The process starts with a referral being made to the Adult Family Group Conference service. In most areas it would be the social care practitioner who is most likely to make a referral, but it could be other professionals such as the adult’s GP or families can refer themselves.

For a referral to be made the following will need to be met:

• There are concerns about a adult’s welfare
• The adult (or person acting in Best Interest) agrees to the referral and to the sharing of information.

Whether or not a Family Group Conference takes place is a decision made by the adult. Under no circumstances can an adult be made or forced to have a Family Group Conference.

Once a referral to the Adult Family Group Conference is made, the FGC Lead allocates an Independent FGC Coordinator to commence the process.

The FGC Coordinator helps the adult and their network to plan the meeting and chairs the meeting. The FGC Coordinator is different from the referrer and acts as a neutral person. The FGC Coordinator will not influence the attendees to make a particular decision but will help them to think about the decisions that need to be made. Participants should be offered the opportunity to request a FGC Coordinator who suitably reflects their ethnicity, language, religion or gender, and the adults’ request should be accommodated wherever possible.

Please click here for Family Group Conference adults referral form.