about FGCs, when they can be used and how they can help you and your family to be more involved in making plans to keep your child safely cared for within their family.
What does an FGC involve?
An FGC brings different family members together to make a plan for the child that children’s services are worried about.
The process starts with a request (known as a ‘referral') for an FGC. This is likely to be made by a social worker but is sometimes made by other people too (e.g. a youth worker, a health visitor, a probation worker). The referral should include details about what problems the social worker thinks the family plan should try to tackle.
The FGC is arranged by an independent coordinator who meets everyone first to prepare for the family group conference. They should arrange first to meet with yourself (and the child’s other parent). They will then discuss with you who else in the family or your network (e.g. a helpful neighbour or you’re a trust friend) should be invited. They will then meet with them. The aim is to draw upon the child’s network to maximise the support that can be offered. Your child should also participate if they are old enough. The venue, time of day, primary language spoken and refreshments should all be determined by yourself and the family rather than social workers.
Social workers and other professionals only attend part of the family group conference and the family are also given time in private to draw up their plan. This ‘family plan’ should set out how the problems that social workers (or other professionals) have described can be tackled.
This diagram shows the different stages of the FGC conference process.
The family group conference meeting itself has three stages. You can read more about each stage of the meeting by clicking on the coloured boxes below. The FAQs at the end of this page will then give answers to some of the questions that young parents most often have about FGCs.
- Stage One – Information giving
- Stage Two – Private family time
- Stage Three – Plan presented and agreed
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Stage One – Information giving
At the start of the family group conference, the social worker should explain their worries about your child and what will happen if the family cannot agree a plan. It is also an opportunity for any relevant family concerns to be set out. The social worker should explain if there is anything that must be in the plan or anything that cannot be in the plan. They should also set out what support may be available. There may be other practitioners at this information giving stage to explain in more detail what help could be provided (for example, access to drug support services). The social worker (and any other professional present) then leave.
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Stage Two – Private family time
The family are given time in private to draw up their plan. Once the family have made a plan they will call the social worker(s) back into the meeting and move on to Stage Three. The coordinator will ask if everyone has agreed the plan. If everyone hasn't agreed, you may be given more private family time to work things through or a chance to meet again.
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Stage Three – Plan presented and agreed
The coordinator will then ask the family to explain their plan. They may also ask the family questions about some of the details of the plan.
The social worker who requested the FGC will then be asked whether they agree the plan. The plan should be agreed so long as it is legal, safe and addresses the concerns.
The social worker should also explain what help children’s services will provide to the family to help with the plan.
Once the plan is agreed the coordinator will ask the family if they would like a review meeting. These normally happen about 3 months after the original FGC but the timing should be agreed with the family.
Frequently asked questions about family group conferences
For even more information about family group conferences you can:
- Watch our helpful short films which use the fictional story of Carl and Susan to bring the family group conference process to life
- Take a look at Advice Sheet 3 on Family Rights Group's website which is all about FGCs. You can ask someone you trust to help you work through the advice sheet
- Or call Family Rights Group’s free advice line on 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am-3.00pm, excluding Bank Holidays) if you have questions or need further help and information about FGCs.