Case Studies
Dan is a 10 year old boy who had been living with his mother who had a long term history of problematic alcohol use. Often he would spend time with his elder teenage sister when his mum was binge drinking, often 2/3 weeks at a time. His mum was diagnosed with cancer and died 8 weeks later.
Circle staff supported him through one to one sessions on bereavement, grief and anger management. Staff helped to engage in specialist counselling services and supported him with strategies to cope at school. As a result Dan feels he is now able to manage his anger effectively and it is no longer an issue within school. He feels more stable and secure and is now living with his sister.
Circle staff supported him through one to one sessions on bereavement, grief and anger management. Staff helped to engage in specialist counselling services and supported him with strategies to cope at school. As a result Dan feels he is now able to manage his anger effectively and it is no longer an issue within school. He feels more stable and secure and is now living with his sister.
The Kay family were referred by the Community Drug Problem Service (CDPS). The mother C, a single parent, was a drug user. She has two children G, aged 2 and M, aged 6. C described bonding problems with her youngest child G. The family also had poor living conditions as their privately rented house had no heating. C welcomed support from the project and engaged well with her worker. She has received help with managing M’s behaviour and is now feeling much more able to deal with him positively. The Circle worker has helped C get stable on a methadone programme. She relapsed sometime ago but relapse prevention work was undertaken and C no longer needs CDPS support. The GP is now managing her prescription, a sign that she is much more stable. The family were referred to a scheme which provides supported private tenancies for stable drug users and have a new house as a result. They are very settled in their new tenancy and M is settled in his new school.
John is a ten year old boy with two older siblings aged 17 and 19, one of whom stays at home. His mother is a lone parent and suffers from chronic depression and agoraphobia. When his father left, there was no one to take him to school as his mother was unable to leave the house. John did not attend school and as a result of his mother’s condition he was placed on the child protection register. He was lonely and isolated.
John was referred to Circle who worked with him and his mother in re-establishing school routines. He was reluctant to leave his mother, so staff arranged to work with her, taking her to clinic appointments and at the same time taking John to school.
A regular routine has been established and John is now becoming a self traveller. His attendance has improved significantly over the last six months. Staff also worked with him on his isolation, helping to establish school friendships which have assisted in making school attractive and worth attending.
John was referred to Circle who worked with him and his mother in re-establishing school routines. He was reluctant to leave his mother, so staff arranged to work with her, taking her to clinic appointments and at the same time taking John to school.
A regular routine has been established and John is now becoming a self traveller. His attendance has improved significantly over the last six months. Staff also worked with him on his isolation, helping to establish school friendships which have assisted in making school attractive and worth attending.
I personally have become more confident within myself and my routines and relationships with my children have flourished. Without Circle’s help I don’t know where I would be now. At the beginning of the year I had made several suicide bids and with (the project worker’s) help I have now recognised my self worth and how much my children mean to me. - Service user
I honestly feel that without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Life at home with my son wasn’t bearable and he wouldn’t listen to me. The ‘handling teenage behaviour programme’ has been a godsend – it has helped me to deal with him and I feel better about myself – he is listening to me and treating me with respect. – Service user