Family Group Conferences

What is a Family Group Conference?

A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a family led decision making process in which a family and friends network come together to make an agreed plan for the children involved. The FGC process is entirely voluntary and is facilitated by a coordinator who is also independent of any decision making.

The central aim of a FGC is to give families and their children a central role in decision making, and to keep children within the family network and out of the care system if safe to do so

FGCs can help identify strengths in a family network which can help support parents and carers. The basic principle of FGCs is to work in partnership to create a plan which is in the best interests of the children in the family. FGCs may identify where a Family Network Support Package (FNSP) might be helpful as a way of providing financial or practical support for a family.

Guidance for Families

The Wirral FGC Team have developed a guide for families who are or who are thinking about having an FGC. The guide can be accessed by clicking on the image below:

There is also a guide for children and young people:

The Family Rights Group, who are experts in the field of FGCs have developed detailed guidance and frequently asked questions for families which can be accessed on their website:
Family group conferences: advice for families – Family Rights Group (opens in a new tab)

Wirral’s FGC Service

FGC

The FGC will coordinate and facilitate FGC’s for families. There are three parts to a FGC:

Part 1 – Information Giving
This is where the family will get together with the Co-Ordinator and any people involved with your family. They will say what they think about the situation and what direct help they can offer. You can ask for additional information from the workers while they are there. The family will then be left alone to discuss the situation.

Part 2 – Private Family Time
This is for the family to talk in private. Your job is to agree the best plan, decide who needs to do what and work out how you can be sure it is working. The Co-Ordinator can join you if you need information, help or ask questions about you want to do.

Part 3 – The Plan
This is where the Co-Ordinator and professionals involved will make sure with you that the plan is clear, meets the needs of the child and is agreed by everyone at the meeting. Everyone involved with your child and family will be asked to agree your plan.

As long as the plan is realistic and keeps the children or young people safe, it should be agreed on the day. You may be asked to come up with another plan if it doesn’t, but this doesn’t happen very often as we will help you with making it safe. Your family will then take responsibility for your plan and work together to make it a success. You may want to agree when and how the plan will be reviewed.

Detailed guidance about FGCs is included in the guide below. Contact details for the FGC team are in the guide and published below.

Mediation

Wirral’s FGC team also offer a mediation service facilitated by trained mediators.

Mediation can often help families reach their own agreements and move forward by helping family members unlock and express what they want to say. Mediation can be used as a stand alone service, or as part of preparation for an FGC. Like FGCs, mediation is an entirely voluntary process. Further information is in the guide below:

Family Rights Group Accreditation

The Family Rights Group (FRG) is a leading authority on FGCs and developing and promoting high standards of practice. The FRG provide quality assurance accreditation for FGC services. The accreditation framework consists of seven quality standards which have been developed to assist families as well as professionals to understand what a family group conference is and what to expect if involved in one. The Wirral FGC service is accredited by the FRG.

Contact

For more information or to discuss holding an FGC please contact our FGC Team Leaders Allana Ghaemi or Karl Bader-Bailey:
tel – 07920535029
email – [email protected] [email protected]

Resources and Links

Leaflets

FGC Leaflet for Professionals – 07.04.2025
FGC Leaflet for Families – 07.04.2025
FGC Leaflet for CYP -07.04.2025
Mediation from Wirral FGC 12.5.22

Helping families Helping children – Family Rights Group