Family Group Conference Volunteer (YOT)

We are looking for advocate volunteers to assist in supporting vulnerable family members, to participate in a Family Group Conference. A family group conference is a process led by family members to plan and make decisions for a child who is at risk.  

This could be supporting parents with learning difficulties who may struggle to express their views, or a parent who feels that the rest of the family blames them for what has gone wrong. The role of the advocate for any vulnerable adult at the Family Group Conference (FGC) can be essential to its success. 

A family group conference is a process led by family members to plan and make decisions for a child who is at risk. Children and young people are normally involved in their own family group conference, although often with support from an advocate (not provided through this role). It is a voluntary process and families cannot be forced to have a family group conference. 

The FGC YOS volunteer would assist in supporting adult family members who are vulnerable e.g. parents with learning difficulties who may struggle to express their views, or a parent who feels that the rest of the family blames them for what has gone wrong, to participate in a Family Group Conference. The role of the advocate for any vulnerable adult at the Family Group Conference (FGC) can be essential to its success. 

The advocate should be clear with the participant about the limits of confidentiality. When applied in a FGC context, without compromising the safety of the child, the core goal of advocacy is twofold:  

1. to empower parents to participate in this Children’s Services FGC process from an informed position, speaking for themselves wherever possible, and  

2. to promote good communication, and a positive working relationship, between the parents and the local authority.  

We are particularly looking for volunteers who are willing to travel to the Mendip and West Somerset area