This work focuses on the use of family group conferences to meet these goals, encouraging all family members to work and plan together for the welfare of children. Child welfare professionals have increasingly come to realize the importance of working towards a "partnership" with parents, even when children cannot be looked after at home or where there are serious problems in caring for them. In recent years, ideas on partnership have been developed to include more involvement of other relatives in thinking about the child's welfare. The book assists the professional to put the planning and theory of the conferences into practice. It examines the context, origins and development of social services. It also looks at the interaction between the families and the professionals, and the role of conferences in relation to specific situations, such as child protection. The book offers views from professionals and families on the practicalities of family group conferences, how they are managed and their outcomes. It provides an outline of "best practice" for staff and for trainers, and includes examples from conferences in practice.