Purpose

The future delivery of Family Group Conferences in Wiltshire following the current contract ending on March 31st 2024

Decision

Resolved:

Cabinet agreed to:

1)    Approve a budget of £900,000 over a possible five years, for the delivery of Family Group Conferences. The contract will be offered initially for three (3) years with a possible two-year (2) extension.

2)    Approve that Family Group Conferences is commissioned externally through an open procurement from 1 April 2025.

3)    To delegate authority to approve and award a new contract and any future extensions and all associated documents to the Director of Commissioning and the Corporate Director responsible for People in consultation with theDeputy Leader and the Cabinet Member responsible for Children’s Services, Education and Skills.

Reason for Proposals

To make Family Group Conferences (FGC) available to all families that would benefit from this approach.

According to results from a study conducted by Coram in June 2023 children whose families were referred for FGC are significantly less likely to go into care or to be taken to court for decisions about their care. This service not only forms an important intervention to support the well-being of children but also prevents the potential for costlier interventions later.

The FGC service offers cost effective family focussed support for families. The Coram Report recommends that ‘Local authorities should continue the use of FGCs at pre-proceedings stage where services already exist and consider their introduction in other areas’.

The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care – Final report by Josh McAllister recommends that more should be done to involve family members and wider networks in the decision about children’s care.