Family Group Conferencing (FGC) is a family led decision-making approach where
practical plans are made by the family to keep children safe and improve their quality
of life. FGC has attracted worldwide interest from policymakers, researchers and
practitioners for its potential to: involve families in the decision-making process in
child and families social work; keeping children safe within a culture of co-operation
between the state and families. There is significant empirical research about the
impact of the FGC process on families, and its immediate outcomes but less is
known about outcomes in the longer-term.
This thesis reports on the findings of a retrospective qualitative study, which sought
to understand the contribution FGC makes to longer-term outcomes for looked after
children at risk of being accommodated, and their families. Eleven FGC examples
were studied across five local government areas in Scotland. Each example includes
the perspective of different stakeholders in the process including: looked after
children, their parents and extended family (n=32), and professionals (n=28)
involved with them. Criteria for case selection included: the child and family had
originally been referred to FGC service because the family social worker considered
the child was at risk of being accommodated; the stages of FGC had been achieved
and a family meeting had taken place at least one year prior to the data being
collected; the age of the child who was the focus of the meeting was over eight years
old wherever possible; and the core family members were prepared to be involved in
the study. Individual, joint or group interviews were conducted to provide multidimensional
perspectives of the FGC phenomena. FGC service documents (n=94)
were also analysed, providing data of social activity that occurred prior to the study.
This study challenges current outcome focused paradigms, arguing for a more
complex and nuanced understanding of outcomes in child welfare, where the child
and family, alongside professionals, are valued in the identification and measurement
of outcomes. Evidence from this study highlights the need to accept two sets of
outcomes when considering FGC contribution: personal and professional. The
identification of outcomes in this manner supports three interconnected issues argued
throughout the thesis in relation to contribution. Firstly, process matters to the
service user and his/her experience of the service and opinion of outcomes.
Secondly, what professionals do and how they do it is important to the outcomes of
families requiring support - relationships and practice are therefore central concerns
in understanding how and why families achieve (or not) longer-term outcomes.
Finally, who defines outcomes and to what purpose is significant when
conceptualising outcomes.
The study draws on empowerment, recognition and partnership theories to better
understand FGCs contribution to longer–term outcomes for children and families.
The study found the FGC process contributed towards building service users’
capacities to reflect on their own and acknowledge others’ experiences and
situations. Feelings of increased confidence, self-respect and self-esteem, derived
from the FGC process, contributed towards improved social relations and a sense of
control over their own lives. This increased capacity can support family members to
manage future crises and conflict if they arise. FGC offers professional and service
users an opportunity to reframe unhelpful attitudes towards each other. In the longer
term this can contribute towards families reduced need for social work services
and/or improved working relationships between social work and families.
This study has significance for all professionals working with looked after children
and their families; contributes to the theoretical knowledge applied in social work
practice; and is applicable when considering the implementation and impact of child
welfare policy in Scotland and internationally