Policy and legal frameworks
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026) | Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, support and protect children.
Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme | Department for Education guidance for safeguarding partners on implementing Family Help and multi-agency child protection reforms, and increasing support for family networks.
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 | Act to raise educational and safeguarding standards for Children
Children’s Act 1989 and Children’s Act 2004, and the Children and Social Care Act 2017 | Act’s the lay the foundation of the child protection system in England
Care Act 2014 | Statutory framework for adult care and support
Mental Capacity Act 2005 | framework to support adults who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves
Research publications and reports
Family Group Conferences: Service Design and Family Experience (2026) - Foundations & Coram
Families’ Experiences of Family Group Conferences Rapid Evidence Review (2025) - Foundations & Coram, funded by DfE
Family Group Conference Provision in UK Local Authorities and Associations with Children Looked after Rates (2024) - published in the British Journal of Social Work
Family Group Conferencing at Pre‑Proceedings Stage Randomised Controlled Trial (2023) - Foundations and Coram
Implications for Policy & Practice Family Group Conferences (2023) - Foundations
Daybreak Family Group Conferencing – DfE‑Commissioned Evaluation (2017)
FGC Progress Report 2018-2021 - London Borough of Camden
Researching Family Group Conferences in Adult Services Method Review (2020) - NIHR
Guidance, Briefings and more
Department for Education’s Family Group Decision Making Best Practice Support and Resources (2026) - accessible via The Knowledge Hub, DfE commissioned guidance in response to the Family First Partnership Programme
Family Group Conferences in Practice (2025) - Foundations. This briefing sets out advice for leaders of local children’s services on scaling up the impact of FGCs for the most vulnerable children.
Community Catalysts - various resources linked to Family Group Conferencing for adults