Empowering families to make their own decisions
What is a Family Group Conference?
A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a family-led meeting that brings together the family and people important to the child to address concerns raised by professionals or when the family asks for help.
How is an FGC different from other meetings?
FGC meetings are based on the belief that, with the right support, families can create safe and meaningful plans to improve their situation.
FGCs are family-led, meaning you make the decisions, your wider family and friends are involved, your child can take an active role if they choose, and private family time is always included to create your plan.
How does an FGC work?
Before a Family Group Conference takes place, an FGC co-ordinator will work with your family to decide who should be invited and when and where the meeting will happen.
They help invited family and friends to support the child or young person to take an active role in the FGC.
An FGC co-ordinator is independent. This means they will not have worked with you before or made decisions for your family.
Information shared is confidential, unless it poses a risk to someone.
There are three stages to a Family Group Conference:
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Information giving
The referrer will explain their concerns about the child or young person and the support available to your family, and your family will have time to ask questions. -
Private family time
Once your family has the information needed, professionals will leave the room so you can use private family time to decide who will do what, what support is needed, and how you will check the plan is working. -
Agreeing the plan
Your completed plan will be shared with the FGC co-ordinator and referrer and will be accepted unless it puts your child at risk or does not address the original concerns.
Feedback from a child aged ten years
“The FGC really helped me learn and understand about my feelings and about not being able to see my mum.”
Feedback from a social worker
“The FGC facilitator… was absolutely brilliant. She was very hands on and provides a brilliant service… very approachable, welcoming, understanding and professional.”
Contact details
For more information, please email fgc@bolton.gov.uk