Children's Information

Tricky words

You may not understand all the words on this website as some words are a bit tricky. To help you understand any tricky words we have underlined them with a dotted line. Just hover over them with your mouse to see what they mean.

What is a Family Group Conference?

• Everyone has problems at school and at home from time to time. A Family Group Conference can be the start to helping you and your family sort things out.
• Everyone in your family, other relatives and friends who care about you, meet together so they can all talk about what could happen in the future. Then they make a plan .

Who comes?

Your social worker , sometimes your foster carers , school staff and other people that work with your family

• Sometimes someone may be invited along to provide information to you and your family
• And of course your family are invited.

Who sorts the meeting out?

• You will have your own " independent co-ordinator "
• They are separate from your school staff and your social worker
• They will come and talk to you and your family about the meeting and let you know what it could be like for you
• Your family will help decide when and where the meeting is held
• It may be held in your school or a place near your home
• It isn't usually held in someone's home or in a social services building
• And you won't have to sit round a big table with everyone staring at you.
• The co-ordinator will welcome everyone.
• Then your social worker , teacher or other professionals there will explain the difficulties you may be having at school or home and they will explain how they can help.
• Then you and your family will have some time in private to talk it all over and to come up with a plan for your future.
• There will be some food and drink for people to help themselves to.
• At the end the plan is written down and agreed by everyone so they know what will happen next.

Do I have to go?

Have your say!

• It is important that you have your say too
• This may be hard for you though, so there are ways you can talk to your co-ordinator about it, so that you can be helped this way
• You can make pictures, a tape of you speaking; a video or you can have an advocate to help you
• This person can be a friend, relative, teacher or your co-ordinator can arrange for someone who is trained to help you have your say
• Having a Family Group Conference is not a Magic Wand!
• Everyone at the meeting - you, your family, and the professionals will have to try their best to make things work
• Sometimes a second meeting (a follow-up ) in a few months time is a good way to check how it's been going for you.

FGC Fun Time!

• Yahooligans

Yahooligans is a web guide for children and includes online games to play. Choose from Pokemon, Scooby-doo! and many more.

• CBBC

The CBBC website is part of the BBC website and includes activities for children including online games such as Horrible Histories and TAG team. There is also a Cartoons section and Sport section.