Social and Educational Sciences Department

Coordinator in the Family Council

Family group conference
Beratungssituation

The family council is a procedure for activating the family system to develop and implement individually suitable solutions to existing family issues on the basis of a care formulation by child and youth welfare services. It is positioned between civil society and the authorities and strengthens civic responsibility and commitment.

Period:

08/03/ – 19/07/2025

Status:
Free places
Registration end:
Format:
Seminar
Degree:
Certificate of attendance
Requirements:

Completed studies or vocational training and professional experience

Participation fee:

1,490 euros

Portrait Querformat Hubert Höllmüller

The family council is a real game-changer: Within the clear framework of child protection, it restores the competence and right of family systems to solve their own challenges. This is active participation at eye level, something that social work has been demanding for decades. Ask the family!

 

FH-Prof. Mag. Dr. Hubert Höllmüller, M. Sc.
Scientific management

At a glance

Back in the 1990s, the New Zealand legislature introduced a radical change to help planning for youth welfare offices and family courts: the Family Group Conference (FGC). As a result, an unprecedented level of involvement of children, young people and parents in their support planning was realised. The legally enshrined administrative procedure guarantees autonomy for the affected parties in developing their own plans. Specialists are not present during the planning phases, but agree to the plan. FGC thrives on involving as many people as possible in the help process. In educational support, it is a circular and self-empowering alternative to help plan discussions.

Key aspects

  • Concept of the family council
  • Further group conferencing models
  • Ethical aspects
  • System analysis of child and youth welfare
  • Practical exercise
  • Abstinence from solutions and professionalism

Methods

  • Theoretical and practice-orientated inputs
  • Work on case studies and participants' topics
  • Plenary discussions, small group work, exercises, role play

Target group

Specialists and managers in social work and the psychosocial support field

Topics

  • Exchange and familiarisation 
  • Empowerment
  • Resource-orientation
  • Participation
  • Process
  • Milestones
  • Follow-up advice

Module 1 provides answers to the questions:

How does a family council work? Where does the model come from? Where is it already being used? Why should we trust families to master their challenges themselves?

  • Family council in child welfare
  • Role clarity for specialists and coordination 
  • Participation of children and young people in the family council 
  • Implementation practice at the Stuttgart Youth Welfare Office

Module 2 provides answers to the following questions:

How is child protection ensured with the involvement of the social networks? What roles do the commissioning professional and the coordinator have, especially in child protection? How can children and young people be involved in the family council?

  • Case studies on the formulation of care
  • Building blocks
  • Teaching the method
  • Understanding the role of coordination 
  • abstinence from solutions as solution 

Module 3 provides answers to the following questions:

Why "care" and not "problem"? Why is the best solution your own solution? What remains of professionalism if we do not specify the solution and do not even suggest it? How to deal with ‘family secrets’? When do I have to report risks? 

  • Initial situation of a family council
  • Role descriptions
  • Acting out the process
  • Stepping out of the roles and reflect together 

Module 4 provides answers to the following questions:

How authentic can a role play be? Does it make the family council more understandable? What experiences can be gained in the roles? Is the family council really suitable for all the challenges of family systems? 

Dates & Schedule

Scope
37 seminar hours

Module 1 –  on campus 08/03/2025Saturday, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm 
Module 2 –  online 03/ – 04/04/2025 Thursday and Friday, 3.00 pm – 7.00 pm 
Module 3 –  online 12/ – 13/05/2025 Thursday and Friday, 3.00 pm – 7.00 pm 
Module 4 –  on campus 18/ – 19/07/2025 Friday and Saturday, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm 

 

Registration & Information

ZEW – Further Education Unit

weiterbildung@fh-potsdam.de
House 4
Room 1.10

Koordination

Anna Scheller
Coordination & Organisation ZEW
Register now