Case study: Eric UK

Eric is 16 and has been in care since he was 8 years old, having lived in 4 foster homes and 2 residential homes. He has some contact with his father but has not seen his mother or his 10-year-old sister since he lived with them for a short time when he was 13.

According to Eric’s records, Eric has been perceived as having a history of aggression and angry outbursts that frequently resulted in physical assaults. Two days following his intake at a youth justice facility, staff members spoke with a manager, continuing the focus on Eric as ‘unmanageable’, and they had taken away his privileges because he was unable to control his anger.

The manager asked the staff members to consider Eric more fully and to consider that Eric had not yet been able to begin the individualised anger management program to help him with his emotions and asked what strengths and other qualities Eric possessed. The staff members felt that Eric was good at interacting positively with staff when he was not angry and that he was encouraging towards the other young people in the facility.
Eric’s key worker from his latest residential home reported that Eric was supportive towards other residents and seemed to look out for younger peers. Unfortunately, this had resulted in incidents where he became aggressive with particular members of staff. Eric reported one member of staff to the registered manager after they locked him in his room when he complained about a change to the curfew time.

Eric had just begun an apprenticeship in joinery before his recent arrest and had obtained good grades at school despite not always attending.