1. What is a Family Group Conference? What happens at your Family Group Conference
A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a meeting where you and the We arrange the meeting with you, at a time and place that best suits “The Meeting was
people you choose to invite, like your family, friends, neighbours you and your guests. carried out in a free and easy
and key professionals working with you, meet to discuss how they atmosphere. No pressure was
can support you in planning for your care and recovery. We organise refreshments together and make sure that the environment made on anyone”
is relaxed and welcoming. This could be in your home or a local meeting Service User
It is not about people making decisions for you.
place.
You decide who you would like to invite and what you would like “We learnt about
to talk about. We can then help you to achieve this in a way that is The first half of the meeting is for everyone. It gives your family and the resourses available to
relaxed and comfortable for everyone. professionals time to talk about the issues that you have identified. help our daughter and I hope the
professionals learnt something
A Family Group Conference is a way of enabling you and your The second half of the meeting is private time for you and your family to from us”
support network to lead your decision making for your support and put together your plan. We can support you with this if you want us to. Parents
care.
How a Family Group Conference Works “All members of my
family found this to be a help-
We meet with you and get to know the issues you would like ful, positive event. The conference
support with, to help your recovery. We can help you with this and it made us closer and clarified issues
can be anything that is important to you! that I couldn’t explain"
Service User
We find out from you who you would like to be involved. This may
include family members; children, a friend, neighbour, your support
worker, nurse, therapist or advocate. Anyone who you feel would be
helpful and supportive to you.
We then meet with these people individually and invite them to your After your Family Group Conference For further information and advice regarding a FGC please
meeting. With your permission, we share with them the issues that
you would like their help with and the things you have been thinking contact the Mental Health Family Group Conference Service
When the plan is complete and agreed by you and your Care
and talking about. Co-ordinator we send it out to everyone involved. for adults team:
3 Pitfields
Telephone: 01245 315020 Baddow Road
This is also an opportunity for them to have a bit of support If it would be helpful to you, we can arrange a follow up review of your 01245 315019
themselves. Chelmsford
plan at a later date to look at what has been achieved; what has helped Essex
and what might need changing. We will arrange this with you and your Email: mhfgc@nepft.nhs.uk CM2 9QY
support network.

2. It's your meeting Telephone: 01245 315020 or
Email: mhfgc@nepft.nhs.uk
At a Family Group Conference the main people involved are you,
your family and your friends. People you know well.
Together with your family, friends and professionals the FGC puts
Your Family Group Conference
you in charge of making decisions about your care and treatment. Patient Information Leaflet
What you have to say can make a difference. A service that enables you and your family to take
the lead in planning for your care and treatment
“It placed our family
in a comfortable setting and
guided us through expressing our If you need this information in another language please email a request
concerns, questions and grievances to enquiries@nepft.nhs.uk
in a constructive manner”
Carer
Jeśli chcą Państwo otrzymać tę informację w języku polskim, prosimy o
wysłanie zgłoszenia na enquiries@nepft.nhs.uk (Polish)
This leaflet is also available in:
“The
FGC helped the
service user and his family to
discuss things which sometimes Different Large Print Email Online
they had felt unable to. The plan was Languages
produced with the involvement and For more information visit www.nepft.nhs.uk
agreement of the whole family”
Professional Last updated: January 2011
Reference No: 1101102
©North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 2011
All rights reserved. Not to be re produced in whole or in part without the permission of the copy-
right owner.