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Andrew R

@fgdm.bsky.social
4K followers 921 following 35 posts

#FamilyGroupConference & #LifelongLinks Team Manager, sailing, running, family 🌱 Please follow @familyrightsgp.bsky.social

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Reposted by Andrew R
Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
⏰Head over to YouTube at 1pm today for the premiere of 'A father's story - a film for Black History Month'. Father of three Elliott opens up about his family’s experience seeking support from children’s services—despite fears of ethnic bias & negative stereotypes. 🔗https://ow.ly/3lZk50XbFLS
ow.ly
A film for Black History Month 2025
For Black History Month 2025, Elliott, a proud black man and father of three, shares his family’s journey. He talks about approaching children’s services for...
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
🌟 We're Hiring: Senior Fundraising Development Manager 🌟 📍 Location: Hybrid 🕒 Hours: Full-time – variations possible 💼 Salary: £49,792 (including £3,650 London allowance) 📅 Deadline: 9am, Monday 3rd November 2025 (9am) Find out more and apply: ow.ly/UTnz50Xbayt #Hiring
We're recruiting! Senior Fundraising Development Manager. Full time - variations possible
Family Rights Group logo
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will make it mandatory for local authorities to offer families the opportunity to come up with solutions for their children’s welfare. Find out how we can help your local authority to do it right. 👉 frg.org.uk/training-con...
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
📢 Ofsted visit to @sandwellcouncil.bsky.social children’s services highlights benefits of FGCs. FGCs are making a real difference in places like Sandwell but the offer is inconsistent across the country. Let’s make FGCs a national standard, not a postcode lottery. Learn more: ow.ly/vh5V50Wxm7v
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Went to see Elio today. A story about a young man in kinship care, feeling isolated on a search to find a sense of belonging. Amazing film! Love the aliens too!!
media.tenor.com
a picture of a boy and a monster with the word elio on the bottom
ALT: a picture of a boy and a monster with the word elio on the bottom
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
✈️ Lifelong Links goes international! We’re excited to share a glimpse from a recent trip to Oslo, where @cathyashley.bsky.social and @pamledward.bsky.social alongside FGC service manager Nicky Pallis, presented Lifelong Links to Norwegian sector leaders. #LifelongLinks #BuildNotBreak #Norway #Oslo
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
We’re pleased to be working with @foundationsww.bsky.social and @wearecoram.bsky.social on this important research project exploring how Family Group Conferences (FGCs) are offered to families in England. The newly published rapid evidence review is the first step in this vital work.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
🌟 It’s #CarersWeek2025 Sharon is a kinship carer raising her grandchildren. In this blog, she opens up about the emotional and financial sacrifices she’s made, to provide a stable and loving home for her grandchildren. Read it here: ow.ly/G02w50W6TYn
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Today, the Government announced the #SpendingReview. FRG welcomes the commitment to investing in a children’s social care system where families get help early before their problems escalate. The need for urgent action is clear. Our full response: frg.org.uk/news-blogs-a...
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Reform UK hosted 15 year old boys at Weatherspoons pub in Folkestone this weekend. Bought them chips and drinks. There is a very targeted ongoing campaign to enroll youth into their party.
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
In relation to cutting budgets, new Reform UK councillor in Kent said the focus will be on children and adults social care and SEN. Only 6 of the 57 have any political experience. MAGA hats were being worn at the polling stations. This is not going to be good.
Quote from reform councillor saying they’re going to focus on cutting budgets of children’s social care
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
In a new blog for Children & Young People Now, FRG Chief Exec @cathyashley.bsky.social and @childrenfirst.bsky.social Chief Exec @margl24.bsky.social tell us to take a step back and reimagine how we support children and families in need. Read the full blog here: www.cypnow.co.uk/content/blog...
cypnow.co.uk
Taking the long view on family-group decision-making - CYP Now
Tackling the serious challenges facing children and young people can feel overwhelming, and conversations about what we can do about it can feel like they go round in circles.
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Family Law News @familylaw.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/04/24/n...
communitycare.co.uk
New private law model substantially improves experiences of children and families, say practitioners - Community Care
However, pathfinder approach poses resource challenge for Cafcass due to need for upfront investment of social worker time, finds study
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
If you’re looking for information or training on family group decision making, go to www.frg.org.uk for all your fgdm needs @familyrightsgp.bsky.social
frg.org.uk
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Jess Phillips @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Slowly but surely we will change the picture.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
We are delighted to be working with Foundations, Coram, Daybreak and Data to Insight to improve insight in families' access to FGCs. Our new report reveals that very few local authorities report on the outcomes of FGCs for families. Read more: ow.ly/1qg150Va6hZ
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
200 autistic children and children with learning disabilities are still detained in UK mental health hospitals. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Autistic woman wrongly locked up in mental health hospital for 45 years
“Kasibba”, who is non-verbal and had no family to speak for her, was one of hundreds wrongly detained.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
📢 Need advice about children’s services? We’re here to help! If you’re a parent, kinship carer, relative, or friend of a child involved with children’s services in England, our free advice service can support you. frg.org.uk/get-help-and... #HelplinesAwarenessDay
A mother who called our advice line said: "The lady I spoke with was amazing at explaining why social services had put these things in place. The information she gave me was crucial, to helping me process what had happened and how to make things better." Call us free on 08088010366 Monday to Friday 930am to 3pm, or visit www.frg.org.uk.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
This week, in a first for our panel of parents with lived experience of children's social care, they met with Children's Minister @janetdaby.bsky.social. A "pivotal moment" in @angelafrazerwicks.bsky.social's words - "from being seen as part of the problem to being seen as part of the solution."
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Great webinar on #FamilyGroupDecisionMaking with @familyrightsgp.bsky.social today. Family group conferences are an evidence based decision-making meeting for families when they need it most.
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
A Family Group Conference is an evidence based way of keeping children with their families. PS it is also evidenced to save local authority money! Bonus. #familygroupconference #fgdm #familygroupdecisionmaking
media.tenor.com
a group of cartoon animals are standing in the snow and one of them says my whole familia
ALT: a group of cartoon animals are standing in the snow and one of them says my whole familia
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
🗓️Exclusive online briefing for councillors including lead members for children's services in England. Join us tomorrow to explore the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill and how your local authority can deliver the new mandate to offer family group decision making meetings frg.org.uk/events/counc...
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
🗓️Exclusive online briefing for councillors including lead members for children's services in England. Join us next Thursday to explore the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill and how your authority can deliver the new mandate to offer family group decision making meetings. frg.org.uk/events/counc...
A briefing from Family Rights Group for councillors on family group conferences, Thursday 30th January 12 noon to 1pm. Text over an image of a council chamber.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
New analysis by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory has found nearly 3,000 newborn babies were subject to care proceedings in England in 2022-23-an increase of nearly 20% since 2012-13. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
theguardian.com
‘I can’t sleep, I’m terrified’: the rise in mothers having their babies taken away within days of giving birth in England
Charity finds ‘inhumane’ system is forcing women to defend themselves in court, sometimes from their hospital beds, while in fear of having their newborn child taken from them
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Journalists in UK now allowed to report from family courts
bbc.co.uk
Family courts: 'Watershed moment' as press allowed to report
From Monday, journalists can speak to families about ongoing cases and report what they hear in court.
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
“We don’t have to go to the highest extremes of contempt when we are in a position of disagreement”
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Now is a once in a generation opportunity for family group conferences to be a legal right for families in England Find out more here: frg.org.uk/policy-and-c... Spread the word.
frg.org.uk
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Family Rights Group
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is a landmark opportunity for reforming the child welfare system. Read Family Rights Group's analysis.
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Beverley is an amazing human being and this is so well deserved. Congratulations 🙌
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
📢Today, MPs debated the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill – a huge opportunity to reform child welfare! It includes families having the opportunity to come up with solutions before children enter care & a new local kinship care offer. Our analysis 👇 frg.org.uk/policy-and-c...
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RayFreemanBJJ @rayfreemanbjj.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
JIUJITSU is the family I needed when my time foster care created traumas that were prevalent in my early adulthood Hi Bluesky, I'm Ray. The founder of 'One Community Jiujitsu Club' Hoping to find more cool people on BlueSky 🙏🏽 #Jiujitsu
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
We’re excited for the @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge 2024! Starting at noon tomorrow, every donation made during the campaign will be doubled whilst match funds last. Can you help us provide specialist advice to more families? donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05... #GivingTuesday
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
“Don’t let anybody, anybody convince you this is the way the world is and therefore must be. It must be the way it ought to be.” Toni Morrison Need Toni Morrison wisdom now more than ever
The quote in picture form
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
We’ve analysed new data on children raised with relatives & friends in kinship foster care in England. 16% of children in care are living with kinship foster carers. But that's only part of the story. There's also lots of variation. From 32% in North Tyneside to 5% in Derby.
New insights from Family Rights Group on children in kinship foster care
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Carolyn Moody MBE @carolynmoodymbe.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
The FosterWiki Chrismas Ad ‘IT’S TIME’ Watch here: youtu.be/ougxNfDXaIs?... Please share 🙏 #ifnotnowwhen #ittakesavillage #dontmoveme #brokenattachments #fostercare #fosterWiki #childrenincare
youtu.be
IT'S TIME
YouTube video by FosterWiki
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Nerys Anthony @nerys-a.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
Shocking new child safeguarding review published today: ➡️ sexually abused children ignored & disbelieved ➡️ risks posed by adults within the family are frequently overlooked, misunderstood/minimised ➡️ practitioners consistently lack the support/guidance/direction to intervene effectively 1/3
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Carolyn Moody MBE @carolynmoodymbe.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Exactly this! It’s a reminder that every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves to be cherished loved and protected
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Whoever you are. If you work directly or indirectly with children and young people in the care system, please read this book. Once you have read it - read it again - and recommend it to others. #socialwork Free Loaves on Fridays Edited by Rebekah Pierre unbound.com/books/free-l...
Book cover of Free Loaves on Fridays
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Deepa (pronounced Dīpā) Shah @deepashah.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
Do you work with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people after they have turned 18? Sharing your experiences would be invaluable for this study on #socialwork with adults seeking asylum, and will contribute to developing ways of supporting you. Contact me for an info sheet or a chat. #leavingcare
Are you a social worker in London or Kent? Have you worked with adults (18+) seeking asylum, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who have turned 18? This study aims to understand how you support asylum-seeking adults and the challenges you gave. It will work out how best to support you as individuals and as professional collectives. Your experiences and perspectives are invaluable. The findings will have an impact on policy and training considerations in the future. Contact me for a participant information sheet.
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Cathy Ashley 🇺🇦 @cathyashley.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/child-protec...
localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Council agrees to pay £50,000 in damages after unlawfully issuing care proceedings in relation to disabled child
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
‘More foster carers leaving than signing up’ www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
theguardian.com
More foster carers in England leaving than signing up, says Ofsted report
Children’s campaigners say ‘national crisis’ adds to trauma for vulnerable young people, amid huge fall in numbers fostering
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Saw this today: The Māori word for Autism is ‘Takiwatanga’. It means ‘in their own time and space’
An image of children with the same quote as the text overlaid.
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Vicki Mulligan @vickicji.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
We were excited today to be at the Family Drug and Alcohol Court Annual Judge's Conference to celebrate the success of this powerful problem-solving court over the last year and throughout its 16 year history.
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Cathy Ashley 🇺🇦 @cathyashley.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
We did it! Or more accurately - they did it! 2024 Children's Legal Team of the Year Congratulations to the brilliant legal team at @familyrightsgp led by Caroline Lynch. A huge thank you to all who support our work, LexisNexis UK & the v wise award judges 😉
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
New publication: Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive I’m biased but family group conferences are the best form of family group decision making. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67375f...
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julielongworth.bsky.social @julielongworth.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Feeling the love in Leeds tonight 🧡 coming together as a community to celebrate the awe inspiring achievements of our beautiful care experienced young people 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶
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Andrew R @fgdm.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Amazing news and well deserved!
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National Children's Bureau @ncb.org.uk · 18/11/2024
So lovely to start the week with so many new followers! Welcome all 🤗 Our (UK) children's sector #StarterPack is still a work in progress, so let us know if you'd like to be added: bsky.app/starter-pack...
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Carol Vorderman @carolvorders.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Reform MP James McMurdock (won his seat by 98 votes) didn't disclose his conviction for assaulting his partner before the GE He went on to describe it as a "teenage indiscretion" The Times now reveals he "kicked his girlfriend" repeatedly Thoughts? www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/ref...
thelondoneconomic.com
Reform UK MP jailed for 'repeatedly kicking his ex girlfriend'
He had not publicly disclosed the conviction before he was elected as an MP and downplayed the attack as a “teenage indiscretion”.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Chrissi, a grandmother kinship carer in County Durham, spoke to #5News about stepping in to raise her four grandchildren and being forced to give up the job she loved. Our new survey research shows this is too common with 2 in 3 kinship carers have to give up work or reduce their hours.
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Family Rights Group @familyrightsgp.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Wishing our legal team all the best at tonight’s @lexisnexis.bsky.social Family Law Awards 2024, where they are shortlisted for Children’s Legal Team of the Year. Their excellent work contributes to our role as a leading authority on child welfare law, policy and practice. #familylawawards
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