Family Group Conferencing

A number of KNC staff have trained to become Family Group Conference Facilitators. Family group conferencing can be a way to bring family members together to find solutions for children and young people in the care of the birth parents, kinship carers or foster carers. An impartial and skilled facilitator can support decision making process  by meeting with all family members and creating a space for the creation of a plan for the child that everyone has participated in and agreed upon. 

 After a referral is received for Family Group Conferencing, the following steps will occur:

• • The Facilitator will contact all parties to the conference to book the meeting date.  During this phone call the Facilitator will chat with them about:

                  §  the conferencing processes

                 §  any issues, worries and concerns they may have

                 §  any travel needs they may have

                §  Any dietary needs (if refreshments are being provided by the agency)

The Facilitator will facilitate the conference. This will include a short briefing at the beginning of the meeting by the Manager for the agency, who will outline any non-negotiables. After this the manager leaves the meeting.

The Facilitator works to support the family members to:

§  Discuss the rules of the conference as agreed by all parties

§  agree on the issues for discussion, 

§  discuss the issues,

§  and to agree on a plan that suits all parties.

The Facilitator types up the plan and provides this to all parties, including the agency.

A follow up session can be delivered at the request of the agency, to review the implementation of the plan and tweak it as needed.