Family Group Connections
Welcome to Family Group Connections. Our service brings you, your children and the people who care about them together to make plans that keep your child safe, happy and supported.
Through Family Group Decision Making, you and your family have the chance to be heard, share your views and take an active role in decisions about your child’s future. The aim is to help your family work together to find the best way forward and keep your child within their family network wherever possible.
An independent facilitator will guide the meeting and make sure everyone has the opportunity to talk, listen and contribute in a calm, respectful and supportive space.
Why we offer this service
Sometimes professionals become worried about a child. When that happens, it can feel frightening, confusing and out of your control. Family Group Decision Making gives families time and space to come together before decisions are made for them.
By bringing the people who care about your child into one room, families can create their own safe plan – supported by professionals – rather than being told what will happen. Many families say it helps them feel more respected, more listened to and more hopeful.
What happens
Before the meeting, a facilitator will speak with you and other family members. They will explain what is working well, help everyone get ready and talk through what needs to happen to keep your child safe.
At the meeting, professionals will share their concerns and explain what is needed to keep your child safe. Your family will then have private time to talk and write your own plan. When you are ready, you share your plan so it can be agreed.
There may also be a review meeting later to see how things are going.
Who is the service for?
Family Group Decision Making is for children and all the people important to them, including parents, wider family members and friends.
When is support available?
It can happen whenever there are important decisions to be made about a child’s safety, wellbeing or future.
What support is available?
The Family Group Connections Service provides an independent facilitator to help you, your child and your family network prepare for the meeting and support you in making a safe plan.
How do we take part?
Your lead professional will ask if you are happy to take part. Someone from the Family Group Connections team will then contact you to explain everything and make sure you are happy to go ahead.
How much support do we get?
Your independent facilitator will make sure that you and everyone involved is supported before, during and after the meeting. You will also have the option of a review meeting to check that your plan is working.
Where does it happen?
Meetings usually take place in your community, in spaces that are safe and comfortable for you.
How can we help?
If you feel a conversation would be helpful, please contact us, in confidence, via the email address below.
We welcome the opportunity to explore how we could support you.