Case Study - AMY (A Year from Now)

 

Case Study - A year from Now

Positive engagement - Making a difference to people's live

Amy - An Individual Case Study

Duration:  12 hours
 
Background History

Amy lost her father at the age of 15 and her relationship with her mother deteriorated quickly.  She got in with the wrong crowd, drinking heavily and taking soft drugs. She started going to school when she felt like it and became homeless after an argument with mother.  She ended up ‘couch surfing' and in series of hostels.

She fell pregnant in her early 20's and her boyfriend was unable to support her as he was sent to prison soon after.  Amy now lives in supported housing.
 
Amy left school with few qualifications - primarily D's and E's.  Her father had died only months before her exams.

Amy's father had doted on her, spoilt her rotten and they were very close.  She woke up one day and felt too tired to do her paper round and pretended that she was ill, so her dad did it for her.  He came back hot and sweating, saying that he felt ill, that he had nearly collapsed whilst doing it and felt really tired.  He came in and went to the lounge and collapsed again.  Her mum panicked so Amy called 999.  She was told to put her dad into recovery and she did not know what it meant and her mum went to pieces.   

When asked if she knew what it was a heart attack, she said that her mum never spoke to her about it but since then their relationship suffered and she blames herself.  Amy has never forgiven herself and blames herself for her father's death.

One of the main reasons for wanting to do first aid is so that she could do the right thing next time and also to do the right thing for her son....

The Course

She came onto the ‘Year from Now' course because she had heard it was about babies and the supported housing had recommended it.  The fact that she had been allowed to bring the baby made it possible for her to attend, (she had tried to get child care from family but had been unsuccessful).  She felt that the course offered something more as it was the first time that "...anybody has ever bothered to find out anything about me before I started to do anything".  This was a positive.

Amy attended every session. Learning through play, early reading skills and safety symbols were all provided in response to her interests.  She also demonstrated an interest in music and information was provided to help her pursue this further.

As a direct result of the course, Amy now wants to work in care or with children.  Her English is sub level one and it has been agreed to work with her intensively for a couple of weeks to help her through level one.  She has completed her basic First aid and has been signposted to other training, (although she is not really ready for college due to the baby she sees this as a next step when she is ready). 

Amy is concerned about her boyfriend coming out of prison and the impact that this will have on her life.  She is currently on anti depressants.  Recently she began to open up about her life and how it has affected her learning.

Personal response from the tutor

Amy has really opened up.  Much of her family background is tragic and has clearly impacted on her decisions as an adult.  Being able to talk about some of this has helped Amy to put her actions into perspective and allowed her to move on.

"Days like today put everything into perspective, that's why what we do is right and good and should be appreciated for what it is, raising aspirations is about moving people on not just educationally but personally too.

I think I often learn from these young people more than I can ever teach them."

Key lessons

• It is important that students come away with something.
• We need to have a better warning system for colleges so that they know students have additional needs
• Going that extra mile makes a difference and personal contact makes big difference
• Girls are often surprised and even angry when tutors come back for second week - they not used to people keeping promises or even caring.
• It is very important that this group is not let down as it reinforces their experiences and perceptions of self worth.
• Identify some progression at end of learning.  This is vital. 
• It takes about a month to really engage - trust has to be built up slowly.  In a three month course only two months of learning may happen, but without the early attention and commitment none of it will happen.
• It helps if people are beginning to feel bored with their current lives - they more likely to move on if they make the decision to start to change it.  We have to be there when they are ready - they will not be ready when we want them to be there.

This case study is available as a word file

Click on the link in the key documents box below