Catholic Childrens's Rescue Society

Case Study:

“I have been the named Health Visitor for the CCRS Bolton Supporting People project for about five years now, visiting weekly to offer support to the residents and working with the staff towards preparing the young women for independent living. Our joint working relationship has developed and there is scope and potential for more.

This is a unique facility and an example of good practice and I leave each week wishing there was more of the same available, its beauty being its small, homely size and loving, secure and non-judgemental atmosphere – something that many of its residents have not experienced before.”

Case Study:

“If Marillac House had not been here I would not have had a second chance, I only got through it because of the support they gave me and  allowed me to make the break from the past”.

This young person was 20 years of age when she was first referred to Marillac House, she had a history of heavy drug abuse and a chaotic lifestyle, and had had two previous children taken into care who were subsequently adopted.  She was admitted directly from a local maternity unit and was given a clear directive that this was her last chance or else her third child would be also taken into care.  She was also on a strict maintenance programme of methadone which she took on a daily basis.

Working in partnership with other relevant professionals the staff team set up a very clear and precise support plan which she agreed to participate in fully.  In or about this time she split up with her boyfriend, again another pressure point, but came through the crisis without major distractions.  She played her part to the full in her support plan and once an established routine was set up within the Project she became very proactive in ensuring the support plan went well.  The staff team helped her to gradually return to the community by accompanying her to shops, clinics and other local facilities.  The length of time she went out unaccompanied gradually lengthened.  She gradually regained her confidence in terms of her housekeeping and childcare and was supportive to the other young people and was generally very helpful around the Project.  She stayed with us for approximately twelve months and was resettled to her own property with the assistance of our Resettlement Service.  She went back to college, is now able to drive and her son is attending junior school.  She still maintains contact with Marillac and is extremely grateful to them for helping her on the road to sobriety by being open, honest and pragmatic in the support they gave her.

Case Study:

“My name is Leanne and I am 16 years old.  At the beginning of the year I found that I was pregnant by my 15 year old partner.  My Mum was really upset and cross with me and asked me to leave home although she is supportive now.

When my secondary school discovered I was pregnant I was also asked to leave there for insurance purposes.  I went into Connexions Blackburn where a Personal Advisor put me in touch with Maryvale mother and baby home where I now live.

At the home they have a Community Link Project that is funded by Connexions Lancashire and there I began work with the Community Link Worker, Lesley.  Lesley took me to St Thomas’s Pregnancy Referral Unit to meet the staff there and have a look around.  It felt really nice and friendly so I agreed to enrol.  Lesley and the staff sorted out the paperwork and I was to begin the very next day!  A taxi picks me up from Maryvale to take me to school and then it takes me home afterwards. 

I carried on doing my GCSE coursework with the help of the staff at St Thomas and also Lesley came in on a Monday evening to help me with my homework.  I have now just taken my mock exams.  My pregnancy is going well and my little boy is due at the beginning of July.

Once my son is a few months old I am going to be looking into doing a part time course at Blackburn College.  Lesley has said that when the time comes she can help me with this and also can help me access the Care to Learn funding which will enable my son to receive appropriate child care.”