Dumfries & Galloway Family Group Conference Service
Family life can lead to circumstances that leave a child's future uncertain.
And at times of stress families can break down.
A Family Group Conference brings members of the wider family together to plan the best way forward for the child.
The term 'family' can include supportive family friends, as well as a professional or volunteer advocate who will work with the child(ren) to make sure they have a say.
The FGC is a meeting led by the family with the help of an independent adult known as a co-ordinator. The co-ordinator is there to support the family to come up with a plan on how to go forward.
When they put together a plan at an FGC that is both caring and practical, families are strengthened and the child or young person sees how much their family cares for them.
Some of the situations in which families find an FGC to be helpful include, where a child is at risk of being taken into care, to agree contact arrangements following divorce or separation or to arrange support for parents who are caring for a child with a mental or physical disability.
Once the family come to a decision, this is then passed on to be agreed and supported by the relevant organisations or professionals involved with the family.
Referrals to the service can only be made by Dumfries & Galloway Social Work Department.
