Family conference scheme expanded citywide (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Family conference scheme expanded citywide

June 4, 2010 12:00 AM

The leader of Leeds Lib Dems has welcomed the expansion of a project aimed at reducing the number of local children who are taken into care.

The Family Group Conference service will be rolled out across the city from September this year, following a successful pilot in South Leeds.

The service identifies children at risk of going into care at an early stage and aims to stop this from happening by setting up a conference involving the child's family. At this conference the issues concerning the child are discussed and the family draws up an action plan to address them.

Outside agencies like the council or the police are involved in facilitating the conference, providing information about the child and outlining the services and support they can make available. An independent co-ordinator is also appointed to work with the family in setting up the meeting. However, the action plan is drawn up entirely by the family, with the other agencies agreeing to it unless it places the child at risk of harm.

The approach has been tested in a pilot in South Leeds, which has been underway since December 2008. This pilot has been a big success, with eighteen families taking part, yet only one of these resulting in the child being taken into care.

The council will spend £172,500 on expanding the pilot across the city in 2010/11. Cllr Stewart Golton, (Lib Dem Rothwell), welcomed the news:

"During my time in charge of children's services and as a councillor in the pilot area, I saw first hand the success of this approach in preventing vulnerable children going into care.

"I am pleased that the new administration is sticking by our policy to extend the family group conference programme across the city.

"The key to the success of this approach is it makes sure that the child's family are the ones making the decisions. The council and other agencies play a facilitating role, but the plan is drawn up by the family alone.

"This is a very empowering process and means that the measures they agree have a much greater chance of being followed through and succeeding."