Case Study

Upon liberation, Rebecca faced multiple immediate challenges. Being a homeless young female and struggling with addictions and mental health, she was anxious about where she may be housed – sadly, the outcome wasn’t as she had hoped and she was given accommodation in an area she hadn’t wanted to go.

Rebecca and her Upside worker came up with ways to maker her feel safe and her environment more homely. With help, Rebecca was also able to contact her bank and benefits line so her payments were unsanctioned and she was supported financially. Rebecca told her Upside worker that if she had not had support that day, she would probably have bought alcohol in the hope of returning to prison that night, rather than face the challenges of reintegrating into a community alone.

The final hurdle was her addictions appointment. Rebecca was “too overwhelmed” by the number of appointments scheduled for the day of her release to attend. Rather than allow this to become a barrier to further engagement, her Upside worker attended the appointment to introduce herself to Rebecca’s addiction worker and discuss an action plan to work collaboratively to meet Rebecca’s needs.

Acknowledging the difficult transition from custody and the anxiety she was experiencing, Rebecca’s Upside and addictions workers took proactive outreach measures. Instead of waiting for her to re-engage, they went together to the temporary accommodation where Rebecca was housed to assess her wellbeing and demonstrate a united front.

This collaborative intervention helped to re-establish contact with Rebecca in a non-threatening manner, at a pace appropriate for her. The visit reinforced the importance of collaboration, communication, and compassion in post-custody support work. Rebecca’s workers were able to prioritise her health and emotional needs without penalising her for missing an appointment—recognising that recovery and reintegration are not linear processes.

This case highlights the importance of multi-agency collaboration in supporting individuals transitioning from custody back into the community. It ensured Rebecca did not fall through the cracks at a critical time. This approach reflects the core values of the Upside Voluntary Throughcare Support service: person-centred care, flexibility, and partnership working.

This Case Study is taken from our partner, Upside, see here.
More information on our Upside service can be found here.