West Berkshire – Family Group Conferences
IYPP PROJECT
5. Resources
Implementing Family Group Conferences requires a significant investment of time in bringing different agencies around the table, financial investment in training programmes and resources for the new independent co-ordinators to deliver the practice. It is important to find ways of building on existing strengths and structures within established services.
West Berkshire Children’s Service has an integrated structure incorporating Education, Social Care and Youth and Community, which is in line with the Children Act 2004.
The following are the key resource implications for setting up a Family Group Conference service or project:
- Inter-agency Steering Group with representatives from YOT, Social Services, Police, Education, Health, the Voluntary Sector and Service Users is needed to support and design the service.
- FGC project manager is needed to lead the project, develop information policy and procedures, commission a training plan and promote the practice of FGCs. The project manager also provides a point for receipt and allocation of referrals and supervision of coordinators.
- Independent FGC co-ordinators are needed to deliver the conferences. A mixed economy of ‘in-house’ co-ordinators and an external team or ‘pool’ of session co-ordinators can take referrals from different agencies, or direct from families themselves. Co-ordinators need regular supervision training and support.
- A training program is needed to help professionals think about different ways of working with families and the skills they need to perform well at the conferences. Training is also needed for co-coordinators to prepare them for this new role.
- Local policy and practice guidance have to be developed to assist different professional groups to work in this new way and to assist their thinking about how FGCs can work along side existing systems. This includes the specific criteria and process for referral to FGC.
- Information ‘tools’ for children and families are needed to explain the process and what people, can expect of their Family Group Conference. This can be provided in form of a leaflet, web site or video.
- Research and evaluation instruments are required to gather baseline data on outputs and outcomes from the FGCs. Questionnaires can be used to elicit feedback from parents, family members and children and young people and referring professionals who are involved in practice.
- A Children’s Advocacy Service is sometimes needed to provide advocacy and support for young people involved in the FGC process.