Family Group Conferences: Information for Professionals

A Family Group Conference (FGC) brings together the family (and extended family members, friends and neighbours) to plan and make decisions to safeguard and promote a child's welfare.

The process is intended to support families to find their own solutions to the challenges they are facing. It is a voluntary process that is carried out by the family for the family.

FGCs often run alongside another service provision. The children may already be cared for, or may become so. They could be subject to care proceedings, child protection, or child in need processes. They may be offending, committing anti-social behaviour, becoming homeless, or have been excluded from school.

For a description of the process used by West Berkshire for arranging and managing FGCs within the area, please see the process flowchart diagram [1MB] .
 

How to refer a family for a Family Group Conference

For referrals from within Children's Services, please refer via CD using the FGC referral form, located in the referrals section.

For other referrals, please contact the Early Response Hub.

Referrers are expected to support and attend the Family Group Conference process.

We have produced a leaflet to give to families who have already been referred, or are going to be referred, for an FGC. You can  view and download our FGC leaflet, here [544KB] .