How Do Family Group Conference Outcomes Vary By Implementation Context and Quality of Experience?

Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are family-led planning meetings that bring together kinship and social networks to make decisions for children in need or at risk. Widely adopted in many countries since the 1990s, FGCs are now offered by four out of five UK local authorities. Despite their growing use, limited research examines how FGC outcomes vary by context and mechanism—particularly how family participation, a central tenet of the model, shapes child and family outcomes. This study addresses that gap by exploring how variation in the quality and implementation of FGCs influences their effectiveness and acceptability. In doing so, it contributes to evidence-informed policy and more equitable, participatory child welfare practices.

To answer the research question, we collected data from families and children involved in the FGC shortly before, two weeks after, and six months after the FGC meetings, working with local authorities across the UK. The final analysis included 380 child and adult family members from 155 families. The questionnaires were co-designed with FGC practitioners and people with lived experience of having an FGC for their own family. Quantitative outcomes were based on validated measures, including the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale, and process satisfaction scales. We used paired t-tests to assess changes in child’s quality of life over time, and Pearson correlations and regression models to explore the associations between participation at the FGC and outcomes. We also conducted subgroup analysis to examine the differences in outcomes of different groups, including by ethnicity, family concerns, and mode of FGC delivery.

We found that children’s quality of life improved significantly between the pre-FGC assessment and two weeks following the conference, with greater gains observed among families reporting higher levels of participation. Perceptions of child safety and satisfaction with the FGC process were consistently high and positively associated with level of participation. Notably, families from ethnic minority backgrounds reported stronger perceptions of both child safety and the importance of the FGC. While families experiencing domestic abuse reported minimal short-term improvements in child outcomes, they demonstrated more substantial gains over the longer term, highlighting the importance of sustained support beyond the initial FGC process.

This study demonstrates that quality of family participation is an important mechanism linking FGC process to positive child and family outcomes, especially in the short-term. The findings of this research highlight the importance of having inclusive, well-facilitated conferences that centre around family voice. However, we also found the positive effect from the FGC levelled off after six months, suggesting the importance of providing follow-up support to families after FGCs. The research contributes to the discussion of aligning social work science with practice and policy, by emphasising the context and mechanisms of FGCs that can improve outcomes for children and families involved.