A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a meeting to bring family members, friends and anybody else important to the family together, with the aim of making things better and safer for the family concerned. An FGC Practitioner will visit you at home to discuss the aims of the meeting and what to expect, you can of course ask any questions you may have.
They will help you make a list of people who should attend, and when and where the meeting should be held. The practitioner will then contact the people invited to make sure that they understand the process and are involved as meaningfully as possible.
At the meeting
An FGC has three main stages:
- information giving – everyone talks about the issues and concerns. Both workers and family members are involved
- private family time – the workers leave the meeting and the family decide upon a plan
- agreeing the plan – the family and workers agree the plan
After the meeting
The plan that you have all made will be drawn up by the practitioner and shared with everybody involved. An FGC review might be booked to review progress and any differences the plan has made. This will also be a chance to make any changes needed to the plan, or to think about what needs to happen if the plan has not worked as intended.
Family Group Conferencing could help your family
The meeting is your chance to come together as a group to make things better for your family. The meeting will be supported by an independent facilitator, who will help you all to discuss the details and hopefully make a plan of support and protection. The important thing to remember is that this is your meeting, you and your group will be given all the information you need to make a plan that will work best for you all. An FGC is an opportunity for families to come up with their own solutions and make decisions about the care and wellbeing of the children in their family. The meeting takes place at a neutral venue
Examples of when an FGC may be held;
- when a child might be at risk of harm and a family plan is needed to help keep them safe
- when children can no longer live with their parents and an alternative is needed
- when families need extra support to cope in any way
How we involve children
It is very important each child or young person is involved as much as possible. Children or young people may choose to attend some or all of the meeting, or they may prefer for a worker, family member or advocate to share their views.
The advocate
An advocate is an independent person who listens to the thoughts and feelings of a child or vulnerable person. They do not give advice or offer opinions. They represent the child’s views and make sure their voice is heard and they can if asked to, provide support so the child feels confident to speak out.
If you think Family Group Conferencing could benefit you and your family, ask your Early Help Family Support Worker or Social Worker to refer you.
Contact details
01709 255361