Case Study 1: Fleming Family The Fleming family recently moved from Bacchus Marsh to West…

Case Study 1: Fleming Family

The Fleming family recently moved from Bacchus Marsh to West Heidelberg. Leah Fleming has three children aged 12 years to 4 years and is a self-referral to Banyule Family Services. Leah left an abusive relationship with Rick the father of her youngest child and is finding it very difficult settling her family into a new neighbourhood with few social contacts. The eldest son Sam is refusing to go to school and Leah is unsure how to manage him. There has been past Child Protection involvement but no notifications for three years.

Leah presented as very teary and uncertain. She did not speak of having any extended family or connections to the area and commented that she was finding being in the city overwhelming.

TREVOR
RICK__ _ __ _ _ ___LEAH ­­­­­­

Sam (12) Doug (10)

Case Study2: Williams’ Family

Wayne

Cheryl

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Tia (8) Tania (7) Tarnie (6) Tom (5)

Wayne and Cheryl have four children and have been married for eight years. They have been referred onto Banyule Family Services via Child Protection which has had five reports over the past two years. The family has been loath to engage with services and denies that they have any issues. The issues that have brought the family to the attention of Child Protection include: family violence, parental substance abuse and child neglect. Wayne works sporadically and the family lives in a private rental property. The school the children attend reports that their attendance is often sporadic and when they do attend, they are often difficult to settle especially Tom who does not appear ready for school.

The recent notification resulted from a visit to the family by the Heidelberg Police to issue a warrant on Wayne for non-payment of fines totally $3,000. When the Police arrived, Wayne and Cheryl were embroiled in an argument and Cheryl had been assaulted and the four children were cowering in the kitchen away from their parents who were thought to be substance affected. The Police removed Wayne but he returned later when Cheryl was unprepared to initiate an intervention order.