2. A Family Group Conference is called when
A child or young person is considered to be in need
of care and protection or ‘at risk’ and the family has
tried to resolve it without success, but there is still
evidence of serious harm or risk of harm
A long term change of caregiver is proposed
Directed by the Family Court
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3. There are three parts to the FGC
Information Sharing
Private Family Discussion
Reaching Agreement and
formulating a Plan
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4. Who is involved in the FGC
The Child or Young person
Family members by blood links, kinship or friends
The Care and Protection Coordinator
The Social Worker
Community Agencies, Teachers, Psychologists, Counsellors,
Police, Legal Advisors
Lawyer for the child or young person
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5. Sharing Information
The Social worker will share their worries about the child or
young person
They will explain why they believe the child is in need of care
and protection and will talk about what they have already
done to help the family, what has worked and what hasn’t
Other professionals like teachers, the Police, Counsellors and
Community Agencies will be asked to share their worries
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6. The FGC is a legal process
Sensitive information is shared, so conference members are
asked to keep discussions confidential
Family should not be hurried into making a decision
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7. Care or Protection?
Family members will be asked if they AGREE that the child or
young person is in need of care or protection?
If family agree, they meet in private to make decisions about
their child or young person
If they do NOT AGREE the meeting ends and the matter is
referred back to the social worker or the Family Court
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8. Private Family Time
All the professionals leave the room
Family members consider the information they have heard
and discuss ideas about how the worries can be resolved
Family members can make recommendations about care
arrangements, family contact, family support, agency
support, monitoring and other matters
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9. Reaching Agreement
The family report back to the the conference about what they
believe is in the best interests of the child
The conference then agrees on a plan
Tasks and responsibilities are recorded and agreements are
made
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10. The FGC Plan can include:
Court Orders Supports to be provided
by family, agency or
Care arrangements -
Child Youth and Family
where the child will live
Contingency Plan
Contact - How can
family members have When and how the plan
contact will be reviewed
Tasks to be completed
and timeframes
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11. After the FGC
The Care and Protection Coordinator records the Plan and
sends a copy to family members and all those involved in the
Plan.
The Family Court is sent a copy of the Plan if there are
applications lodged there
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