NetCare have become the leading independent training and consultancy organisation for Family Group Conference in the UK and Ireland. We are now the largest provider of accredited courses for Family Group Conference providing consultancy and training to organisations in Local Authority, the Voluntary Sector and Community since 200 involving personnel from Child Care, Education, community, probation and Youth Offending. We also worked with agencies and organisations in the voluntary, community and statutory sectors.
The Background to Family Group Conferences
The concept of Family Group Conference originates from New Zealand and is grounded in the Maori culture. During the 1980’s the Maori people began to express their concerns regarding the practices of the Department of Welfare (Social Services).
They highlighted in particular: -
- Disproportionately high numbers of Maori children in care.
- Heavy over representation of Maori families on Social Worker caseloads.
- A need to challenge the placement of Maori children with white European families.
- Virtually no Maori Social Workers.
- Institutionalised racism.
The Department of Social Welfare had asked the Maori Advisory Unit to present a report on Social Services. Their findings confirmed that the service was mono-cultural and that institutional racism resulted from this, Wilcox et al, 1991. The report made thirteen recommendations all of which were accepted by the government. The State, faced with the challenge, had to broaden the definition of the family in line with Maori traditions and culture and in doing so developed a unique way of working with families, which was unprecedented. A process then evolved that sought to hand power back to the families and work in a more culturally sensitive way. It facilitated family decision-making and became known as ‘Family Group Conference’.
Family Group Conference and UK Development
The 1989 Children Act (England & Wales) like the New Zealand Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989 has some similar principles which underpin and inform the development of how Social Workers interact and work with children and families. The UK programme like its counterpart focused on these principles:
• Safeguarding children and promoting their welfare
• Parental responsibility
• Partnership
• Family support
• Contact between the child and the family
• Reuniting children with their families
• Respect for race, culture, language and religion
Read more on this section click on FGC guide
The Family Group Conference model
A Family Group Conference is a structured decision making meeting made up of ‘family’ members. ‘Family’ is determined broadly, to include the child/ren, parents, extended family and even significant friends and neighbours to the family who may not actually be blood related. This group of people are given ‘private’ time to reach a plan to facilitate the safe care and protection of a child or children in need. The professional is involved in information giving at the beginning of the process and in the assessment of the plan following a decision. All professionals are excluded from the private time, which is attended by family members only.
Family Group Conferences are used to make plans for children in a number of different contexts: Child Welfare, Youth Offending, Education Welfare, Domestic Violence, Children as Young Carers, Foster Breakdown, Adoption, Disability and in Mental Health etc. There would appear to be no particular area of work where this process is unsuitable. Some areas such as; Child Protection and Youth Offending have used the process extensively, whilst others such as; Education Welfare, Adoption and Adult services are still at the exploration stage.
To read about:
Family Group Conference principles
Key Elements of a Family Group Conference
The Family Group Conference process
The key five stages
Click on FGC Beginners Guide
FGC Referral Criteria
Getting the referral criteria right is very important. The following document is a guideline for child care projects. Referral Guidelines
Family Group Conference Practice Guidelines
Many projects fail through lack of proper procedures and guidelines. Good practice is key to good outcomes. The following document is a guide line to better practices. Practice Guidelines
Evaluation Report 2006
Barking and Dagenham started their project in October 2004. The evaluation report covered the first year of the project and makes for interesting reading especially if you want to set up a project. B&D Report 2006
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