Family Meeting Service

Every family faces difficulties at one time or another and we believe that those people who are closest to the child or young person are best placed to explore solutions and assist in identifying a way forward.

Sometimes difficult situations can be more easily managed with the help from relatives and friends (Kin) when the issues are shared.  A Family Decision-Making Meeting is a good way of achieving this. There are a number of different ways we can support families to explore issues that they are dealing with and as a result make shared decisions that are in the best interests of the child or young person.

The end result should be a clear family plan where the child or young person’s voice is at the centre.

All our family meetings are organised and led by an independent coordinator who has been trained for the role. We work in a collaborative way with each family to design a process that will reflect and support their unique circumstances.

Preparation for each person taking part in any meeting is the key to success and we take time to meet with people wherever they feel comfortable. This is often in their family home.

We offer advocacy to children, young people and any significant adult who require support to have their voice heard within the process.

Outcomes for Family Decision-making Meetings include:

• Improved family relationships
• Shared family decision-making where there are short or long term decisions to be made about the care and welfare of a child or young person
• Support parents in their parenting role
• Children’s contact with their family enhanced
• Involving the wider family to support children who have significant needs
• Exploring supports for a parent with mental or physical ill health issues
• Young people 16+ assisted in their preparation for independent living
• Looked After Children supported to return to their families
• Helppng relatives to identify Kinship care for children or young people

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• What happens at a family decision-making meeting?

  One type of family meeting is called a Family Group Conference. Following individual preparation by the coordinator, a meeting is organised at a time and venue to suit the family. During this meeting family and friends have private time to draw up a family plan.  The family are the decision makers in a family meeting and any plan produced by them to address the concerns raised in respect of the child/ young person should be accepted and resourced unless it places the child/young person at risk.

  View our family meeting service booklet in the resources section for more information on the service and different types of family decision-making that we can support.

  Referral Information