Sometimes families may find themselves in situations where they need some support in making plans and agreements to ensure the safety and wellbeing of a child. Y Bont offers a range of services to families via referrals from an agency. These services are provided by our experienced team who will offer families independence and respect.
Family Group Conferences
The Family Group Conference Service at Y Bont is called Cwlwm. A family group conference is a process led by family members to plan and make decisions for a child who is in need or at risk. Children and young people are normally involved in their own family group conference, as are all who are important in their lives, including extended family and friends. It is a voluntary process and families cannot be forced to have a family group conference.
Cwlwm Family Group Conferences can be used in the following circumstances:
- Early intervention, What matters, Families First.
- Child Protection, case conference recommendations.
- PLO, letter before proceedings.
- LAC, either identify kinship carers or plan family contact.
- Re-unification, plan for children returning home.
- Leaving Care, involve family in transition planning.
- Youth Justice, Education, parents in prison.
The Cwlwm service has been accredited under the national Quality Assurance scheme for FGC services.
Mediation
Mediation is a process to broker an agreement between 2 equal parties.
Mediation between young people and their parents/carers
At Y Bont we offer a service between young people and their parents/ carers make agreements so that there is less conflict at home and the young person’s place in the family home may become more stable.
The mediator will speak to each party individually and then organise a joint session where each party will listen to the other and then work towards a win win agreement.
Mediation between parents
Y Bont offers parents a mediation service when they want to make an agreement around the children. Often emotions are heightened and by using a mediator to help facilitate an agreement inter parental conflict can be reduced, which benefits any children involved. The mediator will speak to each parent individually and where possible will consult with the children to feed their wishes and feelings in to any agreements that the parents will make.
How to refer
Families can be referred by our partner agencies.