The use of family group conferences in child protection work: An exploration of professionals' views

Abstract

Family Group Conferences (FGCs) originated in New Zealand and offer a radical new approach to involving families in the decision-making process in child care social work. This research was undertaken to explore professionals' views on the possible use of FGCs in child protection work in North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust (NWBT). A postal questionnaire was sent to three groups of staff -practitioners, managers, and non-social work members of the Trust Child Protection Panel (TCPP Members). A response rate of 68 per cent was achieved.The results indicate a positive attitude towards the FGC model amongst all of the groups surveyed as well as an understanding of how it differs from current practice, and a clear recognition of the benefits that its use would provide. However, use of FGCs in child protection work, as opposed to child care work more generallK was deemed to be more problematic by respondents. There was a feeling that FGCs would not be appropriate in all cases/situations encountered in child protection work and that there were a number of potential problems that would have to be overcome if the model was to be introduced to this area of practice. The great majority of respondents (86 per cent) however, supported the establishment of an FGC pilot project within NWBT.The research concludes that it is both desirable and feasible to use FGCs in child protection work, that the difficulties associated with the FGC model are far outweighed by the advantages which it presents over the current process of parental participation at case conferences, and that consideration should be given to the establishment of an FGC pilot project within N WBT