Family Group Meetings
What is a Family Group Meeting (FGM)?
A Family Group Meeting (also known as Family Group Conference) is a family led meeting which empowers families to find their own solutions to the issues and difficulties they face. FGMs provide an opportunity for families, communities and agencies to work collaboratively together to safeguard and promote the welling being of children and young people.
Why have a Family Group Meeting?
Barnardo’s believes that families are usually best able to make decisions about their children. This is because we think that nobody understands the family better than the people living in it. By family, we mean anyone who cares about the child or young person. It includes the child, parents, extended family and significant friends and neighbours to whom the family may not actually be blood related. Barnardo’s want to help families make these decisions by offering all the necessary information and assistance needed to make and carry out a family plan.
The good thing about the FGM was I got to say what I would like to happen. I am helping around the house a little bit. I am getting on better with everyone at home and I am keeping out of trouble" – Young Person
Referrals to the Family Group Meeting Service:
Families are referred to Barnardo’s FGM Service through Social Workers from the Safeguarding and Support Department. The following children & young people will be within the priority groups.
Referrals include children and young people who:
- are subject to the child protection process
- are at risk of being looked after
- have a disability
- are experiencing relationship problems within their family setting
- are currently looked after who, with additional support, would be enabled to return home
- are looked after within foster placements whose placements would break down without support.
Referrals also include children and young people whose:
- parents have learning difficulties and/or mental health problems
- parents/carers have substance misuse problems.
The FGM was very successful and more than helpful. It enabled us to voice our opinions which we wanted to do in court – so it basically let us speak out. It let us speak openly with the rest of the family which we felt unable to do so before the FGM. I would recommend it to other families because we also found out the family were willing to get more involved than we thought" - Parents
Advocates for children and young people
Independent advocates are offered to all children and young people providing they are over 4 years of age. This is essential in ensuring that their views and opinions are heard and that they are supported to participate fully in their FGM.
