Help us build a national picture of family group conferences

[Jsewell_FRG]

A new report published this week has found that different local authorities collect different types of data about family group conferences in their area.
This results in a patchy national picture about who is offered family group conferences and the impact they have for the children involved.
Some children and parents appear particularly impacted. For instance, we hear from care experienced young parents where social workers have incorrectly assumed they had no family or friends to draw on.

This is particularly relevant in light of the new Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which includes a new mandate on local authorities to offer family group decision making.

This week, Foundations, Coram and Family Rights Group are launching a new national data collection of local authorities in England.

The survey will collect aggregated data at a local authority level which will be used to understand how many families are offered an FGC and whether there is variation in those that are offered an FGC and those that take it up. This data will be critical in informing the support offered to local authorities as they roll out family-group decision-making, following the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The data collection will run until 4 April 2025.

Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive of Family Rights Group,says:

'This important research is about building an accurate and detailed picture about when and how FGCs are offered across the country. It’s critical for ensuring the new national family group decision making offer and future policy changes will have real, lasting impact.'

To read the report and find out more about the research, please visit our website: https://frg.org.uk/news-blogs-and-vlog ... ferences/.

The data collection guidance document and template are attached. If you have any queries about the project, please email impactandevaluation@coram.org.uk.

Jordene
Family Rights Group

[Jsewell_FRG]

The deadline for data collection has now been extended until Thursday 17th April. If you would like to take part, please complete the template attached to the above post and return to impactandevaluation@coram.org.uk.

Thank you,
Jordene
Family Rights Group