A family group conference or FGC is a meeting of family members and any other people close to an adult, where they can talk about what is needed to support them.  The conference gives the adult and his group space to make plans and decisions to better support the adult and meet the goals they want to achieve.

A family group conference can enable practitioners to recognise and work with the complexities within family networks. An FGC can utilise existing systems of self-support and self-determination to 'unlock' situations that might seem irretrievably stuck. FGCs can also work well when someone is just starting to have issues, to put a preventative plan in place.

Family group conferences are voluntary and are usually externally procured service by the local authority, although some areas have an in house FGC service. The use of an independent facilitator is a major benefit for families where relationships with adult social care can become fractious.

Areas that are using Adult FGC include Birmingham, Coventry, Edinburgh, Essex and the London Borough of Camden.

Alice - a picture portrait; this film tells the incredible story of Alice and her experience of having a family group conference in Camden.