Welcome to the Research and Practice Network.

Family and Group Conferencing (FGC) is growing as an approach in adult social care and mental health services.  It offers an inclusive process in which people can plan for their support and/or recovery on their own terms - alongside family, friends and other people that matter to them.

The Research and Practice Network provides a forum for developing practice through learning together and exchanging ideas, experiences and findings from research.

This network is hosted by Community Catalysts CIC.

A gathering of minds in London

On Tuesday 8th April, people from across the UK with a passion for Family & Group Conferencing (FGC) for Adults descended on north London for this year’s Research and Practice Network gathering.

People joined us from places as far and wide as Edinburgh, Scarborough, Essex and Hampshire as well as many London Boroughs to hear from a range of voices championing the impact that the approach can make in the lives of local people.

Members came from the worlds of academia, health care, social work practice, training provision and the civil service. Some have adopted the approach for some time and shared how it has become a mainstay, supporting people to have a voice and be in control of their lives. Others have newly adopted the approach within the last year, and many were exploring the model and came keen to learn more.

What stood out was the breadth of applications of the approach across health and social care systems and beyond. We had examples of the model being used to fantastic effect in early help, mental health services, integrated approaches, support planning, perinatal support and assisting people at the end of life.

We explored together the potential for the model beyond these boundaries – with partners in community and voluntary sector, support providers and criminal justice – and we heard of some possible work in these areas.

Tim Fisher (National Practice Lead at Kinship and formerly at Camden) did a wonderful job chairing two panel discussions with a range of voices from the network.

Panel 1 heard from real powerhouses from the F&GC world: Dr Lynn Prendergast (Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust), Annie Ho (Independent Social Worker), Debbie Burns (CEO, Daybreak), Michaela Calvert (Camden resident) and Pete Marsh (University of Sheffield). Each thoughtfully and insightfully shared their vast experience of the how the approach is making a difference and were invited to look ahead to the future of the model.

Panel 2 was a deeper dive into London Borough of Camden as a mature programme and consisted of Jamie Spencer, Katriona Hartnett, Parvin Zaman, Steve and Sean Ahern. Tim invited each panel member to help to ‘bake a cake’ in celebration of Camden’s recent Outstanding award following their CQC assessment. Each brought insights from their experience from their own lives, practice as a Coordinator or in leadership to share the ingredients needed to see F&GC embedded. It certainly made for a tasty creation!

In the afternoon, we heard two brilliantly different practice examples.

Katharine Timson-Sheppard and Joanne Shed talked us through how the model is used within Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT). Essex is the longest running example of the model supporting adults in the UK and is a great showcase of how the NHS can be at the forefront of supporting person-centred planning in recovery and support within mental health services. The presentation set out clearly how FGC is cost effective and making long lasting impact, supporting over 120 families each year. Jo talked about the extension of the approach into perinatal support and how beautifully aligned the model is with NHS England’s three principles for perinatal support. Case studies brought to life the way the approach is enabling people to regain control of their lives, to connect with others and is keeping people safe and well.

To end the day, Jerry Tew and Nick Sinclair opened up discussions around quality standards and development support to grow and strengthen the network. Jerry shared the basis of new standards and guidance due to be released to support areas to reflect on their practice and ensure that the model remains true to its design. Nick shared the early work of Community Catalysts to develop an offer to support new areas to adopt and embed the approach for the first time.

Network members were clear that gathering together to connect and learn from each other was really valued and would like to introduce a virtual gathering between the annual face-to-face events. Watch this space for news of a virtual event in October which will be open to anyone within the FGC space or interested in exploring it.