West Berkshire – Family Group Conferences
IYPP PROJECT
3. Referrals
3.1 Referral Sources
Referrals were sought and taken from YOT, Education and Social Services from around June 2003. Although Health was not targeted as a referring agency, one referral was received when a member of staff working in a multi-disciplinary team heard about FGCs.
Children’s Services staff provided the bulk of referrals. It is likely that this is more reflective of Children’s Services familiarity with the process and access to it (being co-located in their office) rather than the extent and degree of their involvement, as a wide range of agencies were involved with the families referred.
The Percentages of Young People Referred for an FGC Involved with other Organisations
- 52% Social Services
- 24% YOT
- 21% Education
- 3% Health
The project also found that there were many agencies working with the young people referred for an FGC as illustrated in the following diagram:
The Percentages of Young People Referred for an FGC Involved with other Organisations
- 83% Social Services*
- 52% YOT
- 38% Health
- 38% Education Welfare
- 34% Connexions
- 14% Other
* Social Services, for example, were involved with 83% of young people referred for an FGC.
3.2 Referral Criteria
The referral criteria mirrored that of the project as a whole, which was young people, aged 10-17 at risk of school exclusion, truancy, bullying or behaviour problems at school or at risk of youth offending.
3.3 Referral Process
The following diagram illustrates the process stages of the FGC service from referral onwards:
