Jason is 17 years of age and comes to you in your role as a case manager of a youth support service stating he “can’t hack his Dad anymore” and wants to move out of home.

Jason is 17 years of age and comes to you in your role as a case manager of a youth support service stating he “can’t hack his Dad anymore” and wants to move out of home. Jason’s mother Vivian died 6 months earlier and he has two siblings aged 14 and 11, both siblings remain living with his father Yarran. Jason is doing his VCE at school and is currently in Year 11. He states that ever since his mother died his father has been drinking a lot and has become aggressive towards the kids. Jason is keen to get on with his studies and he comes to you for assistance. What assistance are you able to offer?

In order to understand what you can offer Jason, you need to understand and seek information on many issues.

Below are some questions (the list is not exhaustive) you might want to ask yourself to help you assess Jason’s situation.

What do you assess as the risk for Jason? Does Jason’s age make a difference?

What are the risks and protective factors for your client?

Who is you client? Do you have other responsibilities you need to consider in this case other than just to your client?

What information is missing that you need to know?

Extended family involvement?

Circumstances around mother’s death and the impact of this

Should you consider a case conference? If so with whom?

Should you be contacting the father or any other family member?

Would it make a difference if Jason is Indigenous?

What planning needs to happen for Jason?