‘I had an engagement with a client today. He is non caseload but I have known him since I started as a volunteer 3 years ago. In all that time we have been building the relationship by having conversations about whatever he wants to talk about, by demonstrating that we have no agenda or expectations, and by allowing him some time to talk while we demonstrate that we are actively listening.
During this time he has very much come across as someone who does have some support needs but who doesn’t meet caseload criteria for us because he didn’t appear to have the multiple complex support needs that define our client group. Still, some support need was evident so I have continued to keep that engagement going and to stop for a coffee and a chat whenever I see him.
He is very much that type of person who brushes over things and says he is fine, makes light of any support needs, and goes on to tell funny stories etc. He is a pleasure to talk to and he really does come across as someone who, despite a couple of minor support needs, is just a man who enjoys having some company and someone to talk to. All that changed recently, when I witnessed an incident, and as a result of this incident he broke down and told me about what is really going on.
It is now evident that he is a very vulnerable man with far more support needs than he wanted me to know about because of pride. That process of assessing whether he is potential caseload will continue, and as a part of this process he has invited me to visit him away from the community project where I normally see him, so that he can reveal the extent of his circumstances to me away from anyone who might over-hear him. We made arrangements to meet, and then he said:
“I feel so much better now. Just knowing that you want to help me is a relief, I feel like you’re the part of the jigsaw that I need to finish the puzzle”.’
#Simon