Family Group Conference (FGC)

Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are family-led meetings that bring together relatives, friends and other important people in a child’s life to create a plan for their safety, wellbeing and future.

FGCs are offered when there are concerns about a child’s welfare or when important decisions need to be made about their care and support. Families are recognised as experts in their own lives and are supported to take an active role in finding solutions.

An independent Family Group Conference Coordinator works with the family and professionals to prepare for the meeting. Professionals share information about what is working well, what they are concerned about, and what needs to happen to keep the child safe. Families are then given private time to discuss the information and develop their own plan.

FGCs can help families strengthen support networks, identify practical solutions, explore kinship care arrangements, plan for children to return home safely, and ensure children remain connected to the people who matter most to them.

By placing families at the centre of decision-making, FGCs help create safe, sustainable plans that lead to better outcomes for children and young people.