Families should have a legal right to group conferences

All families should have a legal entitlement to a family group conference when concerns are raised about them, according to a commission set up by the charity 4Children.

The Family Commission, chaired by Esther Rantzen, consulted 10,000 families across the country over 18 months to understand their support needs.

It called for more family intervention projects – intensive family support when crisis events occur and children are at risk of being taken into care.

It also recommended a legal entitlement for all such families to have family group conferences, which are meetings of the extended family and professionals to decide on action plans to resolve crises.

The report has also called for extended family members to be the first choice when parents cannot look after their children.

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