Provision of Family Group Conferences 2020

Dorset Council is seeking tenders from suitably experienced and capable service providers for a Family Group Conference (FGC) Service.

A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a decision making and planning process facilitated independently, where the wider family and friend’s network agree and make plans and decisions for children and young people who

• have been identified as being at risk
• and are in need of a plan that will safeguard and promote their welfare
• and which will address the problems identified by professionals who know the child.

Family Group Conferences are arranged and co-ordinated by a Service Provider following an appropriate referral. They can be held for a variety of reasons related to the welfare of the child or young person. An FGC can involve all family members, friends and other adults who the family feel can contribute to making plans for the children. The decision makers at family group conferences are the family members and not the professionals. Professionals though, can also be included in the process as appropriate and with the agreement of the family.

Dorset Council has commissioned the use of Family Group Conferences since late 2015 initially as a short-term pilot scheme and then through a longer formal contract. Demand for the service has grown quickly. It is anticipated to increase further as the benefits of FGCs become more widely known.

The Service Provider shall:
• Organise all Family Group Conferences and FGC Review Meeting arrangements,
• Ensure participation of parents/carers and families,
• Build and maintain relationships with other services
• and meet all the requirements of the service specification attached to this tender.

The Service Specification also details the service aims and objectives, description of the service and eligibility, staffing requirements, referral process, performance management and reporting.

This tender relates to provisions for children, young people, adults and their families.

The contract will commence from 1st August 2020 and will run for a period of 1 year with the possibility of 2 further 12-month extension periods.