Real Life Stories

Case Study 1

A 37 year old divorced white male who has been alcohol dependant since the age of 15 and a hardcore drug user since 17. He became street homeless at the age of 30 due to his marriage breakdown. He approached the medical profession for help with his drug addiction, however he didn't engage and at the same time he started using the day centre facilities at Norton House & engaging with staff.

His blood parents were both low income with learning difficulties & as a result he was adopted at the age of 5. His adoptive parents are middle v class. His mother is a high grade nurse & his father a shop floor manager. He experienced a happy, generous upbringing along with their daughter & fostered younger brother. However this relationship also declined as a result of his addictions.

It's understood that the rejection of his natural parents resulted in his rebellion. His rebellion entailed smoking cannabis, progressing to LSD, Speed & ultimately heroin. His addiction led him to beg, steal & lie which eventually resulted in multiple prison sentences. The latter of these ended approx. 18/24 months ago.

OUTCOME

He approached the Cyrenians approx. 9 months ago to help with his then increasing addictions & homeless situation. This evolved by encouraging him to focus on other aspects of his life under the guidance of a dedicated staff member.

With the help of the CyrenNs he has successfully;

• rekindled the relationship with his adoptive family with regular weekend contact
• moved into his own private landlord tenancy - due to arrears & behaviour the local housing authorities, associations & b&b's would no longer entertain him. He did attempt supported accommodation, however he rebelled against the rules & regulations so it was no longer deemed appropriate for this situation to continue. Despite age limitations instated by this particular landlord, our client has been successfully placed in his tenancy for 6+ months.
• engaged with Community Drug Team - he found this initially difficult as he believed their knowledge was text book & not associated with the real world. He is on a periodically reduced script & he no longer injects & has also cut down on his drug intake.
• he is currently receiving the correct benefits for his situation - Incapacity & Housing benefit
• attending regular medical appointments - Our client is/was experiencing associated health problems, e.g. DVT, pancreantitus. As these are now being treated he looks & feels far healthier & is gradually putting on weight (2stones in 3mths)
• He has reduced his alcohol intake from 7 to 3 litres a day (he is constantly encouraged to reduce this) - he is not yet ready to engage with Community Alcohol Service.

CASE STUDY 2

Referred to the men's team in September 2007. He had a background history of drug and alcohol issues as well as mental health issues.

During the interview of this gentleman it became apparent that for quite some time he had spent a lot of time drifting from place to place, staying with different people he had met on his travels who would be able to put him up for a couple of nights here and there. When this option was not available the client would sleep rough.

It also became apparent that through-out the clients life he had experienced some very personal tragic incidents in his personal life that he briefly spoke of but would suddenly just stop and withdraw into himself briefly.

Clients behaviour was also very bizarre, would suddenly start shouting out loudly, start banging his head with his fists, and body movements were almost animated.

OUTCOME

Client was offered after all appropriate assessments and checks completed a room in one of the hostels shared with three other gentleman.

The whole moving in process was quite unusual as the client could not believe that he now had his own accommodation somewhere warm clean and safe and repeatedly kept asking was I sure this was for him , although lot's of reassurance was constantly given for the first week client disappeared a couple of times only for us to find out he was still sleeping rough.

After this little hiccup suddenly changes started to happen, client started to attend C.A.S for his alcohol issues attending all his weekly appointment's on time and has successfully now completed his time with C.A.S who have closed their file on him and congratulated him on his abstinence.

His strange behaviour no longer exists, and the anxiety he constantly felt is considerately better . He now attends regular check up's at the Anchor Centre ( who have also commented on the turn a round in his behaviour ). He has weekly contact with one of his sisters who is also pleased with his progress. Client eats regular healthy meals and has gained weight, his overall appearance is so much better, and his room is always spotless. He mixes with the other three gentlemen in the house and has formed some real friendships but to the client these are different to friendships he has had in the past as these are what he has said are genuine.

All these positive out comes are down to the client, after years of going from pillar to post not knowing where he could be from day to day finally being helped to change his life but more importantly having the constant support and stability to make these changes. All the things that the client did not have to make these changes he now has, accommodation, warmth,access to hot and cold running water, the right benefits, help from other agencies to deal with his problems constant support with any daily issues, a better healthier diet, access to a G.P and new friendships.

This client has made such good progress that he will be moving on soon in a planned move, something he did not see happening at all. He will be given support for a period of time when this move happens until it is agreed that he no longer needs the support.

CASE STUDY 3

J is a sofa surfing 25 year old.

After his father hung himself when he was 9 years old J became a very angry and upset young man , this lead to his mother placing J in care, he spent 6 years moving from one boys home to another as he became more and more frustrated and had a strong feeling of being neglected by his Mother and family. When J was 16 he was taken to an advice centre for single homeless people by his social worker whom advised that at 15 he had been cautioned, and was on the sex offenders register for allegedly assaulting his sister, he denies this stating it was his Grandfather.

Due to the caution the service struggled to place J in emergency accommodation and found it hard to place in supported housing and had to make do with a local B&B. He frequented the advice service on an almost daily basis seeking support from every body and anybody, his frustration was fuelled by the high turnover of social workers, which is why he didn't engage. He had been in trouble with the police from the age of 13 and this seemed to escalate when his frustrations grew. He started binge drinking and turned to drinking on a daily basis which fuelled the anger even more... he tried to link in with Community Alcohol Service but could never make the appt making excuses. Also using cannabis, this then led to smoking crack, then heroin. He also has anger management issues, which flare up as and when. He has now spent 4 periods in custody and is on a suspended sentence for 2 years.

J had a council property for a very short period of time, which he lost due to leaving the city he now has arrears which he can't afford to clear. He has been sofa surfing for the past 5 years.

OUTCOME

J has been using the day centre for many years and as a result of this engaged with a dedicated CyrenNs Outreach worker. Whilst J was in custody the worker visited on a regular basis giving support and keeping in contact with J's Mother which helped the relationship as she could see he was trying to reform and deal with his issues. We also had contact with the Carat team (Alcohol & Drugs Team) as they had been struggling to get J to engage, after a few weeks his confidence in the advisor grew and this helped with his progress. Just being available, listening and understanding is sometimes all that is needed.

The homeless issue is still a factor and we are addressing this at the moment, looking into private letting. He has also been referred to Anger management sessions.

• Engaged with CARAT Team in custody supported by Cyrenians Outreach worker
• Linked to CDT
• Scripted for methadone
• Kept out of trouble for 6 months
• Has a support network whom he will confide in Meeting appt times with probation

CASE STUDY 4

N had had a long spell in hostels following a bad period in his life. He had been re-housed in a tower block, but had high rent arrears. He had work at a factory but this factory closed because of reductions in the car industry in the city.

N then went back to drinking more and more, this did not help his depression and deepened it greatly. In addition he had developed over £5000 worth of personal debt. Credit card firms etc were calling up him and his partner constantly.

OUTCOME

Wrote to all the creditors asking for no further enforcement action to be taken until accredited debt advice had been taken up. This was done by the City Council's client support unit and there was a degree of joint working. I helped negotiate down high installments of rent arrears by the Social Landlord that managed the block as well as taking steps to ensure all housing and council tax benefit was paid.

N and his wife felt less under stress and more supported. The calls from Creditors stopped and an affordable installment plan for each debt was worked out.

Around this time a person who my client had problems with in hostels made aggressive approaches to his partner. Whilst the couple initially wanted to leave further police action resulted in the other man being removed from the area and the couple decided to stay. Unfortunately N's drinking rose sharply at this point and his depression deepened further.

On many visits N was drunk but I did not just abandon him especially given the concerns of his partner.

Things came to a head when N was admitted to hospital as an emergency due to vomiting blood. On discharge he was quite fearful and expressed a will to stop drinking, he was prescribed Antabuse ( drug that provokes severe swelling and other uncomfortable symptoms if combined with alcohol over a long period. He did not drink for 6 weeks then got employment cleaning public buildings. I provided some assistance and encouragement to get him better employment. He now works as a security head at another public building after getting a better job and being promoted. He does not drink and his depression is much improved.

At this point he was discharged from my list of clients by mutual agreement because of his success. He is still in post and his relationship with his partner, which was in jeopardy, is solid.

CASE STUDY 5

Vulnerable young man, 18 -Learning disability and overlay of Mental Health Support Needs. Cannabis dependant. Learning Difficulties and Mental Health teams would not accept responsibility.

Family disruption, Father remarried much younger woman who did not want Young Person living there, verbally abused him. No relationship possible. Young Person on his own and isolated.

Action taken by staff

Mediate to gain interventions for this Young Person. Mediation set up with family. Set up appointments with GP in order to get new referral to MH Team. Referral made to Social Services Disability Team/Mental Health Teams. Introduced client to support groups. Ensured client got higher rate disability and mobility benefit - this enabled him to afford a care package.

Challenged LA around their non acceptance as priority need and client eventually was given accommodation.

Outcomes

Social Care eventually accepted a duty of care and regular carer visited client. Client eventually moved to Wales and was accommodated back with his sister. He is now working as a Volunteer assisting other disabled Young People.

CASE STUDY 6

Female

Sex worker. Managed by a pimp who abused her physically, mentally and financially. Controlled her by Substance Misuse and she used Heroin, Crack cannabis etc. No choice but to comply or be beaten up. Attacked by people on the Hillfields estate, and robbed on regular basis. Massive debt issues and lost custody of child due to child protection issues.

Action by staff

Got Police involved.

Facilitated access to Community Drugs Team and Swish. Found safe accommodation and ensured appropriate benefits were obtained.

On Methadone Programme and alternate therapies treatment Ensured sexual health check was undertaken, Now successfully placed in supportive accommodation and doing well at this time.

Worked with Social Services to instigate review of child protection decision.

Facilitated client to developed social networks and hobbies etc Assisted client to enter into further education, literacy, numeracy etc.

Outcomes:

Has stable accommodation, employed, now not using illicit drugs has access to child at contact centre and has new network of friends not involved in sex work.

CASE STUDY 7

Female (16)

Self Harming, miscarriage, physical damage to womb through multiple miscarriages. Substance and Alcohol misuse. Attention seeking, needy and vulnerable. Overdosed, suicide threats, no self esteem significant Psychological and emotional issues.

Action taken by staff

Referral raised to the Foyer/Mind.

Raised CAF to social services as "child in need", obtained section 17 payment for emergency funds as she was not receiving any benefits

Expedited referral to CAMBS

Referral to Discovery and Sexual Health Team

Referred to Time for You counselling Service

Obtained all benefits client was entitled to

Found specialist support group around miscarriages and client was given a befriender from this service.

Worked with client to build up self esteem, develop life skills and went on a Princes Trust Programme.

Outcomes

Client also engaged on Literacy/numeracy course and worked with Rathbone to enter into a child care training programme. Moved to Foyer and eventually found employment in care home.

CASE STUDY 8

M approached our organisation as she was street homeless and had been turned down by housing allocations as they found her to be intentionally homeless. After an intensive interview we admitted her to one of our hostels.

M settled in well and because she had previously lived in a hostel before she adjusted well to shared accommodation.

M had recently returned to Coventry after a year away where she had battled a drug addiction. Although she had been clean for a year once she moved back to Coventry she and her support worker discussed linking in with CDT for additional support. All was going well, but M started to become increasingly depressed since coming back to Coventry, she stated this was because of problems with her family and her son. After living in the hostel for about three months M self harmed for the first time, she contacted her support worker for help. M was linked in with the Crisis Intervention Team and was assigned a mental health support worker and given the correct medication. However shortly after this incident M self harmed again this time she was taken to hospital and was admitted to the Caludon centre for a mental health assessment. Throughout her stay in the Caludon M was visited regularly by her support worker. Once M was back at the hostel, she continued to take her medication and received counselling.

Due to M's mental health, we decided to apply for Disability Living Allowance. M received a large backdated sum of money from the Disability Living Allowance and this in turn helped her pay off her rent arrears with Whitefriars so she could register on the housing list.

M was also referred to Mind's Supported accommodation as this was deemed more appropriate for her needs.

*Names have been changed.