Member

Amendment 7 would ensure that the expectation for family group decision-making to be a process—not just a one-off meeting, but a process which includes rigorous preparation—is set in legislation. Amendment 9 seeks to ensure the family network’s involvement throughout the process, particularly in implementing the proposed plan. Foundations has tested this as a thorough-going process which involves referral, preparation, the meeting, discussion, consensus about a plan, implementation and review of the plan. This is the approach that the commissioned study found to be effective. The aim of the process is to create and agree a plan to keep children safe. It features a family-led approach throughout, including ongoing joint working. My experience as a social worker was that it did not matter now dysfunctional and awful the family was, the children still wanted to know what was going on and what their relationship might be. Every other country in Europe thinks we are mad not to involve parents more in the whole proceedings and process, even if the decision is not to place the child with the family. It is a serious issue in our system.