Josh lives at home with his mother, maternal grandmother, and his younger sister (8).  Josh’s older brother (21) is currently in prison for theft charges: Social Care Work to Support Children and Families Case Study, ATU, Ireland

Josh lives at home with his mother, maternal grandmother, and his younger sister (8).  Josh’s older brother (21) is currently in prison for theft charges. Josh’s mother is currently engaging in a supervised methadone program. Josh’s father lives approx. 20 miles away. The family home is based in an area of Dublin that would be classified as an area of high disadvantage.

Josh is 13 years old and is enrolled in 1st year at the local secondary school, he has not been attending regularly. Josh spends a lot of time in his room when he is within the family home and has very little communication with any of his family living there. His grandmother has reported that he goes out every evening and may not return until very late. He sleeps most of the day. Josh plays his PlayStation when he wakes up and leaves the house in the evening. Josh’s family is unaware of who Josh meets or what he does when he goes out.

Josh’s school has reported their concerns surrounding Josh’s poor attendance. The school completion program has tried to connect with Josh but has reported a lack of engagement from Josh. During a meeting with Josh’s mother and a team from Josh’s school, the home school liaison officer discussed concerns about Josh using cannabis and possibly other drugs while in the school environment.