When Vennture first met Cian and his family, life at home and school felt overwhelming. Cian was eight years old and had not attended school regularly for nine months. He struggled to manage his emotions, and at times his behaviour became unsafe. This included hitting out, throwing objects, and running away when things felt too much.

His mum and stepdad were doing their best and already had some positive strategies in place, but they needed support to put clear routines and boundaries into practice. The school had suggested working with Vennture, particularly as they felt Cian might be ready to increase his time in school. This was a major concern for mum, who worried about Cian’s behaviour towards other children.

From the start, the Link Worker focused on building trust with the whole family. Time was spent listening to his parents’ concerns and helping them feel supported rather than judged. Practical parenting strategies were introduced gradually, including consistent routines and a calmer bedtime structure. As these changes took hold, mornings became more manageable and emotional outbursts reduced.

It quickly became clear that Cian’s sister, Lily, also needed support. Lily shared that she felt frightened when left alone with Cian, something she had never felt able to say before. The Link Worker worked with the family to put safety plans in place, including clear signals Lily could use if she felt scared. This helped Lily feel safer and more confident at home.

The Link Worker also worked directly with both children in school. Sessions focused on understanding emotions, recognising triggers, and developing safer coping strategies. Cian responded well to clear, predictable expectations and began to show genuine remorse when things went wrong. His progress at home encouraged his co-parent to use the same strategies, bringing more consistency across the family.

Over time, family relationships improved. Cian became more settled, Lily felt heard and protected, and parents felt more confident working together. School engagement increased, routines became more stable, and everyday life felt calmer.

Mum described the biggest change simply: “We can now do things like a normal family, and it feels great.”

For Lily, the difference was clear too: “Things at home are now ten out of ten with my brother.”

Early, whole-family support helped prevent the situation from escalating further and allowed the family to move forward with greater confidence and stability.