Aberdeen City 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.
An FGC is a decision making process, which after a period of preparation may lead to a meeting of 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.
Extra Information
The Aberdeen City Family Group Conference Service is funded by Aberdeen City Council. We welcome self-referrals from families with children aged 3-18, as well as from professional agencies.
