New research exploring families’ experiences of being offered a family group conference

New research, by Foundations in partnership with Family Rights Group and Coram, is exploring the experience of families of being offered a family group conference (FGC).

Family group conferences are a process which enables a family to come together to make a plan to address concerns about their child’s welfare. They work by helping families resolve concerns, keep children safely within their family network and avert children from the care system.

A new rapid evidence review published this week by Foundations looks at the literature on families’ experiences of being offered an FGC. The review focuses on the factors that influence a family’s decision to turn down or take up the offer of an FGC, particularly for families from minoritised ethnic and other marginalised groups.

Why is this work important?

The Government is currently taking new legislation through Parliament which will mandate that local authorities offer family group decision making (FGDM) to families at the pre-proceedings stage, before care proceedings. FGCs are a well-evidenced form of FGDM that many local areas use widely, and so it is likely that many local authorities will use the FGC model to fulfil this new mandate. This research will help local authorities to understand how best to enable families to access a family group conference.

What did the evidence review find?

The review identifies several barriers and enablers to families accessing FGCs, and highlighted some common reasons why families do or do not accept the offer of an FGC. While there are some clear barriers, including negative previous experiences with statutory services and lack of belief in the effectiveness of family group conferences, the study also identifies some factors which help families feel able to accept the offer, such as control over the practical arrangements of the meeting.

In addition, the review summarises factors which might affect practitioners’ decisions on whether to offer an FGC to a family. The findings suggest for example that there are sometimes misunderstandings amongst social workers about what an FGC is, but workforce attitudes and practices are also highlighted as essential enablers for families. The relationship between families and FGC Coordinators is a major factor that influences families’ likelihood to take part in the FGC. The study emphasises the importance of coordinators empowering families to take ownership of the FGC.

The findings of the review also demonstrate the vital importance of the referral and preparation phase for building trust between the coordinator and family members. Although this period requires significant time and effort, it is essential if coordinators are to secure the benefits of the FGC for the family involved.

The study highlights a significant gap in the research on marginalised families’ access to and experience of FGCs, including the factors that might influence their decision on whether to participate. The only research identified here related to minoritised ethnic families, however more work is needed in this area too to further understand the nuances of their experience. From the evidence that was identified, it’s clear that cultural competence and an inclusive setting are vital, particularly in terms of giving families control over practical factors, such as location, and including elements in the meeting itself which may be important to a family’s cultural or ethnic identity.

Next steps?

Foundations commissioned Coram and Family Rights Group to conduct research with local authorities into the accessibility and equity of FGCs, particularly for minoritised ethnic and marginalised families, drawing on the experiences of parents and carers.