As a part of our project exploring families’ experience of, and access to, Family Group Conferences (FGCs), we have today published a new rapid evidence review that looks at the literature on families’ experiences of being offered an FGC.

Our evidence has shown that Family Group Conferences (FGCs), when completed at the pre-proceedings stage, are an effective way to keep children safely with their families and divert them from public care. Despite this, there is currently limited data on exactly when and how families are presented with an offer of an FGC, and why some families choose to take up this offer or refuse it.

To address this gap, we commissioned Coram and Family Rights Group to conduct research with local authorities into the accessibility and equity of FGCs, particularly for minoritised ethnic and marginalised families, drawing on the experiences of parents and carers.

As a first step, we have published a rapid evidence review which looks at the existing literature on families’ experiences of being offered an FGC. The evidence review focuses on the factors that influence a family’s decision to turn down or take up the offer of an FGC, particularly for families from minoritised ethnic and other marginalised groups.

Why is this work important?

Shortly after this research began, the UK Government announced (in November 2024) that it will mandate the offer of family group decision making (FGDM) for families at the pre-proceedings stage. FGCs are a well-evidenced form of FGDM that many local areas already use widely, and so it is likely that many local authorities will use the FGC model to fulfil this mandate. This research project will provide insights on the experiences of families being offered an FGC, to help service providers understand how they can best enable families to accept the offer of FGC, ultimately helping to keep more children safely with their families.

What did the review find?

The review identifies several barriers and enablers to families accessing FGCs, and highlighted some common reasons why families do or do not accept the offer of an FGC. While there are some clear barriers, including negative previous experiences with statutory services and lack of belief in the effectiveness of the intervention, the study also identifies some factors which help families feel able to accept the offer, such as control over the practical arrangements of the meeting.

In addition, the review summarises factors which might affect practitioners’ decisions on whether to offer an FGC to a family. The findings suggest for example that there are sometimes misunderstandings amongst social workers about what an FGC is, but workforce attitudes and practices are also highlighted as essential enablers for families. The relationship between families and FGC Coordinators is a major factor that influences families’ likelihood to take part in the FGC. The study emphasises the importance of coordinators empowering families to take ownership of the FGC.

The findings of the review also demonstrate the vital importance of the referral and preparation phase for building trust between the coordinator and family members. Although this period requires significant time and effort, it is essential if coordinators are to secure the benefits of the FGC for the family involved.

The study highlights a significant gap in the research on marginalised families’ access to and experience of FGCs, including the factors that might influence their decision on whether to participate. The only research identified here related to minoritised ethnic families, however more work is needed in this area too to further understand the nuances of their experience. From the evidence that was identified, it’s clear that cultural competence and an inclusive setting are vital, particularly in terms of giving families control over practical factors, such as location, and including elements in the meeting itself which may be important to a family’s cultural or ethnic identity.

You can read the full findings here.

How will these findings be used?

These findings will inform our ongoing approach to the wider research project (find out more here). The project combines quantitative and qualitative data to understand why families take up or turn down the offer of FGC; what impacts a local authority’s capacity to offer families FGC; and if marginalised families (such as those from ethnically minoritised communities) experience less access to FGC than other families. In addition to a final report summarising the research findings, due to be published later this year, we will be publishing a set of co-produced, evidence-based recommendations, informed by the research, to help local authorities improve equitable access to FGC for the families they serve.

Read the rapid evidence review | Find out more about the broader project