Where families experience challenging times, family group decision making is a way of supporting a child’s extended family and friends to play an active role in decision making about how that child should be looked after. With support from a family group decision-making coordinator, families develop a plan, which they also agree with social work.
FGDM is a decision-making model, otherwise known as family group conferencing (FGC). In Scotland, the model is set out in National Standards and Practice Guidance, which were developed by the National Family Group Decision Making Steering Group.
It is designed to empower children and families, help them share their views and play an active part in decisions that affect them.
Evidence has shown that FGDM leads to a statistically significant reduction in children becoming ‘looked after’ when offered before court proceedings.
The Promise Oversight Board Report Three has identified a need to "ensure ...{FGDM}... is available to everyone who would benefit from it wherever they live in Scotland, and that it is sustainably funded”. FGDM also helps public authorities to demonstrate that they have taken steps to respect, protect and fulfil rights obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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FGDM Accredited Training
A course for social workers, health, social care & children’s services professionals
FGDM Information for families
Family group decision making information for families
National Standards and Practice Guidance
The Family Group Decision Making National Standards and Practice Guidance assist individuals and agencies to develop and sustain effective FGDM services. The Practice Guidance offers support to agencies and practitioners to quality assure and adapt their FGDM practice in line with wider national policy and guidance and provide a tool to support the development of FGDM across Scotland.
The standards and practice guidance were developed by the Scottish National FGDM Steering Group. The Steering Group consists of all FGDM agency and service leads, as well as relevant academic, strategic and policy stakeholders from across Scotland, and is coordinated by an independent chair. Steering Group members take an active role in supporting the development and implementation of new services, sharing their experience, resources and knowledge with new providers of FGDM. The Steering Group also has a role in supporting and influencing quality assurance and continued improvement, as well as evidencing and influencing best practice across Scotland, in line with and in response to research,
policy and legislation.
Find out more about developing services in your area
Children First brought FGDM to Scotland over twenty years ago and the third sector, including Children First, continue to deliver almost half of the FGDM services available to families in Scotland. To find out more about how we support families in your area or to discuss developing an FGDM service in partnership with us contact: cfs@childrenfirst.org.uk
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