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Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Independent Coordinator's Role
3. Circumstances where a Family Group Conference should be Considered
4. Process
5. Practice Issues

1. Introduction

A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a decision-making meeting. It is arranged and run by an Independent Coordinator.

‘Family’ is defined broadly, to include the child, parents, extended family and significant others. At the FGC, the family will be given ‘private planning time’ to produce their plan for the care and protection of the child –.

FGC's are based on the principles of partnership as defined in the Children Act 1989. They are a means of enabling families to find solutions to their own difficulties within a professionally supportive framework. The process aims to make use of the family’s strengths and resources, and seeks to respect each family’s own values and culture.

Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) supports FGC’s as “a positive option for planning services for children and their families”.

While it is recognised that families are currently offered packages of support and care, experience has concluded that it is the process of the FGC that makes a difference to the outcome, i.e. families feeling empowered if in control of the decisions.

When a referrer discusses this model with a family you will need to be clear that the Independent Coordinator will contact all key family members and invite them to the Family Group Conference. Parents or care givers cannot select which family members are invited or informed. This is to challenge any collusion there may be within the family system. If the parent/parents cannot agree to this, the Family Group Conference cannot proceed.

The parent/s and/or those with Parental Responsibility will need to consent to share information openly at the FGC; this is done with the use of a report, which will include the reasons for the meeting, what the referring agency is concerned about, what the child’s needs are, what resources could be available to the family and the non-negotiable position (the ‘bottom line’ should the family not be able to plan). Without the family’s consent to share this report and the information within it, the FGC cannot proceed.

2. The Independent Coordinator’s Role

The Independent Coordinator’s role is to meet with child and family and map out who is ‘significant to them’, (‘family’ used in the wider context of the word). The Coordinator will help facilitate a family meeting, which will involve the Coordinator, referrer, and possibly other professionals who hold relevant information. They will organise the venue and agree dates with the family and the professionals. They will ensure the family understands the cause for concern via the report, and the purpose of the meeting. They will ask the referrer to explain to the family what the main issues of concern are and, in social worker referred cases, what constitutes unacceptable care of the child in child protection cases and the actions that will be taken if the child continues to be placed at risk of Significant Harm.

The Independence of the Coordinator allows successful participation, as throughout the process they remain independent of any case management issues and work within their clearly defined role.

3. Circumstances where a Family Group Conference should be Considered

Children’s Social Workers

• Where children are being considered as in need of accommodation or are at risk of becoming Accommodated - referral by Team Manager and social Worker
• Where children are being considered for Initial or Review Child Protection Case Conferences, or at any time when a child’s name is subject to a Child Protection Plan - referral by Team Manager and social Worker
• At a Planning Meeting which is considering children already looked after (including children in out of County placements) – referral by Service Manager and Team Manager
• At a Looked After Review - referral by Team Manager and social Worker                      
• At a Care Proceedings Panel meetings – referral by Service Manager, Team Manager and Legal Services
• Other situations affecting the care of children to be considered on a case-to-case basis, e.g. contact arrangements (including some     private family proceedings where the Local Authority is involved at the request of the Court, e.g. Section 37 Reports) – referrals by Service Manager in consultation with Legal Services
• Children subject to Interim Care Orders – referral by Team Manager and social worker Where ongoing family support has been assessed as being needed - referral by Team Manager and social worker
• Where the Care Plan indicates that neither parent would be a suitable carer, and alternative carers are being sought - referral by Service Manager, Team Manager and Legal Services.  An FGC should be considered alongside adoption and, in appropriate cases, long term fostering as alternatives.

Other Circumstances

• When a child is at risk of exclusion from school - School/ Behaviour Support Managers through Integrated Support Services               
• Unauthorised absences – referral by the school                  
• Any long term absences that give rise to concern – referral by the school
• When a child is at risk of further offending – referral by YOT Officer

4. Process

1. Leaflets about FGC model should be left with all families who fall into the target area. At this point no decision will have been taken about appropriateness of referral. (Leaflets available from FGC Service)
2. Agree that the child’s circumstances fit within the target area. Referrer and Manager
3. If considered appropriate by referrer and manager, family will have the process fully explained to them with reference to the Leaflet. The referrer will answer any questions that arise. Consultation from FGC Service is available to support referrers in this. A home visit to the family to explain the process can be requested by the referrer.
4. Where there is agreement, referrer should contact FGC Service to discuss/make referral.
5. If a referral is accepted in principle, referrer completes referral form making clear required timescales, i.e. to fit with Court/Review/Planning Meeting/etc.
6. Issues of race/culture/language/religion must be clearly stated by the referrer to enable a suitable match with Coordinators (or ways to achieve this).           
7. Once referral is accepted, a Coordinator will be appointed by the FGC Manager.
8. The FGC Coordinator will contact the referrer and arrange an initial referral meeting with them and their manager (if resources, need to be approved).  Referrer to clarify areas to be addressed, e.g. specific areas of risk, how the Coordinator is to be introduced to the family or the child, the means of ongoing communication throughout Family Group Conference process and a clear breakdown of each professional role and responsibilities. 
9. The referrer may be asked by the family (through the Coordinator) to write a clear, jargon free report will be written highlighting the main issues for the family to consider, what resources there are, and what is non-negotiable.  The contents must be agreed with persons with Parental Responsibility or young people if Gillick Competent, and they must agree to the Family Group Conference Service, sharing the report with people invited to the meeting.
10. The referrer will facilitate availability of information for family from all involved agencies.                            
11. The Coordinator should, on his/her introduction, be clear to the family where their Family Plan will be agreed, and how long after the FGC this information will be made available from the referrer e.g. in Child Protection cases where the child’s name is subject to a Child Protection Plan.
12. The FGC Service will send a copy of the plan (with the family's agreement) to any involved Independent Chair or Independent Reviewing Officer.

The referrer will take up any unforeseen matters arising during the process - complaints etc.      

During the process any issues brought to the Coordinator’s attention by the family requiring a decision will be passed back to the referrer for action/decision.  If during the Coordinator’s contact with the family he/she identifies any child protection issues, these must be taken back to the referrer for action/decision.

In Care Proceedings, if any alternative family member is offering to care for a child, this proposed placement would need to be fully assessed.  The child's social worker has responsibility to organise any such assessment

5. Practice Issues

5.1	The 'Family' must fully understand the process they are considering, including information about confidentiality, child protection, previous criminal convictions and what support services may be available.
5.2	The Carers/Family and practitioners must fully appreciate and be clear that family plans must address identified issues of risk, i.e. the outcome must be that children are safe and not likely to suffer future Significant Harm, if the family plan is to be accepted.
5.3	Carers and children must agree to the above and the referral being made.
5.4	All referring professionals must inform other agency workers that a referral is being made, and that they may be expected to undertake a presentation and the Coordinator may contact them. (Leaflets for professionals explaining the process and their role within it are available on request from the FGC Service). The Coordinator will aim to meet with all professionals as part of the preparation for the FGC.
5.5	Referrers must be clear with families what the purpose of the FGC is; what is non-negotiable in relation to their service's view for the child and the consequences which will occur should the family not be able to meet the 'bottom line', e.g. families need to know if an application for Care Proceedings will be considered if no change is able to be made within the family.  The immediate family (i.e. parents/carers  must be aware of this prior to the FGC so that there is no new information that they have to deal with in the FGC itself.
5.6	Practitioners must remain child-focused. A child who is of sufficient age and understanding to grasp the central premise of FGC process must be given a voice. Where there is conflict between carers and children about a referral for a FGC there must be a period of consultation/mediation in an attempt to reach consensus. Where this fails and a child is Looked After, legal process may need to be considered and legal advice sought, i.e. it may be possible through the use of legal means for a FGC to be held which involves significant people in the child's life but perhaps not the parents.
5.7	In the above unusual circumstances, carers must be encouraged to contribute and should be enabled to do so e.g. by video, letter, tape, telephone or a video conference facility.
5.8	Any family member offering alternative care to a child will need to be assessed; this is part of the case management and is the responsibility of the child's social worker.
5.9	The referrer must undertake to keep the case open whilst there is a review FGC pending and agree to contact the Coordinator if they are considering closing the case.
5.10	The referrer must undertake to inform the Coordinator/FGC service  if the case is to transfer where the case is pending a further FGC.

End