This page tells you what FGCs are and how they could help your family.

Once you have read this page you may like to look at our family page that shows case studies from families who have had FGCs, along with feedback about their experiences.

What is a family group conference? A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a meeting that brings together friends and extended family in a situation where there is a problem in a family, usually involving a child. An independent person called a coordinator brings the family and friends together. The coordinator will ask the family to look at a particular question, for example, "How can a child keep in contact with his or her father after divorce", or " Who can support the parents with raising their difficult teenager?" The family receive reports from professionals about the situation and, armed with this information, they then spend time privately, as a family, making a plan to answer the question for the meeting. Children are encouraged to attend and are often offered an advocate to help them give their views. You can read more detailed information below.

Where do FGCs come from?

FGCs have become familiar to many people working with children and young people in this country and internationally. Although they have traditionally been involved in work with children and families, they are equally applicable to any situation where a decision needs to be made about the welfare of a family member, and a plan to be established and negotiated.

Daybreak has also pioneered a programme using FGCs to address situations of domestic violence. These address the needs of all members of the family, and especially those of the adult victim and the children involved.

What's the theory behind FGCs?

FGCs are based on a set of basic principles and beliefs that include the following:

• that it is the members of the extended family who have the intimate knowledge about their own family, including who is safe and who is not safe around children and vulnerable adults
• that members of the extended family tend to have a life long commitment to each other
• that all of us are more committed to carrying out plans for our own welfare and for that of our family if it is us who make the decisions, and not merely persuaded to carry out the decisions made for us by others
• that good decisions are made on the basis of high quality information, and that therefore meetings need to have the benefit of openness, honesty and clarity.
• that people work better together if there is a principle of mutual respect, which is an important statement of our humanity
• that if we identify and work with the strengths of a family, we are more likely to achieve a good outcome

Central to the process is the empowerment of any family member who is vulnerable. This often means the child or young person, or the adult victim in domestic violence. But it is applicable to any vulnerable person in a family situation. A crucial element of this empowerment is ensuring that the voice of the child or vulnerable member of the family is heard and that they are enabled to participate fully in the process. What happens at the FGC? Family group conferences are a meeting of the extended family network and friends together with those working professionally and directly with the family. They are essentially decision making meetings. They take place in order that a plan can be made for a family member that will address a particular concern.

They are in three parts: the first part of the meeting involves everybody, that is, the referrer and other professional working directly with the family, the family members and friends and especially including the child or young person. Information about the concern is shared and family members are encouraged to ask questions for clarification. This part of the meeting is chaired by the coordinator, who facilitates the FGC process. The second part of the meeting, and which distinguishes it from any other sort of meeting, is the private family time.  All the professionals including the coordinator withdraw to another room and the family meets on their own to make the plans. The third part of the meeting takes place when the family has made a plan and they present this to the referrer and any other relevant professional for agreement.  This part of the meeting is also chaired by the coordinator. It is very important throughout this process that the child or young person, or other vulnerable person is heard and can participate.  We always seek to ensure that they are supported by someone they choose, who is prepared in order to undertake this task by the coordinator.  This can often be facilitated by the use of a trained advocate, who is also familiar with the FGC process. The family is encouraged to set a time to meet again to review the plan, to celebrate what has gone well and to address any outstanding issues. One of the essential ingredients in this process is the preparation time.  This can take around 3 to 6 weeks, and involves the coordinator personally visiting and preparing all participants, including all family members and professionals.  It is during this time that the support person or advocate for the child, young person or other vulnerable family member is identified and helped to prepare for this vital task. Do FGCs work? There is a considerable body of research both in the UK and internationally about family group conferences that addresses both the process and their outcomes.  It shows that families are overwhelmingly positive about the model and that it is very successful in achieving good outcomes for children and young people.  Our work with vulnerable adults in the Dove Project has also been substantially successful.

The website of Daybreak Family Group Conferences. Charity no. 1077607 Company no. 378026

The name 'Daybreak' is translated from the Maori word 'Puao-te-ata-tu'. This was the title of the report from which the concept of family group conferences first began.