Family Group Conferencing
'A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a decision making and planning process whereby the wider family group makes plans and decisions for children and young people who have been identified either by the family themselves or by service providers as being in need of a plan that will safeguard and promote their welfare.’
What is a Family Group Conference?
• A Family Group Conference is a meeting which brings together families members and professionals, to make good and safe plans for children.
• It is a child centred and family focused decision making meeting.
• A Family Group Conference will always ensure that the child’s voice is heard and the child’s wishes and feelings are listened to.
• It relies on the goodwill, concern and resources of family members, combined with community resources, to reduce the concerns for a child by making and implementing a plan which keeps a child safe from harm.
• A Family Group Conference should be dominated by family members and not professionals.
• It should be chaired by an independent coordinator.
• Families should be consulted about times and dates and venues for the meeting; children and families should see it as their meeting not the professionals meetings.
• Advocates should always be offered to ensure all voices are heard.
• The meeting should be solution focused.
• These elements, as outlined in the Practice and Principles Guidance for Family Group Conferencing should result in families being empowered to lead in decision making throughout their meeting.
You can make a referral to the service by using the form below.
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