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BJSW Advance Access published online on September 18, 2009
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp102
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

Building Bridges in Liverpool: Exploring the Use of Family Group Conferences for Black and Minority Ethnic Children and their Families

Ruth O'Shaughnessy, Catherine Collins and Iyabo Fatimilehin

Dr Ruth O'Shaughnessy worked as an assistant psychologist at the Building Bridges Service during the implementation of the Family Group Conference initiative. She is currently employed as a Clinical Psychologist in an early years Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service at Alder Hey. Her interests include critical and community psychology approaches, attachment theory, infant mental health and using collaborative research methodologies. Catherine Collins was employed as Lead Family Group Conference Coordinator in the Building Bridges Service and led the development of the Family Group Conference initiative. She is a qualified social worker and is currently employed as a Mental Health Practitioner in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for Looked After Children in Liverpool. Her interests include attachment and looked after children. Dr Iyabo Fatimilehin was Service Lead and Consultant Clinical Psychologist for the Building Bridges Service and CAMHS Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) lead for Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. She currently works as an independent practitioner and trainer.

Correspondence to Dr Ruth O'Shaughnessy, Working Together, Early Years CAMHS, Croxteth Gems, Armill Road, Liverpool, L11 4TR, UK. E-mail: ruth.oshaughnessy{at}alderhey.nhs.uk


  Abstract

There is little national or international research that examines how Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are being used with, or viewed by, black and minority ethnic (BME) children and families. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a FGC project by Building Bridges, a service commissioned to address the psychological and mental health needs of BME children and their families in Liverpool (UK). The evaluation uses both quantitative and qualitative information to explore the use of the FGC model within diverse communities and contexts. The authors conclude that although the model is effective and culturally appropriate, there may be challenges in terms of the range and depth of needs that can be met through the FGC intervention model. Suggestions are made for maximising the cultural application of the model and recommendations are made for further research to explore the views of BME children and their families.

Keywords: Family Group Conference, black, minority ethnic, qualitative, evaluation


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