Meet . . . the family group conferencing manager

Children may be in need for a number of reasons.
They may not be properly cared for at home for example, or they could be at risk of violence, bullying or playing truant due to difficult family circumstances.
But Gill Kennett and her team may be able to help.
They organise family group conferences in which the different adults in a child's life are invited to come together for a meeting with the hope of finding solutions to improve the welfare of the child.
It's an idea developed in New Zealand's Maori communities, which was brought to Hull by the city council eight years ago.
A conference can involve any number of family members including divorced parents, grandparents, non-blood relatives such as guardians and foster carers, and often the children and young people themselves, if appropriate.
"We deal with families where children are in need or at risk," says Gill who organises more than 100 conferences every year.
"In a situation where both parents are drug users, a solution might be that a grandparent visits the home everyday to make sure the children are okay.
"This is the sort of thing that would be agreed at the conference, and could, in some cases, prevent children becoming 'looked after'.
"You often find that adults in a child's life have huge differences of opinion, but it's very humbling to see them putting aside these differences to focus on the good of the child."
The conferences usually take place at community centres or the Gleneagles Childcare Centre, on East Carr Road.
The conference could result in a child going to live with another parent, under a plan drawn up in conjunction with social workers, for example.
"One teenager getting into trouble a lot kept saying he wanted to go and live with his father," adds Gill.
"But his father never bothered to turn up to the conference – so that brought home the reality about which family members truly cared about him.
"The nice part is that sometimes, the very fact that we are organising a conference means that there is no need for one to take place in the end because the family themselves resolve the issues beforehand."

To read about more examples of how Hull City Council is helping children and young people see pages 12 and 13. For more information contact 300000 or visit www.hullcc.gov.uk