CASE STUDY | Involved with weapons and injury to close friend

Recently been excluded from mainstream school and has spent a period of time in alternative provision. YP involved in an incident involving a weapon and injury to a close friend, as well as ASB and social media use.

The Intervention

• To find positive activities for yp to get involved in outside of the house and possibly make new friends.
• To support yp to understand and manage his emotions in healthier ways with the goal of being able to cope better in school.
• 13 1-2-1 sessions took place both in and outside of school covering advice and guidance around anti-social behaviour, use of social media, friendships
• Local activities were identified that yp could get involved in
• Supported yp with transition to new school setting. YP found this transition difficult to begin with as was testing teachers and pushing boundaries

Outcomes

• YP’s engagement with education increased. YP began to settle better to the point where detention have become very few and far between. School supported this process and a profile was sent around to teaching staff by yp’s head of year to support yp to succeed.
• Attended a wellbeing walk with PF to Moel Famau in the summer holidays which provided him with a new opportunity, pushed him out of his comfort zone with other yp who he did not know, and took him away from his usual environment.
• Improvements were recorded on yp’s scoring on the ‘my mind star’ tool in relation to school, friendships and relationships.
• YP’s scoring also improved on the goal-based outcome tool. His GBO was “to manage my emotions better and cope better in school”. YP’s scoring went from 2 on entry to 8 on exit. He explained to me the following:
• “The mates I had wasn’t good for me. I’m managing better in school now. I feel like I lost track a bit but I’m focusing more now”
• It became apparent during the intervention that yp required further support to help him process a previous traumatic event and so a referral was made to YPAS for him to receive such support.
• YP has now found a keen interest in Rugby through school. He plays this regularly and TSS worker has supported him with identifying a local Rugby club which he plans to start in the upcoming months. Dad is also supporting him to access a local MMA gym.
• YP now has a new friendship group in school, is not hanging around on the streets anymore, and has shown insight into the negative impact that past friendships were having on him
• YP has reported more positive relationships with family members at home.
• YP was able to discuss family and friendship issues that had been bothering him and explore feelings and emotions to be able to process these in a healthier manner.
• Dad really supported this intervention and was an active part in encouraging yp to access activities outside of home to divert him away from ASB and the friendship circle he was associating himself within.

“I feel more settled in school now. There are still a few incidents here and there in school but not as many. I don’t go out as much as I used to, but I’ve got good mates now. I get on better with my brother now”

Quote from YP

Knife crime discussion session: