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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Family Group Conferences
3. SAFE Service
4. Family Meetings
5. Circumstances where a family meeting might be appropriate
6. Contact Details

1. Introduction

1.1	This document sets out the criteria for when Family Group Conferences should be convened and circumstances when a family meeting might be more appropriate.
1.2	The Family Group Conference Service in Ealing is co-ordinated by a FGC Service Co-ordinator in the Kinship Team.  The FGC Co-ordinator is responsible for ensuring that the requirements for family group conferences within statutory services are met and for ensuring accurate management information is available on their use both within statutory services and within the SAFE 0-12 teams and SAFE 12-19 team (Adolescent Service). In statutory cases referrals must be sent by e-mail to the FGC Service Co-ordinator who will allocate the family to a family group conference co-ordinator from within the pool of "in house" or independent external co-ordinators.  The family will be matched where possible with a co-ordinator who reflects heritage or cultural background and gender considerations will be made.
1.3	Family group conferences for non-statutory cases are available from the Southall, Northolt or Acton 0-12 SAFE teams or from the SAFE 12-19 team (Adolescent Service). Referrals are made directly to the relevant SAFE team.
1.4	Further information about family group conferences and the referral process is available from the FGC Service Co-ordinator or one of the SAFE teams.

2. Family Group Conferences

Family group conferences should be convened where: -

1. Children are subject to public law proceedings and/or the Court has directed a family group conference.
2. Children are on the threshold of becoming accommodated (S20) or of public law proceedings.
3. Children are accommodated or looked after and the family network is able to make decisions/plans around permanency for the children and contact arrangements.  This also includes family group conferences as a recommendation from LAC reviews.
4. Children are the subjects of a Child Protection Plan and a family group conference is recommended as part of the child protection plan and firm decisions/plans that the family can make have been identified.
5. Children are in permanent placements (Adoption, Special Guardianship, Residence Order) and the placement has disrupted or is at risk of breaking down and the family are able to make decision/plans for the child/young person's care.
6. The Early Intervention Panel recommends it is undertaken.

3. SAFE Service

Family group conferences may be co-ordinated at the point of early intervention as per Ealing thresholds of need (see Children's Social Care Services Threshold Criteria for Children in Need Procedure). The referral may originate from a lead professional or social worker within an early intervention service and be allocated to a family group conference co-ordinator within the Southall, Northolt or Acton SAFE 0-12 teams or the SAFE 12-19 team (Adolescent Service).  SAFE teams are responsible for ensuring that the FGC Service Co-ordinator has accurate information about the use of family group conferences by sending a copy of the referral form and the record of the plan and outcomes of the conference.

4. Family Meetings

1. A family meeting may be convened in any of the above circumstances in section 2 in order to prevent delay to the child/children.  However, the aim would be to hold a family group conference whenever possible.
2. Normally family meetings would be chaired by the child's social worker.  However, a referral can be made to the Family group conference service if the circumstances suggest the family would benefit from an independent chair.  Advice regarding the best way forward can be sought from the family group conference service co-ordinator.

5. Circumstances where a family meeting might be appropriate

1. Where an urgent family meeting is required to prevent a child becoming accommodated or looked after and family members are able to meet at short notice.
2. Where an urgent family meeting is required to secure a child's accommodation, safety or welfare, where family members are able to meet at short notice to make decisions/plans.
3. Where all reasonable steps have been taken to gain consent from the person/s with parental responsibility for a family group conference and this has proved negative and the wider family members are willing to meet to make decisions/plans with or for the child.
4. Where families are working well with Children's social care services and there is agreement and good communication within the family network.
5. If the family network is small and less than 4 adult family members can attend the family meeting.
6. If there is only one issue, for example contact that needs to be addressed or the issue is less complex, for example around support for a Child in Need.

Principles and good practice of the family group conference model should be promoted whenever possible.  For example, private family time and a written report from the referrer outlining decisions to be considered and the non-negotiable decisions.

6. Contact details

Statutory services

FGC Co-ordinator
Telephone: 0208 825 8070
Available Monday to Wednesday

Support worker
Telephone: 0208 825 8319

Non-statutory services

SAFE 0-12 teams
Acton, Ealing, Hanwell     0208 825 7819
Northolt, Greenford, Perivale   0208 842 0220
Southall   0208 825 9800

SAFE 12-19 team
(Adolescent Service)    0208 825 7606 (duty line)

End