Family Group Conferences
Bringing together your support network to help you resolve challenges
A Family Group Conference - or FGC - is an opportunity to bring a support network together. The group works together to create a safe plan of action to help resolve challenges.
What makes a Family Group Conference different?
It is independent. Our Coordinators are neutral. They are not from a professional body. They aim to empower a family to create their own solutions.
They are family-led. The process is voluntary. The key decisions about the Conference are made by the family. The family agrees the plan together using information from professionals to help them.
Everyone’s voices are heard. The process allows for everyone to have the chance to share their views. Children, young people or individuals who the FGC is aiming to help, are able to share their wishes.
Family Group Conferences can be used in a wide range of situations. A Family Group Conference is useful to resolve a challenge with a proactive plan.
Often, they are used in times of crisis or risk. Daybreak currently works alongside Local Authorities receiving referrals for families with children at the edge of care. As part of our Moving Forward Together initiative, we work in partnership with community organisations for individuals facing other challenges.
Explore the options below to find more information related to who you are.
*By family, we mean invited extended family, friends, and members of the local community.
Information for families & friends
All families have challenges.
A Family Group Conference or ‘FGC’ is a way of bringing a family and its support network together. Working together, the group creates a safe plan of action to resolve challenges. It is an opportunity to listen to the person at the centre of the challenge. This might be a child or adult in need of additional support.
There are many situations where this is useful. For example, finding a way forward after a family conflict or separation or managing concerns around school behaviour. Or in situations where safety is a concern, such as youth offending, substance abuse or domestic violence.
“It now means that we are on the same page and know what is expected of us in the future - so it will be easier for us to move forward”
Daybreak is here to work alongside you. We believe that the earlier people work together to resolve challenges, the better the outcomes can be. We are currently working on developing more ways where families can access earlier help through the community.
When a situation has developed, Social Services might be working with a family. As part of this, a Social Worker can refer a family to Daybreak. An Independent Co-ordinator works alongside a family to facilitate the conference. Daybreak offers this service to several Local Authorities currently.
Information for social workers & other professionals
“Children will feel reassured, the plan in place is strong and everyone knows who is responsible for actions”
Daybreak works closely with social workers and other professionals to find solutions to challenges concerning children, adolescents and vulnerable adults whose safety or welfare may be at risk. We work independently but alongside the referring organisation to help deliver a plan that everyone supports.
Our work mainly involves delivering Family Group Conferences (FGCs) under contract to Local Authorities - as well as via community referrals. Below you can learn more about the referral process and access our latest referral form.
We also offer support to the professional community by facilitating training and professional development opportunities in this fields, including guidance for referrers.
“It now means that we are on the same page and know what is expected of us in the future - so it will be easier for us to move forward”
Information for commissioners
Daybreak offers Family Group Conferencing services for Local Authorities and other relevant community organisations. Whilst Family Group Conferences is a tool mostly seen to support Children’s Services, it is a powerful mechanism that can support any family unit in resolving a challenging situation and devising a plan - whilst keeping the child or adult who needs additional support at the centre of decision making.
As a result, Daybreak’s expertise and ethos can be a supportive benefit in a number of situations.
Regardless of why a referral is made to Daybreak, we offer a comprehensive and independent service. Our expert co-ordinators will consult with immediate family members to decide whether a Family Group Conference (FGC) is viable. If it is, we then undertake all necessary work to ensure that the process is successful.
Information for community partners
96% of professionals would recommend this service for families
At Daybreak, we see an increasing need and opportunity to bring the skillsets and principles of Family Group Conferences into the wider community, to enhance access, and to broaden the situations within which the approach is utilised.
As a result, and in support of our current strategy, we are exploring and establishing partnerships with community organisations in our current areas, with a particular focus on Berkshire and Hampshire. We see opportunities in the areas of; homelessness prevention, community cohesion, hospital discharges, family conflicts, domestic violence, and others.
Should you see an opportunity for Daybreak to get involved, or want to understand how we work alongside families and communities more, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We love hearing about the diverse ways organisations are engaging with local communities, and are keen to be creative to find ways to support organisations meet the needs of their beneficiaries.
“Children will feel reassured, the plan in place is strong and everyone knows who is responsible for actions”