Mental Health Family Group Conferencing (MHFGC)

Summary

Adult Mental Health Family Group Conferencing (MHFGC) is a family-led decision-making approach that gives families and their wider support network the opportunity to find solutions to identified areas of need.

We currently offer the MHFGC process in the following areas:

• care planning and decision making
• social isolation
• managing emerging adult safeguarding concerns
• self-directed support planning

Service information

The process

The MHFGC process starts with the adult accessing a secondary mental health service. They are supported to participate fully and express their views throughout.

One-to-one work takes place with the adult. This is led by the adult and identifies areas of focus. The adult determines what topics are brought to the family meeting (the MHFGC).

The adult identifies who from their network they would like to involve in the process. Their professional network is also integral.

The MHFGC coordinator meets with the network individually. The MHFGC coordinator aids the network in identifying concerns and to consider how to discuss these effectively together.

The meeting

This is held in three parts:

• Information sharing: The adult, their family, friends and professionals involved talk together to discuss the areas agreed prior to the meeting, this builds a wider understanding throughout the network and generates ideas for a plan.
• Private time: Family/ friends have time away from professionals to agree on how the plan will work for them.
• Validate the plan: The MHFGC coordinator and lead professional return to the room to discuss the plan and consider if a review will be required. The plan is then written up, shared with and signed by all involved.

Up to three meetings will be held with the adult and their network. Ongoing work is carried out alongside the adult and their network in between each meeting to support the plan.

Possible Outcomes:

• Strengthen relationships, and clarify roles within the network.
• Reorganise and connect the adult with a network of support.
• Further family work, such as family therapy.
• Decrease the stress placed on the network.
• Empower the network to recognise their own needs.
• Increase understanding of strengths and needs between individuals across the whole system.

Referral information

• The adult referred in is open to EPUT secondary services and is aged between 18 to 65 years old.
• A direct discussion with the adult has taken place and they have consented to be referred into MHFGC.
• If the referrer is not the care co / lead practitioner i.e. carer link worker, inpatient nurse; then referrer will need to inform care co / lead practitioner and be in agreement before making the referral.
• All our referrals are treated as routine.