Lorenzo was referred to CDP aged 15 as part of a Community Resolution order, having been found in possession of cannabis.
Lorenzo and the Youth Programmes Officer talked intensely for 3.5 hours about his school, family, criminal activity and mental health. It was clear that Lorenzo had chosen this moment to open up and disclose much of what he had on his mind and that was troubling him.
Lorenzo’s parents are estranged, and his father is very wealthy, but lives in Switzerland. His father provides financially for Lorenzo to attend a private, French speaking School (Lorenzo’s mum is French), where Lorenzo struggles with the curriculum and ethos.
Lorenzo began to deal drugs, this was something that he decided to do, initially as a business and accumulated large profits. This led to a Lorenzo taking drugs and leading a double life away from the family home that involved very chaotic behavior.
The Youth Programmes Officer liaised with Lorenzo’s social worker, Ealing Youth Justice and his mum, a referral was made to the Adolescent Multi Agency Support Team (MAST), and it was decided that the Youth Programmes Officer was best placed to work with Lorenzo in the meantime.
We did extensive work on the relationship between Lorenzo and his mum as well as working with mum to spot the signs of substance misuse, something that she was very naive about initially.
Lorenzo was misusing many substances and was open to conversations regarding ways to address this. This involved changing his peer group and attending the gym.
Lorenzo is relishing his new lifestyle. He no longer takes drugs and is now at an English-speaking College studying fashion. He seems to be much happier, as does his mum, who often jokes about how bad the relationship was between her and her son, but that she just did not understand what was going on.
