Working in partnership with families through participative meetings

There are several models for involving family members in decision making where there are concerns about a child, rather than key decisions being made in a professionally-led case conference.

These models include family group conferences, the model most widely used in the UK. This webinar includes an overview of international research evidence about shared-decision-making family meetings and a presentation on how two English local authorities have recently expanded the use of such meetings.

The research overview includes the findings of a systematic review of evidence on outcomes and a realist review focused on how meetings can enable families to fully participate in decision-making. The practice presentation covers an example of how family group conferencing and participative child protection conferences have replaced traditional case conferences.

Speakers: 

• Jonathan Scourfield and Lorna Stabler (CASCADE, Cardiff University)
• Kathy Nuza, Primary Lead, Bi Borough Family Group Conference Service (Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster)