The Daybreak FGC team will give you the best possible service because:
We have pioneered FGCs in a range of contexts including:
- Children on the edge of care, where all families are offered a FGC (Our very successful Innovation Project )
- Adult FGCs to address safeguarding concerns and other issues
- Domestic violence and abuse
We are the only registered charity that focuses entirely on family group conferences, so we have built up specialist knowledge, skills and experience in delivering FGC Meetings, and managing the process
This was clearly demonstrated by our independently evaluated Innovation Project, which showed that;
Impact on care proceedings
- 3 - 12 months after FGCs had been convened, three-quarters (75%) of children were living with a parent (60%) or a relative (16%). The proportion of family placements was lower in cases where no FGC was convened (61% in total, 50% with parents and 11% with relatives)
- during the study timeframe, proceedings were initiated in 29% of FGC cases, compared to 50% of cases where no FGC was convened
- three months after the FGC, 97% of survey respondents considered that the plan they had made constituted the best outcome for the child
Costs
- the research team calculated the average weekly cost of care per child in the FGC and no-FGC cohorts. Costs amongst the FGC cohort were lower, reflecting the fact that more of this group were living with their birth families
We have a very high conversion rate of FGC referrals to FGC meetings. Our average last year was 84%. You will not waste your staff time and money by making referrals that go nowhere
We offer independently accredited FGC training for coordinators and other professionals involved in the process, and FGC management
We offer consultation on anything that involves FGCs
Supporting Families: investing in practice
Daybreak have been working alongside the DfE since 2015 developing our Family Group Conference (FGC) model to offer all families that receive a pre-proceedings letter from their local authority an opportunity of a FGC meeting. Early independent evaluation found that this use of FGC increased by 15% the number of children safely staying within their family network and decreased by 21% the number of cases going forward in to proceedings. It also registered high level of satisfaction from family and professional that participated in the FGC’s.
This has now been followed up by the DfE, who have commissioned an independent longer-term evaluation, looking at where the children are living 2 years after their FGC.
The purpose of the DfE innovations programme, when it was launched 4 years ago, was to identify promising practice that could be spread across England. This is now happening with the announcement of a £15 million investment to help keep families safely together. This new programme called, Supporting Families; Investing in Practice has been announced today and I am very pleased to say that the Daybreak FGC model alongside the Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) are the programmes that have been selected for scale and spread.
The DfE launch of this, on GOV.UK, calls for expression of interest for up to 40 new areas to implement one or both these programmes and be part of their further evaluation. The successful Local Authorities will work in partnership with the What Works Centre and be supported by Daybreak FGC and FDAC.
During some of the most stressful periods of their lives, we have seen families come together in a Family Group Conference to make safe decisions for children at risk. The vast, majority took the opportunity and went on to make workable, safe and sustainable plans for their children, so it is wonderful we will have the opportunity to introduce the model across the country.
Department for Education Press Release EOI Supporting Families Investing in Practice
How to commission our services
You can contact us for more details of this facility, and how we can work with you to achieve the results you seek for enhancing the welfare and safeguarding of the individuals and families with whom you work.
Email: headoffice@daybreakfgc.org.uk or Telephone: 02380 696644
