Client or Helper?
| Author | Royce Franklin |
| Published date | 01 September 1981 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058102800403 |
| Date | 01 September 1981 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
CLIENT or HELPER?
Royce Franklin
Senior Probation Officer, Manchester
’New careers’ is now a familiar notion; the rewards and
difficulties have been much discussed. Here, the difficulties
of a ’client’ becoming a ’volunteer’ in a day-centre are outlined
in relation to one man, but the author counsels continued
commitment to the optimistic principle.
The after-care unit is sited in the
as a condition of any order or licence.
centre of Manchester. Its five officers
When this has occurred there has been
supervise people discharged to the Man-
a measure of success. During late 1979
chester City area who, at the time, are
the committee-comprising each mem-
without a fixed address.
ber of staff plus the liaison probation
In the basement of the building which
officer and the senior probation officer,
houses the after-care unit, there is a
both from the after-care unit-decided
day centre for clients and anyone who
to seek permission to use one of the
cares to visit. Essentially it is a ’drop-in’
members-Joe-as a fully fledged volun-
centre, but there is some structure. The
teer. Permission was sought and given
staff comprises two full-time ancillary
by the ACPO for such an experiment to
workers, a part-time cook and a third
be carried out. Joe had many previous
full-time worker employed through MSC.
convictions, was thirty-five years old,
About forty-five people attend each day
with a severe drink problem which it was
but numbers are very much dictated by
known at that time manifested itself
season, weather and other variables.
mainly at times of crises. He was a man
Facilities include games, showers, clothes
of about average intelligence.
washing machine, and washing equip-
ment. A mid-day meal is provided each
Joe had many previous convictions,
day at a nominal cost, and this is very
with a severe drink
...
problem...
much the focal point of every day.
Various task-orientated groups are led
From the outset efforts were made to
by the MSC worker. In addition...
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