Strengthening families through Family Group Conferencing

Chapter 6 examines the practice of Family Group Conferences (FGCs) in child and family social work, an approach that aims to involve extended family members and other members of a child’s network in decision-making processes. It draws on experience from participating in, delivering and researching FGCs. It also explores how this approach can strengthen families and support positive outcomes for children. The chapter begins by providing an overview of FGCs, including their origins, principles and how they work in practice. It then explores the evidence base for FGCs, drawing on a range of research studies that suggest that FGCs can result in improved outcomes for children and families, including increased family engagement, reduced reliance on statutory services and improved family relationships. The chapter also considers some of the challenges associated with FGCs. Finally, it discusses the potential for FGCs to be used more widely within the child and family social work sector, and the need for effective leadership and training to support the implementation of this approach.