A project drawing on Maori culture to limit the number of children being taken into care is celebrating its first anniversary.

Group coordinator Linda Forrest offers family consultation

Oxfordshire Family Group Conferences, run by the Children's Fund in partnership with the county council, aims to stop children coming into council care, to improve school attendance, reduce exclusion and the risk of offending.

The project, which has its roots in the way Maori families in New Zealand traditionally sort out their problems, could now become a mainstream service.

Council cabinet member for children's services Louise Chapman said: "This is such valuable work, aimed at preventing exclusion and offending, and reducing the likelihood of young people enter- ing the care system.

"Problems involving children are never straightforward and need solutions from those who know the situation best -- which is usually the family."

The service is designed to put the child and family at the centre of the process and to get the family to sort out its own problems with support from professionals.

A trained, independent co-ordinator arranges a conference for the child, their family and professionals to discuss the issues and the services available.

Then the coordinator and professionals leave the family alone to draw up an action plan.

Everyone present, family members and professionals, sign a "contract" saying they agree to carry out their part in the plan.

The method was enshrined in the New Zealand Children's Act 1989, after lobbying by Maori families, whose children were more likely to go into care than the rest of the population.

Now a family group conference must be offered to every family before a New Zealand child is taken into care.

In its first year Oxfordshire Family Group Conferences staff worked with 16 families. Seven have produced plans so far, of which three were still working six months after the conference.

Six children remained within their family or with a family friend instead of entering the care system.

A further two children returned to their mother, instead of child protection proceedings being instituted.

Now, in its annual report, the OFGC is appealing for volunteers to assist with the conferences and carry out follow-up checks with families.

Group coordinator Linda Forrest said: "Family group conferences work best where there is an extended family, no matter how small, as in traditional Maori culture.

"For that reason, however far and wide the family live, or if contact has been lost for whatever reason, we will try to track them down and bring them together."

Ms Forrest said she was very pleased with the first year.

To volunteer, request a copy of the annual report or find out more about any aspect of OFGC, call Ms Forrest on 01865 774506 or email linda.forrest@oxfordshire.gov.uk