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Our advice service

Are you a parent, kinship carer relative or friend of a child who is involved with, or who needs the help of, children’s services in England? We can help you understand processes and options when social workers or courts are making decisions about your child’s welfare.

Our advice service is free, independent and confidential.

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By phone or email

To speak to an adviser, please call our free and confidential advice line 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3pm, excluding Bank Holidays). Or you can ask us a question via email using our advice enquiry form.

Discuss on our forums

Our online advice forums are an anonymous space where parents and kinship carers (also known as family and friends carers) can get legal and practical advice, build a support network and learn from other people’s experiences.

Advice on our website

Our get help and advice section has template letters, advice sheets and resources about legal and social care processes. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you can use our webchat service to chat online to an adviser.

 

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FGC Training

Four day virtual family group conference training for new coordinators

A virtual course for those with some knowledge of family group conferences and child welfare processes, who wish to increase their understanding and develop the necessary skills to coordinate a family group conference for a child.

Usually carried out in a classroom based setting over three days, this training course is currently being offered as an online training course during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Course objectives

  • To understand the value basis of FGCs;
  • To understand the legal and policy framework within which FGCs operate;
  • To develop a working knowledge of FGCs, including understanding the skills in preparing for the FGC, managing the meeting and the process that follows;
  • To develop the skills to coordinate a child welfare family group conference;
  • To recognise the complexities of family led decision-making and learn skills in managing these complexities and conflicts in families;
  • To understand the role of other professionals in the meeting;
  • To understand the issues involved in supporting children’s participation in the FGC process;
  • To inform participants of the wider accreditation framework;
  • To be familiar with research findings in relation to FGCs and to be signposted for further information;
  • To enable participants to be aware of sources of support including the FGC Network;
  • To consider and plan for working during the pandemic, including in a virtual environment.

Please note that Family Rights Group does not accredit individual practitioners. Our accreditation framework is applicable to family group conference services – more information on this can be found here.

Upcoming course dates

Each course will be run over four days between 10.00 and 14.30 each day. The total cost is £550.

  • 5,6 and 12,13 February 2025 FULLY BOOKED
  • 3,4 and 10,11 March 2025 FULLY BOOKED
  • 23,24,30 April and 1 May 2025
  • 7,8 and 14,15 July 2025
  • 18,19 and 25,26 September 2025
  • 10,11 and 17,18 November 2025
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Our funding means we can currently only help 4 in 10 people

Your donation will help more families access expert legal advice and support from Family Rights Group.

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