CASE STUDY | Behaviour gaining negative attention

Young Person had no positive male role model in his life, and struggles to make positive choices and is easily persuaded by others. YP behaves in ways that will gain him attention in a negative manner. Family are isolated and receive no support from other family or friends.

The Intervention

The goals and support agreed was: –

• Provide 1-1 support so that yp can safely express feelings and emotions without judgement or fear of unpredictable responses.
• Discuss and explain peer pressure and consequences of actions. Help yp to understand there are ways of receiving attention in a positive manner.
• Build confidence/self-esteem and relationships so yp can communicate effectively with peers.

The support provided was: –

• YP attended 1-2-1 support/mentoring sessions at Primary School. YP was encouraged to attend some after school group activities at school and close to home when possible after working on communication skills.
• We completed 1-2-1 sessions looking at building confidence, communication, building and maintaining relationships and consequences.
• Transition sessions were also delivered in school with YP to help get off to a good start in the new school year at a new High School.

Outcomes

• Due to the work delivered YP understood when people/things were having a negative impact on his life.
• YP’s confidence increased and he developed strategies to communicate effectively with peers and build new friendships. This resulted in him speaking to other pupils who he will be attending Year 7 with in September.
• YP also gained a part in the end of year play performed by year 6 classes to the rest of the school and parents. Before these interventions yp wanted to be part of the play but did not feel confident in auditioning or performing in front of others.
• YP’s character was heavily involved in the play but only had limited speaking parts which suited YP perfectly.
• YP now enjoys going into school as does not feel isolated and has people to talk to/participate in activities with.
• YP is able to identify times when peers are trying to use him negatively and which may lead to suffering consequences alone.
• YP also believes he has a better relationship with mother and can address issues with her instead of letting them play on his mind and affect his day-to-day life.
• YP also informs Targeted Support Worker he is happier at home and is having regular conversations with his mother, he is sharing when he is feeling upset or left out due to issues going on at home.
• YP also attended the Year 6 Prom on the penultimate day of school and was really excited about the prospect of this. YP felt that he had finally been accepted by peers in his year group due to the part he played in the school play and that they now liked being in his company.