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Case Study One – ND Service User

The purpose of this intervention was to support ND, a vulnerable adult, to break free from substance abuse, maintain abstinence and to go on to lead a positive and productive life contributing to his community.

ND was born in East London, where he lived up until the age of 11, at which point he moved to South Africa and lived there up until he was 21 years of age. ND then came back to England and settled in Norwich. ND is 38 years old. His upbringing was very unsettling, moving from place to place. ND is also an adopted child to Caucasian parents. He states that he felt alone, abandoned and confused, due to his different skin colour. ND found school very challenging and left with no GCSE’s and dropped out of school when he was 15 years of age. Whilst growing up in South Africa ND was exposed to drug dealing and abuse in the neighbourhood he grew up in, and was influenced by this and experimented by the age of 12. The means by which ND funded his drug use was criminal activity. He has been to prison six times and as a result ND lost his job as a qualified Barber in 2015, his house, all contact with his family and became homeless. ND asked for a referral to go to a Rehab whilst in prison last year and got support for this from the Rehabilitation Addiction Prisoners Trust (RAPT) team in prison. A referral was made to U Turn Recovery Project and an agreement was made for ND to be picked up from the prison gate upon release and to go straight to U Turn Recovery Project.

Upon completion of treatment at U-Turn Recovery Project ND moved over to Kairos where he stayed in one of their move on homes.  After 8 months there he made a referral for a room in U-Turn Supported Move On Homes and has since been a resident here.
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 Above: ND undernourished prior to his journey of recovery

Outcomes delivered for Service User – How have these outcomes been achieved:
Overall Outcomes:

Outcome 1

Higher aspirations. Maintaining abstinence.

ND continues to abstain from drugs and alcohol.  He strives to do his best.  This is evident from his constructive, positive attitude.

Outcome 2

Learn to face challenges, make positive choices and tackle his problems.

ND has shown real growth around his recovery.  He recently visited his family in South Africa, strengthening those family connections, who remain a strong source of support for him.  One of ND’s biggest obstacles has been to think before acting, ensuring that he is considerate of others.  This is something he continues to successfully work on and is apparent through his commitment to voluntary work and supporting new residents when they arrive in the home.

Outcome 3

Semi-independently, ND begins to explore integration into mainstream society.

ND is now doing permitted hours in a barbershop, which has helped give structure and purpose to his day.  It gives him a sense of responsibility as well as some financial security. The plan moving forward is to get back into full time employment.

Additional Outcomes

ND continues to volunteer with Voluntary Action in Lewisham (VAL) at a homeless shelter in Lewisham.  As well as this ND has now been granted permitted hours, which allows him to work 15.59hours a week in a barbershop.  Through work ND is now motivated, responsible and disciplined.

ND continues to volunteer with Voluntary Action Lewisham (VAL) at a homeless shelter in Lewisham.  As well as this ND has now been granted permitted hours, which allows him to work 15.59hours a week in a barbershop.  Due to Nd’s well-being now stabilized, he is now able and motivated to work in the community. ND  has now taken charge and is responsible and disciplined and enjoying a new lease of life.

 Above: ND cutting homeless service users hair at the 999 club in Lewisham

How Did Community Interventions Supported Housing Support the Service User?

The service provided a place for ND to live in order to continue to address his issues with drugs and alcohol, whilst motivating him towards and encouraging independent living and integration back into mainstream society.

  • It provided ND with a safe, clean, healthy environment to continue his recovery, giving him the opportunity to save money in order to move on to independent living.
  • One to one key work and care plan sessions.

Above:  ND returning to the U-Turn Recovery Project in Lewisham to cut the services users hair and give back to the project

What is the progression route for the Service User
The progression route for ND is to maintain abstinence from drugs and alcohol and reintegrate back into mainstream society.

 

Comments from Michael Brown Managing Director of Community Interventions:

It has been amazing to see ND’s progression since he came to Community Interventions Supported Move On Homes and it has been a privilege and an honor to have supported him up until now. I wish him all the best for the future and Community Interventions

Date: 19th November 2018 

 
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 Above: ND receiving barber of the year award and enjoying employment at a high-end barber shop

Update on service user:
ND is now working permitted part-time hours at a high-end barbershop and continues to progress mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

 

Date: 15-04-20

Case Study Two – KM Service User

KM grew up in Coventry, in one of the most violent and deprived areas of the City. KM lived in a small three bedroom mid terrace with his mum and his 6 younger siblings. The living environment for KM was crammed and hectic at times and it required KM to share a room with his 3 younger brothers.

KM’s relationship with his father has not been the best due to his father being absent throughout various stages of his life. KM stated that his father has never really been there to support him as a young man growing up, this made it both difficult emotionally but also added pressure on KM to step up in order to lead his family and younger siblings, as he is the eldest sibling in the family.

KM started to get involved with local neighbourhood gangs in his early teens and started hanging around on the streets and getting involved in drug use, ultimately leading him to start dealing drugs in Coventry and working with organised drug dealers. As a result of the pressures of life and being overwhelmed with life on life terms, KM found an escape in alcohol and drugs, namely weed. The solution he found in drugs and alcohol was a temporary way to cope, of which the long term impact was self-destruction. After he started to get deeper and deeper into the lifestyle, he had to start selling drugs to sustain his habits and make money to survive, ultimately making him spiral out of control into a world of crime and drugs. KM was arrested and charged with the intent to supply A class drugs in 2018 and sent to serve an 18 months prison sentence.

Coming out of prison KM was unstable and sofa surfing, sometimes going days without a shower or somewhere to rest properly. KM also owed money to a gang in Coventry due to drugs which he had used but didn’t pay for them, ultimately putting him at risk of exploitation and harm.
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 Above: KM enjoying his newly refurbished room and his newly donated shoes and clothes.

Outcomes delivered for Service User – How have these outcomes been achieved:
Overall Outcomes

Outcome 1 :

Higher aspirations. Maintaining Abstinence.

KM continues to abstain from drugs and alcohol. KM has been enabled to focus on his future and has been proactively trying to better himself. This is evident by his actions and meetings with his key worker, mentors and probation officer.

Outcome 2:

Learn to face challenges, make positive choices and tackle his problems.

KM has been proactive in planning for his future. He has had regular key work and mentoring sessions and a newly updated CV which has enabled KM to focus on looking for full time employment.

KM has had challenges with budgeting his money in the past and is now more in control of his finances due to regular mentoring and budgeting workshops.

KM is also in regular and positive contact with his father. His father now calls KM on a regular basis and offers KM support, as he is happy that KM is on a path to a better future.

KM has learned to rationalise and regulate his negative emotions which in the past was a barrier to his progression.

Outcome 3:

Semi-independently, KM begins to explore integration into mainstream society.

KM is now looking for regular full-time employment and is planning to move into his own accommodation in Coventry, allowing him to be a positive member of society and contribute to the local community.

KM has been very positive at creating his CV with his key worker, which has enabled him to look for full-time employment.

KM has also had regular contact with his mentor and has been learning about running his own business and the differences between branding a business according to the different types of services offered. This has given KM a clear vision of what to do in the future when he comes to create his own business in the landscaping and car valeting industry.

Additional Outcomes:

KM has become a beacon of light for others who are on the same destructive path. He continues to mentor his younger brother.

 
Service user taking time out to enhance his personal prospects
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 Above: KM working on his CV and employment plan

How Did Community Interventions Supported Housing Support the Service User?

The service has provided a safe place for KM and has enabled KM to focus on the future, education and employment.

KM has had regular contact with a key worker and mentors which have supported him through his journey to recovery.

Regular contact with positive and caring individuals has allowed KM to focus on the positive aspects of life and has also allowed him to get away from the streets and circles which have had a negative impact on his thinking and decision making in the past.

Community interventions provided a safe place for KM to reflect on his negative and destructive behaviour and to pick up tools that enabled him to process internal conflict in his life, with positive outcomes.
Directs comments from the service user

“This has helped me to get established by giving me safe accommodation to live in and given me an opportunity to plan for my future and get into education and employment  ”KM”

 

The best thing about the service is… “Regular support and a safe place to live in” KM

What could be better: “more job opportunities” KM
Leo spending quality time over lunch with service user
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Above: KM enjoying free time over lunch with Leo Santiago

What is the progression route for the Service User
The progression route for KM is to abstain from drugs and alcohol and to keep away from groups that may affect him in a negative way and reinstate him into mainstream society through education, employment and training.

 

Direct comments from Michael Brown Community Interventions Supported Housing Managing Director

It is good to see someone so young with a desire and focus to change his life for the better

 

Signed: Michael Brown                                                                                                                                        Date:  29-06-2020
Update on service user:
KM remains positive and engaged to build a better future and is keen to help those around him to make better choices.


Date: 15-04-20
“

The best thing about the service is…It has inspired me to be a positive member of my community by contributing to others!....What could be better I have no complaints, It serves me well!!

ND Service UserND Comments About The Service
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