David Roberts
CASE STUDY 4 EXERCISE
Offending behaviour support
As a Schedule 1 offender Brian could be referred to a specialist service from, for example, the NSPCC. This service will be an individual and group-work programme offered to young people who sexually harm other young people. Prior to Brian’s court appearance, the Youth
Offending Team (YOT) and the NSPCC should have agreed this package. Personal support
Despite his difficulties, Brian has a number of positive relationships, with his former foster carer and his key worker. Brian should be asked to decide who he would like to be his main contact. As a newly introduced Personal Advisor, it is not reasonable to expect it to be you straightaway. Accommodation
Brian is not happy at the children’s home; yet he is vulnerable and on a care order. He should be asked what would help him stay there, perhaps financial or other incentives.
Education, training and employment
Brian is reaching the statutory school-leaving age. Options for alternative education or training can be discussed with him. A Connexions advisor should be involved in this.
Family and social relationships
His contact with his mother appears to have lapsed recently. He may want to renew his relationship with his mother and track his family, if not now at some point in the future.
Practical and other skills
The Needs Assessment and Pathway Plan should address Brian’s practical skills. He will quite likely be living more independently soon.
Financial support
Financial support given to Brian will follow allowances to looked-after young people. He might be offered rewards for following the Pathway Plan drawn up with him.
Health
The Needs Assessment should consider Brian’s health needs, and the Pathway Plan should ensure at a minimum that Brian has access to a General Practitioner and dentist.
Contingency plan
Despite your efforts, it is far from certain that Brian will return and stay at the residential unit. With him and the other individuals in his life, alternatives should be discussed and other suitable accommodation investigated.
Review of Pathway Plan
It is six months later. Despite your efforts Brian ran away from the children’s home. Brian slept rough, sleeping in skips and on the street. He began picking up men in the red-light area of the city, and sometimes stayed at their houses, stealing their money and credit cards and hoping the men would not report it. Brian lived like this for six months. He did not attend any appointments with the YOT, and did not meet any of the conditions of his order. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
You tried to contact him through Streetreach, a project for young men and women involved in the sex industry, and also through St Joseph’s homeless persons project, but to no avail.
Brian has arrived in your office having been badly beaten by one of the men he picked up. He told you he has been using heroin for two months.
You have to carry out a review of his Pathway Plan.
QUESTIONS
1 How do you respond to the new situation? 2 Whom else should you involve in the review? 3 What other agencies ought you to involve?
Offending behaviour support
Brian has not been charged with any other offences. He needs to continue with the support offered by the YOT and the NSPCC. This may be a
condition of his remaining out of custody. Both agencies are keen to re- engage Brian in this support to avoid a custodial sentence.
Personal support
Brian has come to your office, so is asking for something from you. Only he can decide whose support he would like. The various alternatives can be discussed with him.
Accommodation
The immediate need is for Brian to have somewhere to stay now. If he is not willing to return to the residential unit, a hostel will be the next best option. It is not likely that bed and breakfast would be regarded as suitable in this case. A long-term plan needs to be agreed with Brian if some immediate stability can be achieved.
Education, training and employment
Although this area has not been forgotten, you and Brian may decide that it is unrealistic to make definite plans until he has stable accommodation. Family and social relationships
Brian has said that he wants to see his mother. You agree to find out whether this is possible.
Practical and other skills
Brain has had to acquire survival skills. More specific independent-living skills can wait while his accommodation is sorted out.
Financial support
Brain is still looked after, so the local authority should meet his financial needs. An assessment of his financial needs should be carried out. The fact that he cannot claim Social Security benefits makes him particularly
vulnerable. With Brian you should agree how he will be given financial support. Doing this via your office may be a way of ensuring you keep in touch. In light of his heroin habit, one option may be for the two of you together to buy his food and other necessaries. You may want to offer him incentives to keep to the plan.
Health
Brain has serious health needs, both in relation to his prostitution and his heroin habit. You should discuss with him the possibility of entering a detox programme, and offer him counselling and practical advice about safer sex. Even though you are taking measures to prevent his