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Trust-based bond with clients

Working with individuals with three or more of the multiple and complex needs addressed by Birmingham Changing Futures Together – offending behaviour, drug and / or alcohol abuse, homelessness and mental health problems – the Lead Worker and Peer Mentor Service gives clients the sustained, tailored support they need.

The combination of a Lead Worker with a proven track record in support provision and a Peer Mentor whose lived experience enables them to quickly form a trust-based bond with clients. The evidence indicates clients consequently engage better in the process where peer mentors are present, making lasting change more likely.

Azad’s story: a peer mentor’s lived experience

“My past is part of me; I’m not ashamed to talk about it anymore,” explained Azad, “and if sharing it helps build trust with someone who desperately wants to change their life I am happy to do so.”

Azad grew up in a home in which he was occasionally and his mother was regularly beaten by his father. The mantra ‘what happens in the house, stays in the house’ was often repeated, isolating him from those outside the family who might have been able to help.

To numb the physical and emotional pain, Azad started smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol at about 11 years of age. Surrounded by a gang culture he began offending at about 14 and left school at 15 with no GCSEs. Stepping away from the gang culture in his late teenage years he gravitated towards a drug culture and quickly became addicted to Class As. His offending was now to fund the habit. His first prison sentence came at 23. On his release, he went home but soon opted to sleep rough; he didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to use drugs in the night hours.

He continued offending and went in and out of prison. His last sentence was the longest. Keeping him away from the old behaviours for longer it gave him some perspective. On his release, while he still used drugs he distanced himself from other drug users, moving towards the dealers. But he felt hollow inside. Something had to change so he applied to Birmingham City Council for rehab and was sent to a structured service in Weston Super Mare that addressed the behaviours as well as the drug and alcohol addictions. He had tried many times before but now it was different. After eight months, on 20 December 2013, he was offered a bed in a rehabilitation unit. He took it and has been ‘clean’ and ‘dry’ since.

He has transformed his life. Azad had a daughter when he was just 15. For much of her life their contact was erratic but it’s now regular. He has also worked to achieve a level three qualification in health and social care and is working in a paid role as a peer mentor for the Lead Worker Peer Mentor Service, part of the Birmingham Changing Futures Together Programme.

“I have a lot of work still to do but have come a long way. I’ve learnt my triggers and acquired all sorts of tools to deal with them. I am constantly setting new goals and get a great sense of satisfaction every time I achieve one.

“I feel valued earning an income as a peer mentor and every time I meet a new client I remember how far I have come!”

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The Lead Worker and Peer Mentor service

Working hand-in-hand to change lives

Working together to make a difference

The phone rings and after a brief conversation with the agency making the referral, the Birmingham Changing Futures Together’s Lead Worker and Peer Mentor Service begins responding to the needs of an individual with multiple and complex needs.

“Referrals come from all sorts of sources including the Probation Service, West Midlands Police, the Rough Sleepers Team or the drugs services,” explained Christine Grover, a Lead Worker with the service. “The first thing we do is meet the client to assess if they match the criteria.”

“Then we get to work. The support we offer is client-led. If their priority is somewhere to live, we concentrate on housing. If it is a prescription for methadone, we sort it as soon as possible. If there are multiple, urgent needs, we tackle them concurrently.”

“The client has to be fully engaged. Peer Mentors get the client’s trust, which means we can quickly build the positive relationship we need.”

Peer Mentors draw on their lived experience to connect to the client. Honest and open about their own life experiences, they inspire the same in the client.

“We have been there; we understand what they’re going through,” said Peer Mentor Mohammed Azad Azam. “We know how frightening it can be to leave what you know behind. But our very existence proves it’s possible!”

“We understand the choices people make. It might seem irrational to opt to sleep rough but I get it; after all I’ve made that decision in the past too. Identifying with us in a way they can’t with a lead worker, clients are honest. The bond we have means they are more likely to hang in there when things get really difficult.” A life changed

Aged 50, he was a repeat offender with 87 convictions. He was white, espoused racist views, and was addicted to crack cocaine, heroin, NPS (legal highs) and shoplifting. He had been written off by most people. About to leave prison, the Probation Service referred him to the No Wrong Door Network. He was met at the gates by a Lead Worker and Peer Mentor. Without them he would have gone straight to buy drugs.

Azad shared his lived experience the first time they met. “We got past the obvious racial challenges and started to form a bond straight away. He was honest from the beginning and I set out the boundaries; I would be with him every step of the way but he had to do the hard work.”

Today Azad is still working with this individual, arranging access to counselling and helping him with housing. He has a long way to go, but without the Lead Worker and Peer Mentor Service he would probably be back in prison.

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Contact the BVSC Birmingham Changing Futures Together team for more information.

www.changingfuturesbham.co.uk

The Birmingham Changing Futures Together Programme

Birmingham Changing Futures Together programme improves the effectiveness of service provision to those with multiple and complex needs. It does this by bringing together organisations in the sector, identifying and sharing best practice and establishing new approaches.

The Changing Futures Together programme provides a ‘community of support’, facilitating interaction between other colleagues and leading to better, more satisfying outcomes.

The No Wrong Door Network Engagement in the Birmingham Changing Futures Together programme is not limited to those charities and organisations formally part of the No Wrong Door Network. Any organisation can refer into the No Wrong Door Network. Organisations can also benefit from the best practice approaches being developed and shared with sector members through learning events and the Birmingham Changing Together website: changingfuturesbham.co.uk. approaches being developed and shared with sector members through learning events and the Birmingham Changing Together website: changingfuturesbham.co.uk.

Connecting you to the support you need, when you need it

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