Case study 2 - Melinda

• Melinda is a caseworker at the local community welfare centre in Bankstown.
• Melindas role is to assess client needs and refer clients for appropriate supports.
• Melinda has a Certificate IV Community Services Work and has been working at the centre for 3 years. She has only recently transferred to your team from the ageing support team.
• Another case manager on your team has called in sick for an extended period and her role has not been replaced. Melinda has taken on extra clients to cover the teams workload. This was initially meant to be for a short period of time, but the sick leave keeps being extended and so she has been carrying this extra workload for more than a month.
• Melinda is studying to upgrade her qualifications and her assessments are all due by the end of the month.
• After doing an intake interview with Peter, Melinda as gathered the information below that she presents to you in a supervision session.

Peter is a 24 year old man who has a drug problem and it is causing him some worries. Peter first stated using drugs 18 months ago part way through his 5^th year at Uni. Peter moved out of home and had been working part-time at a grocery store to pay for his uni course, rent, food etc. He began using speed (amphetamines) to help him cope with the increased pressures of work and study and demands of preparing to study for the exams. Peter had been an above average student and had really wanted to do well. He was worried that without the help of the drugs he wouldnt get through the exams period and get the high marks he wanted.

Initially, the drugs worked in helping Peter to study. However now he is not getting the same effect from the drugs and is feeling anxious and stressed. Peter was disappointed with the marks he got last year. Since then he has become more dependent on drugs and he is finding it harder to do his Uni work and also work part-time. Peter is spending more and more money on drugs and has fallen behind in his rent. Peter is aware that the drugs are causing him problems, and has tried to quit, but has never been able to stick at it.

He fights with his parents often they want him to stop using and to get better marks at Uni so that he can achieve his full potential They also fight with him as they are concerned that he is being a bad influence on his two younger brothers and sisters. Peter therefore doesnt believe he would be able to move back home as a way to help him out of his financial troubles.

Peter has become isolated from his friends as most of his friends were mates from school and they now are at Uni or working. Peter gets depressed when he meets with them as he feels that seeing them reminds him of how he is not coping. He is embarrassed that he is sitting at home most of the time.

He finds himself in conflict with many people around him, including his family and friends. He is angry and tends to fly off the handle quickly. Peters boss has told him that his behaviour at work has been unacceptable as he is often late, doesnt turn up and is rude to the clients. It was this threat that prompted Peter to come and see you he would like to manage his drug use, but is worried that he will not be able to cope without the drugs. Peter sighs and rocks back and forth during the interview and has difficulty concentrating on the interview.

You are Melindas supervisor. Please answer the questions below (700 - 1000 Words)::

1. Explain what direction, support, recommendations and advice you would give Melinda about this case?
2. What best practice principles apply in this case?
3. What steps would you put in place to monitor the progress in this case?