0:00:02 > 0:00:04This programme contains some strong language
0:00:04 > 0:00:06No! You're not going away! Sian!
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Last year, the state spent an estimated £9 billion
0:00:10 > 0:00:14on just 120,000 families.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16It does smell in here though, doesn't it?
0:00:16 > 0:00:20There's been a fight in my garden, a fight across the street.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27'So let us get out there and heal the scars of a broken society.'
0:00:27 > 0:00:32I can, if needed, be there at seven in the morning to make sure the children are up...
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Sian. Buy into it.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37..and be there at five o'clock to make sure there's food on the table.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39It's really, really not looking good.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42No, cos last time you did that, you didn't...!
0:00:42 > 0:00:45There's unrealistic expectations to suddenly go from being
0:00:45 > 0:00:49nightmare families, to the next minute being the Waltons.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Vicki McKeown is 24.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09It's her first year working for the Family Intervention Project,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12having left university with a degree in criminology.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20As a FIP worker, it's her job to help Newcastle's most troubled families.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22It's seven o'clock in the morning
0:01:22 > 0:01:25and I'm going to visit the Thompson family.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29At this point, Social Services are concerned that the home conditions
0:01:29 > 0:01:32are not suitable for children to live in
0:01:32 > 0:01:34and the boys are being neglected.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37It's by going at this time, I'm not aiming to catch them out,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40I'm just aiming to get a picture of what's really going on,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42who does what, who's up.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45It's a starting point to see where we need to go from here.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Social Services have brought in FIP to contribute towards
0:01:48 > 0:01:51an assessment, and help the Thompson family.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54- Morning!- Morning.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Are you feeling better today?
0:01:56 > 0:01:58- No, cos he's got the skitters. - He's got what?
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- He's got the skitters.- Oh, no.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Robbie, come on. Robbie!
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Robbie's four years old and I was quite concerned that he'd been ill
0:02:10 > 0:02:13and his parents were not up, seeing to his needs.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Robbie, come on. Robbie, please. Come on. Get washed.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22No-one's up that's going to school.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Where's everybody else or is this your job this morning?
0:02:25 > 0:02:27No, I haven't slept properly.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32I just got up early and he'd come down, being a mess.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Robbie is being cleaned up by his grandma, Doreen.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Most children would wake up in the night and go and get Mum or Dad up
0:02:39 > 0:02:42to tell them that they'd been ill, where Robbie obviously hadn't.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45It does smell in here though, doesn't it?
0:02:50 > 0:02:53But they've got five house cats.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56There's a strong smell of cat urine.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Come here, Robbie. I'm not finished. You've got some on your butt.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Robbie's brother Brandon is seven years old.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Morning, Brandon. How are you this morning?
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Fine.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12'One thing I'm very aware of with Brandon is I've never seen him smile,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15'which is very concerning for a child of that age.'
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Brandon, get some underpants for Robbie, please,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and some pyjamas.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23No, no!
0:03:23 > 0:03:27I think Claire might be getting up, I think this might be Claire now.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Sssh.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30I'm glad to see you up.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Claire moved back into her mum Doreen's house after splitting up
0:03:35 > 0:03:37with Brandon and Robbie's father.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- Are you a morning person, Claire? - Not really.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44- So I'm going to be stuck up, am I? - No.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47You going to put Robbie to bed with you?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Claire works as a part-time cleaner in the evenings.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Brandon, instead of mucking around with that, please...
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Step-dad Jon moved in three years ago, shortly after meeting Claire.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04You thought you were having a lie-in, Jon. You were wrong.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- Jon, you'll need a... - Has he been sick?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10No, the other end.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Is it just in the bed then?
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Well, he had his underpants on so...
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Ah, so it's just in the bed probably.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18Yeah.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19Keys.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23You'll have to tidy your smelly room then, won't you, Robbie?
0:04:23 > 0:04:25See you later, Brandon.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27- See ya later.- See you tonight.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31'In my opinion, it's more about neglect'
0:04:31 > 0:04:33and just general unawareness of what they should be doing.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37They get fed, bathed, fed, watered.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39They're quite open about what they are doing,
0:04:39 > 0:04:43which in my opinion shows that they don't think it is wrong
0:04:43 > 0:04:45because they are so open about it.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I do go to see to their needs, I love them and all that.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50They get hugs and I play with them and that.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52As far as I'm concerned, that's what a parent does -
0:04:52 > 0:04:55see to their needs and play with them and make them laugh.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57It's been the way I've been brought up,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01and the way I brought me own two kids up,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03and it's done no harm to them.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10On the advice of Vicki and other professionals,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Claire is called to a meeting at Social Services.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18How did it go?
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Really bad. It's like neglect.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22They say if you don't do what they're asking,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25they will push it for court and that.
0:05:25 > 0:05:26And what does court mean?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29They will take the boys, they'll push to take the boys.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32If it has to go to court, they'll push to take the boys off of us.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Do you think you're going to lose Brandon and Robbie?
0:05:34 > 0:05:36I have a scary feeling I might.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Cos I've been there like twice now, so I've a scary feeling I might.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45Claire has been given three months to improve the home environment for her boys.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52She knows working with Vicki is her best chance of achieving this.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57It was opened in January...
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Newcastle's FIP was set up seven years ago.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Each worker is responsible for four families.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09..Cos she was smoking and staying out...
0:06:09 > 0:06:12FIP can be called in by Social Services or Housing
0:06:12 > 0:06:16as a last resort before court intervention.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19He witnessed the attack on his mother when he was seven,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22when a knife was used on his mother.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27What makes FIP unique is the amount of time they are able to spend with every troubled family.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32I think there's sometimes really unrealistic expectations
0:06:32 > 0:06:36on families to suddenly go from being, you know, labelled as
0:06:36 > 0:06:41problem nightmare families or whatever, to the next minute being the Waltons.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45I mean, he's had 15 stop and searches since January,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47usually to do with disorder.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51We're a long-term intensive support service
0:06:51 > 0:06:54and we can be involved with families for up to two years.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58I'll be honest with you, there's families that have been with us for longer than that.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13In a leafy suburb on the other side of Newcastle lives Sharon Gibson.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18Sharon is a 43-year-old, unemployed single mum.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22She's being blamed by neighbours for teenagers running riot on the estate.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Martin!
0:07:26 > 0:07:28I had a huge gang.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32First it was a just a lot of shouting and we heard this loud,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36like a thud, smash sort of thing.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39And it was my window smashed.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44It was quite funny actually. Not cos Sharon was sitting there.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Sian is 14 years old and Sharon's only child.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52She hasn't been to school for over a year.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54I just didn't like it so I just stopped going.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I went in primary school more than I did in high school.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Sian. Sian!
0:08:01 > 0:08:02LAUGHTER
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Oh, my God! I used to look like that.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Sian hangs around the house with her friends
0:08:10 > 0:08:12and 16-year-old boyfriend Martin.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16- Martin!- Stop tormenting me, Ma!
0:08:16 > 0:08:21They've been together for seven months, and Martin spends most nights there.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Does Martin bring a lot of the trouble here?
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Oh, he does, aye.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29People bring us bother. We don't we don't cause bother.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32We go out and get accused of doing stuff.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Just everyone hates you, Sian.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36I know. My neighbours proper despise us.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42But when you look at it as an outsider, you don't go to school,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44you've got the police coming around here.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45It does look bad.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53It's almost getting to the point that every time there's a knock
0:08:53 > 0:08:56at the door, it's somebody to complain.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01Hey!
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Claire Stewart has a background in counselling
0:09:09 > 0:09:13and has been working for the Family Intervention Project for five years.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19The majority of them have been spent supporting Mum Sharon
0:09:19 > 0:09:21with her mental health issues.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24But now 14-year-old Sian is her priority.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31The last couple of weeks, we've had Sian run away from home.
0:09:31 > 0:09:37There's been complaints put into the council about bad behaviour,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and Sian still needs to go to school.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43That's a big hurdle for us to get over.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48And there are even more problems.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53'Eggs have been thrown at this house'
0:09:53 > 0:09:57and what's happened is the neighbours, I'm guessing,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00think that it's Sian and Martin who have been doing it.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Hi, Sharon. Are you all right?
0:10:03 > 0:10:05DOGS BARK
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Sian, I need you to get these dogs!
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Sian! SIAN!
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Are you all right?
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Having so many people shouting at you and screaming at you
0:10:15 > 0:10:18and saying this has happened and that's happened,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21and it's them to blame and this is to blame.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24You've got Sian and her friends getting all upset and agitated,
0:10:24 > 0:10:29and they're shouting things and you don't know what was being said
0:10:29 > 0:10:35and whether, you know, who was telling who to eff off or whatever.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Sian had promised to go back to school but hasn't,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41after receiving abusive messages and texts.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46This started because Martin was a naughty boy
0:10:46 > 0:10:48and went behind Sian's back with somebody
0:10:48 > 0:10:51who was meant to be Sian's friend,
0:10:51 > 0:10:56and the person decided to get very nasty
0:10:56 > 0:10:59and send some very nasty messages to Sian.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Good girl! Good girl!
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Hello?
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Oh! Martin.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Sian has agreed to allow Claire into her room to talk about the messages.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12Are you coming in?
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- How are you?- Fine. - Are you sure?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23What about all those texts and messages?
0:11:23 > 0:11:25They've stopped now.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Cos I've been reading through them
0:11:27 > 0:11:31and I'm wondering what that was like while it was happening.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Were you frightened?
0:11:32 > 0:11:37Not really, cos I knew they were more like texts
0:11:37 > 0:11:40and that, and they wouldn't actually do it, most of them.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44But you didn't want to go to school in case it did happen?
0:11:44 > 0:11:45Mmm.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Is there other reasons why you don't want to go?
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- No.- Just because of that?
0:11:58 > 0:12:01So you're going to get the room sorted?
0:12:01 > 0:12:04So when I come back on Tuesday, will it be beautiful?
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Yeah.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Are you worried about anything?
0:12:09 > 0:12:10No.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Are you texting each other?
0:12:12 > 0:12:13No!
0:12:13 > 0:12:15CLAIRE LAUGHS
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Right, cheerio. I'll see you later.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24'That was the first time that Sian's let me in her bedroom'
0:12:24 > 0:12:27for a very, very long time.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31So that for me was a big step forward
0:12:31 > 0:12:34and she's let me see the mess and how bad it's gotten.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39There's a lot of work we can do from that,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41and I don't just mean about cleaning it up.
0:12:41 > 0:12:47I'm talking whole loads of stuff about self-image and self-esteem and valuing yourself.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Something's gone really wrong inside Sian.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Sian was only 11 years old when FIP were first brought in
0:12:57 > 0:13:00to help her mum with her mental health issues.
0:13:00 > 0:13:07I was so ill and I was so depressed because I was facing eviction,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10my benefits were all in a mess, they were just...they kept...
0:13:10 > 0:13:14they'd stopping paying us and then when they put it back in,
0:13:14 > 0:13:19I was weeks in arrears with everything.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22And I had said that I was going to burn the house down
0:13:22 > 0:13:25and me and Sian were going to be in it
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and I was so sick, so they ended up taking Sian away.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Which was a bit of a bad time, wasn't it?
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Hello?- Yeah.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Mum, is it all right if I go to Chapel House?
0:13:45 > 0:13:46Not till after half four.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49'Sian didn't want to leave her mother
0:13:49 > 0:13:53'because she was frightened that something would happen to Sharon.'
0:13:53 > 0:13:56For an 11-year-old girl, that was really scary.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Sian was placed into care for two months.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Claire helped Sharon get her back and has been supporting the family ever since.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Tell them you're going to the doctors. It'll be less than a five-minute appointment.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09It won't be, Mam, it'll be ages.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11How will it be ages?
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Because it will!
0:14:13 > 0:14:16She's going for some contraception.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18The implant.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25And then it means that we don't need to worry about anything
0:14:25 > 0:14:27for three years, basically.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32It's getting her there that's going to be the problem.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35She'd rather go off with her friends.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38You noticed that it's half past four, the appointment?
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Three months ago, Sian became pregnant with Martin's baby,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44but had a miscarriage.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49If she gets pregnant again, at the moment,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52it will go into court, I'm sure, to have that baby removed.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56That's what the social worker expressly said.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Sharon made it quite clear that she is not able to cope
0:15:00 > 0:15:04with a baby at the moment on Sian's behalf,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06and she isn't,
0:15:06 > 0:15:10and Sian couldn't manage a baby.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13It will only be a two-minute appointment.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Sian!
0:15:18 > 0:15:19Sian!
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- CAMERAMAN:- I take it you're not going to the doctors then?
0:15:39 > 0:15:43This is what she will do and this is what she's like
0:15:43 > 0:15:47if I say, you know, she can't have her friends in or...
0:15:47 > 0:15:50no, they can't stay overnight or whatever.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53She does exactly the same thing.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57So it's like a battle of wills at the minute.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00My priorities are to get Sian into school
0:16:00 > 0:16:02and to get some contraception.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05But it is ultimately Sian's choice,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07as long as you've made every effort
0:16:07 > 0:16:10and made it as possible as you can.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13At the end of the day, she makes that choice.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Thanks, Jon.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Bye.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Three weeks from first meeting the Thompsons,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28family intervention worker Vicki McKeown
0:16:28 > 0:16:31is working on a plan to help keep their boys
0:16:31 > 0:16:33from being taken into care.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39In comparison to the other FIP families that you...
0:16:39 > 0:16:43- A million times worse. - OK, I'm getting you.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45What's been spilt? What's that?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- What's that down there?- What?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Sam!
0:16:50 > 0:16:52This is Robbie's room. He rips all the paper off.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57It's not just been Robbie. It's been Brandon as well.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00It needs decorating straightaway, but if you haven't got the money
0:17:00 > 0:17:03to decorate straightaway, you can't. He has it the same way I had it.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07If we could afford to do something, we did it. If we can't,
0:17:07 > 0:17:08then we couldn't. That's the way it was
0:17:08 > 0:17:10and that's the way it is for my boys.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Working with families, you see that behaviours are quite often learnt
0:17:18 > 0:17:22from parents and it's a generational issue that's passed on.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Robbie! On the path, please.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28And that can be quite hard cos you're asking them to change
0:17:28 > 0:17:30behaviour they've been doing for such a long time.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32It's not going to change overnight
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and it's not going to be an easy change.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39I got took off my parents at six months old
0:17:39 > 0:17:45by Social Services. All I did was cry all the time,
0:17:45 > 0:17:52so Social Services come in, took me and my brother off my parents.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56My dad ended up in prison...again
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- and my- mum... And your brother ended up in prison.- Sshhh!
0:18:00 > 0:18:07And my mum, she just disappeared after they took us off.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11I'm going to very much work on the areas such as parenting,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14roles within the family and trying to get the family
0:18:14 > 0:18:18to achieve what they need to in order to keep those children at home.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Vicki spends the morning with the Thompsons,
0:18:21 > 0:18:22laying down some new house rules.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Right. Before we go through this, I just want to say
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I want people to be honest. I don't want to go away
0:18:29 > 0:18:32and find that people are upset. I'd rather we get it all out
0:18:32 > 0:18:34in the open now because we can only move forward
0:18:34 > 0:18:38when we know where we're at. In terms of in the morning,
0:18:38 > 0:18:40you said you take it in turns to get physically up
0:18:40 > 0:18:42and the other one's maybe in bed. What I would like to see
0:18:42 > 0:18:46is that you're both physically up because usually, and I'm not meaning
0:18:46 > 0:18:48this in a disrespectful way, people would be up and going to work
0:18:48 > 0:18:50so we need the boys coming to you.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55If you're both getting up, there's two people there for them.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Because one thing that often happens, especially people involved
0:18:58 > 0:19:01with Social Services, they'll say, "I'm not hitting the children.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03"I'm feeding them. They've got a bed."
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Basic needs. But in terms of... It's that emotional thing
0:19:07 > 0:19:10and having someone there when you're feeling really crap
0:19:10 > 0:19:12and down and stuff. It's just responding to that
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and not just ignoring it. That's what we want to see.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17We can often get a lot of bravado from families saying,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19"I don't need things to be different,"
0:19:19 > 0:19:23and, "What are you telling me? The way I bring up my kids is all right."
0:19:23 > 0:19:26We need to show them a comparison so it's not always about sitting down
0:19:26 > 0:19:29and having the chat. You've got to be creative.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34You've got to make it real for them and bring it to life a bit.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38- You've got what? - The boys are off on Friday.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41Well, that could give you an opportunity to take them somewhere,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43to the park or something.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Vicki's suggestion of a trip to the park
0:19:48 > 0:19:51is the Thompsons' first outing together in weeks.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59The champ is here.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01You're snotty.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08- CAMERAMAN:- How often do you say you get out with the boys?
0:20:08 > 0:20:13Not a lot. We haven't got the money or the weather's bad.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- Do you enjoy coming to the park? - Yep.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21- Do you get to come very often? - Not much.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24What did you do this weekend?
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Absolutely nowt. Just had a quiet day in.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41This is the first time I've ever seen Claire at the park.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44It's not the first time I've ever seen her do anything with the boys.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47But I think she enjoys it, even if she's not saying it,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49cos she's joining in and stuff.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- Up there.- And again.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- Shall we lift you?- Do you want to go on my shoulders?
0:21:00 > 0:21:03It's important that Claire and Jon start to see that it does
0:21:03 > 0:21:06have an effect, it does make the boys happier, gives them something
0:21:06 > 0:21:10to talk about and I suppose it gives them that time to be children.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Inevitably, they will mess around and stuff, but because they don't
0:21:13 > 0:21:17do that at home, I think it's important they can just be children.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Martin!
0:21:33 > 0:21:37This is the beginning. Where is it? Martin!
0:21:37 > 0:21:41At the Gibson house, Martin, Sian's 16-year-old boyfriend,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44has been accused of stealing the neighbours' football.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Just have to wait till the police come then.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Are you worried about the police coming around?
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Why do you let him still hang around?
0:21:59 > 0:22:01People keep asking me that.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04If I don't allow him to come,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08at some point, my daughter's not going to be here.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13We've been through this loads of times.
0:22:13 > 0:22:19We've been where she's just done off because I haven't allowed him.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20So, what do I do?
0:22:20 > 0:22:24I don't know which ball it was, but they got a ball out of the garden.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- Did they?- Was I not supposed to tell you?
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- They did, yeah.- How do you know? - Cos I was there when they got it.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35Martin! Come here. You DID go next door and get a ball
0:22:35 > 0:22:38because I've just been told you did.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42No! You're not going away!
0:22:42 > 0:22:43Sods.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Get in. I'm going for a walk.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- Where are you going? - To find the ball.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58They've smashed eggs on my sitting-room window.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00There's been a fight in my garden,
0:23:00 > 0:23:01a fight across the street.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Just abuse, verbal abuse.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Get it out.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12We never ever leave our house empty now. Never.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18And yous wonder why I've got a rift with the bloody neighbours.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21It's not funny, Martin.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Where are they, Sharon?
0:23:24 > 0:23:25They went up that way.
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Get in.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- Do you think people look at you as trouble?- Yes.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58Why's that?
0:24:07 > 0:24:10He's putting Sharon's tenancy at risk
0:24:10 > 0:24:15because obviously you can't go around upsetting the community like this
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and other things have been going on as well.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22The police were called two nights ago for something else
0:24:22 > 0:24:24associated with Martin's behaviour.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27So we'll have to talk about all of this and what it means.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33Sharon, Sian and Martin. First of all,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36I'm going to let your mum read this.
0:24:36 > 0:24:41All right, Martin. This is from the housing officer to me, OK?
0:24:41 > 0:24:45They've received another complaint about your behaviour,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49while you and your friends were visiting this house.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53It doesn't really help at this point
0:24:53 > 0:24:57to say who's right or wrong
0:24:57 > 0:24:59or the accuracy of things.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03The thing is, it has been said somehow.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Your behaviour, and as much as you say, "I didn't do it,"
0:25:07 > 0:25:09or, "It was just a little bit.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12"No, I didn't really do that. I was just playing with a ball,"
0:25:12 > 0:25:17whatever's happening, Martin, you're putting this tenancy at risk.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20You are doing it. You and your friends.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Nobody said to me that Sharon has kicked a ball
0:25:24 > 0:25:27or stood on somebody's hedge.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30It's really not looking good.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32It's really, really not looking good.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44Why don't you and Sian go upstairs then and give me and Sharon
0:25:44 > 0:25:46a couple of minutes on our own?
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I think the thing is, the community's got itself into such a state now
0:25:54 > 0:25:56that they are watching you all the time.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59That's the feeling that I'm getting so...
0:26:01 > 0:26:04..let's get it calmed down.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Ten days later, Sharon is asked to go to the Housing Office
0:26:11 > 0:26:13to discuss her tenancy.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20She wasn't going to come. She just flatly refused.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24When I say flatly refused, it wasn't aggressive, she was just scared.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29Then yesterday, I said, "How about we go? You need to do this.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32"It's part of the process." And she came around.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35She just perked up and came around, so she's here.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Hello, Joanne.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44- Hi, Sharon.- You OK?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- Yeah, fine. You OK, Sharon? - Yes, fine, thanks.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54The reason, Sharon, that I've asked you to come along today with Claire
0:26:54 > 0:26:57is just to go through some of the complaints made.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Mainly Sian's behaviour in the street and the visitors associated
0:27:00 > 0:27:03with the property, the noise and just the general disturbance
0:27:03 > 0:27:07in the area. You see, if Sian and her friends are causing nuisance
0:27:07 > 0:27:10in the area, if they are friends, visitors to your property,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12it falls back on you and your tenancy.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15In all of the complaints, we will then come to you.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Inappropriate behaviour has to stop. It won't be tolerated
0:27:19 > 0:27:23and we need to just keep an eye on the situation closely.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Do you understand what I'm saying, Sharon?
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- Sharon, what's on your mind? - Nothing.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35- Nothing? Do you need to say something?- No.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37- No? Are you sure?- Uh-hm.
0:27:37 > 0:27:43Sharon and Sian are quite quiet and soft touches with a lot of things.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46A lot of kids who've got nowhere else to go
0:27:46 > 0:27:49and who aren't being controlled
0:27:49 > 0:27:52have ended up coming into the home
0:27:52 > 0:27:56and Sharon's had great difficulty getting these kids out.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Trouble comes and finds a home there
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and that jeopardises their tenancy.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Two months into working with FIP,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14the Thompsons are trying to get to grips with their new daily routines
0:28:14 > 0:28:15set up by Vicki.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24We've actually downsized. We've now only got three cat litter trays.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28I mean, we've had five cats and now we've only got the three cats
0:28:28 > 0:28:31cos one of the cats that we got rid of was doing all the wet...
0:28:31 > 0:28:33the urine all over the place.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35How often were you changing the cat litter trays?
0:28:35 > 0:28:40Once a week. Now it's every one or two days.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46VICKI: For a long time, I didn't feel that Claire understood
0:28:46 > 0:28:49the reason for the change. It's quite apparent she's more on board now
0:28:49 > 0:28:51so I think she understands more what needs to happen
0:28:51 > 0:28:55and she understands that if things didn't change,
0:28:55 > 0:28:57then she was at risk of losing her boys.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01So she's now doing things to make sure that doesn't happen.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04Come in. Shut up. Stand back.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10I've bought some more charts.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Vicki has introduced a system of charts which ensures
0:29:13 > 0:29:16all the family stick to the new routines.
0:29:16 > 0:29:22If I didn't have a bath on Monday, we'd just leave that blank
0:29:22 > 0:29:25and if I did on Tuesday, just a tick.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29Hopefully, the charts will disappear and these routines and habits
0:29:29 > 0:29:31will become the norm.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Robbie, what does it say on the chart you've got to do?
0:29:34 > 0:29:38- Don't bounce.- It doesn't say don't bounce, you've just got to walk...
0:29:40 > 0:29:43..cos otherwise you might fall over.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46That's it. That's it. You tidy it up.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- Jon and Mum have painted your bedroom, haven't they?- Yeah.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54Do you like it? But who's done this?
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- Not me.- Not you?
0:29:56 > 0:30:00- You know on your chart, you've got no drawing on walls?- Yeah.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03So next time I come, this will still be here,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05but we don't want any new drawings.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10- Then do you think you can keep the walls clean?- Yeah.- Very good.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15Decoration and cleaning the house are just short-term solutions.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Uniforms off and get ready for bed, please.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22Vicki is helping to arrange for Claire, Jon and the boys
0:30:22 > 0:30:26to move into a council house on the other side of town.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31It's been hard. But we've just got to get on with it.
0:30:31 > 0:30:36I don't like what's happening, we're having to go our separate ways,
0:30:36 > 0:30:40but just got to get on with it for the kids.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44Obviously, the housing is the next big thing
0:30:44 > 0:30:48because as long as she's living with her mum, she will be a child.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50She will always look to her mum
0:30:50 > 0:30:53and expect her mum to jump in and things.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56We've always said, until they move and they're in separate tenancies,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59we're kind of just treading water and keeping things as they are
0:30:59 > 0:31:01and the true changes will happen when they move.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10KNOCK ON DOOR Hello?
0:31:10 > 0:31:15Wow. I tell you what, it's much better in here, isn't it?
0:31:15 > 0:31:18For crying out loud. Grand.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20You've done great in here, mind, Sian.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23You know, you've stuff that's to go to the riding school,
0:31:23 > 0:31:27that you were taking back to riding school? Have you taken it?
0:31:27 > 0:31:33- No.- I wondered if you fancied taking it up with me in the car?
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Sian used to go horse riding, I don't know, really,
0:31:36 > 0:31:38two or three times a week.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42So I want her to remember that she really enjoyed it.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46I'm hoping to trigger some memories as well.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50How are you doing, Sian?
0:31:52 > 0:31:56- I've got some boots. - I'll take it. Fabulous. Thank you.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58You're not going to ride at all?
0:31:58 > 0:32:00I want to come back though.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04Well, come up.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09It's really fluffy.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11It's just its fur.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Do you remember Dempsey or not?
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Yeah? Dempsey and Daisy?
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Probably Sian would be about 12 when she came.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27She started off right from the beginning
0:32:27 > 0:32:30to eventually starting to compete a little bit.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32So she got quite far with her riding.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34I think she certainly always enjoyed it.
0:32:34 > 0:32:39Sometimes maybe just the crowd of kids she was in with at the time,
0:32:39 > 0:32:42maybe their interests just wandered a little bit
0:32:42 > 0:32:46and that just steered Sian to go down the other track
0:32:46 > 0:32:47and do other things.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49This is who Sian used to ride.
0:32:53 > 0:32:58This is the little girl that I knew was there.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03It's really nice seeing her relating with the horse...
0:33:04 > 0:33:06..because she loved it.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12It's a big change. It's about getting out of the house
0:33:12 > 0:33:16and leaving the house and leaving that little, safe world.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20She's not going to school and not going out.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24So this is really the first step away
0:33:24 > 0:33:27from that life that she's been living lately, this last year,
0:33:27 > 0:33:33which is why, if she wants to, I'll make sure she can get here
0:33:33 > 0:33:36at least in the early stages, until her motivation
0:33:36 > 0:33:38and her confidence comes back.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59I had a text message from Sharon at seven o'clock on Friday
0:33:59 > 0:34:03to say that Sian was pregnant.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07It does change everything. All the plans that we had
0:34:07 > 0:34:11and everything Sian was signing up to have all changed.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18What needs to happen is a pregnancy test needs to be taken
0:34:18 > 0:34:24with somebody who can confirm to Social Services that you're pregnant.
0:34:24 > 0:34:29If the test is positive, Sian will be assigned a social worker
0:34:29 > 0:34:32who will assess whether she can keep her baby.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39It's not that one, it's that one.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- I did that one wrong. I put it in the wrong place.- All right.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45- Shall I put this one in the bin?- Yes.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48So because it's got two pink bits, that's a positive, yeah?
0:34:48 > 0:34:50- Is this correct?- Yes.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55It's not something I really want her to go through, basically,
0:34:55 > 0:35:00and to be honest, I don't think she's even physically able
0:35:00 > 0:35:01to go through it.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05- I don't think she is.- Do you mean carry a baby or deliver?
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Both, basically.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12- So, are you, like, frightened for her?- Uh-hm.
0:35:12 > 0:35:19The only way for me to handle it is to just not even talk about it.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22Yeah. How do YOU feel?
0:35:23 > 0:35:27- Scared.- You're scared? What are you scared about?
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Everything.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Do you want to? Do you want to have a baby?
0:35:33 > 0:35:35You do? All right then.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Yeah, it is scary, I think because you don't now what's going to happen.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42It's unknown. You don't really know how you're going to react
0:35:42 > 0:35:45with your own baby until you've got your own baby, do you?
0:35:45 > 0:35:47So it is quite scary.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51- I just hope it doesn't turn out like me.- Really?! Why's that?
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Don't know. Just cos.
0:35:56 > 0:35:57I think you're nice, Martin.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Eight months after Vicki's first assessment,
0:36:08 > 0:36:12the Thompsons have moved to a council house five miles away.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15This is your new house, isn't it?
0:36:15 > 0:36:18Grandma's house is over there.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Yeah, but Grandma's going to maybe, hopefully, move across here
0:36:21 > 0:36:25- and then she'll live near you and be able to visit, won't she?- Yeah.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29So, any of these bags here, they go up to Mummy's room, OK?
0:36:29 > 0:36:30I'll take this one.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Are you sure? It looks a bit heavy, Brandon.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36- CAMERAMAN:- So, what do you think of your new place then?- I like it.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39It's the right size for me and the boys, I think.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Without my mam being here, anyway.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43Less stressful I think it's going to be and all.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Vicki, FIP mentioned before, "This is the way we want it kept."
0:36:46 > 0:36:49But it will be because it'll be up to me and Jon to keep it tidy.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58VICKI: The thing with the cats is... Fine, have cats,
0:36:58 > 0:36:59but we just don't want them in the bedrooms
0:36:59 > 0:37:02because we don't want them weeing in the bedrooms.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04- It doesn't bite, does it?- No, no.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11I've just thrown you out.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Sometimes animals get that fusty smell,
0:37:13 > 0:37:16especially when the heating's on, so you get that warm animal smell.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19As long as they stay downstairs then we've not got any concerns with them.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22We just don't want them weeing in the boys' bedrooms.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28Hopefully, this will be a fresh start.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31They'll get the stuff in the house that they need.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35I'm hopeful that it will work out.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47Sian's pregnancy has put even more pressure on Claire
0:37:47 > 0:37:49to break the Gibsons' cycle of problems.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Does that get her out of schooling, being pregnant?
0:37:54 > 0:37:57It doesn't get her out of schooling at all, no.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02In fact, it's become almost more important that she's pregnant
0:38:02 > 0:38:06because she's going to have to demonstrate to the people assessing her
0:38:06 > 0:38:09as fit to be a parent,
0:38:09 > 0:38:12so there's even more pressure on her to go to school.
0:38:14 > 0:38:19Claire's helped Sian get a place in a school for pregnant teenagers.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- Sian?- Yeah.- Can I come in a minute? - Yeah.
0:38:26 > 0:38:31Guys, this isn't good. It's really not good.
0:38:31 > 0:38:32What happened?
0:38:35 > 0:38:38- What happened in here?- I don't know.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42Seriously, this is really bad.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44It's not good enough.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50So, if you want any chance at all to have your baby, Sian,
0:38:50 > 0:38:52and bring your baby home,
0:38:52 > 0:38:57you're going to have to start going to school and THIS has got to stop.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Martin, are you hearing me?
0:39:00 > 0:39:02Is he hearing me?
0:39:02 > 0:39:06And that means you stay here on Sunday night
0:39:06 > 0:39:09and not at Martin's, yeah? And I can see you going,
0:39:09 > 0:39:12"Yeah, I'll do it." I know what you're thinking.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17"I'll do what the hell I like." So, Sian, buy into it.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20You know, it's not on.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26I thought, "You're joking. You have got to be joking.
0:39:26 > 0:39:31"You know. We've been through this. You know the lengths we've been to.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34"You know the risks you're running
0:39:34 > 0:39:38"not looking after yourselves, cleaning up after yourselves.
0:39:39 > 0:39:46"You're just showing no signs of any parenting capacity."
0:39:46 > 0:39:48I think there's other people
0:39:48 > 0:39:50who aren't taking responsibility for this.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55Martin's parents need to take a better share of the responsibility.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- Hi, Tracy. You all right?- Come in. - Can I come in? Thank you.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06FIP have no powers to force Martin's parents to help.
0:40:06 > 0:40:11All Claire can do is speak to his mum, Tracy.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Your mum said you can't stay up at Sharon's through the week.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19- Actually, she said you can't stay up there any time.- No.
0:40:19 > 0:40:25- Sian can stay here, weekends.- But you can visit Sharon and Sian?- Yes.
0:40:25 > 0:40:33Tracy appears to be really on board about Martin and Sian's relationship
0:40:33 > 0:40:36and what that means in terms of them not going to school,
0:40:36 > 0:40:39they get together and they're a little gang and they don't need anybody else.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43So she's really getting involved in dealing with that
0:40:43 > 0:40:46and making sure her own son's going to school.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49I wouldn't change him for the world.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51He's my only son, isn't he?
0:40:51 > 0:40:54I love him.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58He can be a little bastard. Oh, he definitely can.
0:40:58 > 0:41:04But then also he can be a loving son that you want, innit?
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Ten weeks into her pregnancy, Sian's made a decision about her future.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14In two weeks' time, I'll go back to school.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16And what's made you do that?
0:41:18 > 0:41:22Well, it's going to make us look more responsible and everything.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26Cos I need an education and everything as well so...
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Are you still all a bit in denial about it?
0:41:34 > 0:41:39Not really. It's sunk in, to be honest.
0:41:41 > 0:41:46She's trying to do all of the things that we've asked her to do
0:41:46 > 0:41:49to prove that she can parent
0:41:49 > 0:41:53and she's going to need parental support.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56But, yeah, Sian's engaging a lot better.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02It's been four years since Claire first became involved
0:42:02 > 0:42:05with the Gibsons.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08With things calming down in and around the house...
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Hi, Sharon.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12..Claire can consider reducing her hours.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14So I'm going to come down and see you
0:42:14 > 0:42:17and we'll start putting together a closure plan
0:42:17 > 0:42:19where I start to step back.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22I would look at a period of about three months
0:42:22 > 0:42:27of me stepping back, just in case...
0:42:27 > 0:42:31You know, just in case there's something I need to come back for.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35So, over those three months, you'll see me less and less.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39Are you happy with that? Are you ready for that?
0:42:39 > 0:42:41Well, yes.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Yes, that's good. Yes.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48Will you be sad not to have to come up here any more?
0:42:51 > 0:42:55In a little way, I will be, yeah, because, you know,
0:42:55 > 0:42:58I've become a part of their life, so in a way, they've become
0:42:58 > 0:43:00part of my life as well.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02I've thought about them a lot.
0:43:02 > 0:43:07So in a way, I'll be sad. In a way, I'll be glad as well.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11It is like having a friend. It's like suddenly having
0:43:11 > 0:43:14a best friend and then not having one at all so...
0:43:14 > 0:43:20yeah, it's going to be very strange, very hard.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22I think I'll cry.
0:43:32 > 0:43:36Ten months on from starting work with the Thompson family,
0:43:36 > 0:43:42Vicki McKeown is making another unannounced early morning visit.
0:43:42 > 0:43:47Can I just comment on how tidy this is compared to the previous garden?
0:43:47 > 0:43:49The family are all up and about.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51Brandon is wide awake.
0:43:54 > 0:43:59Well, this is mine and Robbie's room and...
0:43:59 > 0:44:04it's just messy at the moment
0:44:04 > 0:44:06cos we've just moved in.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Robbie's bed...
0:44:08 > 0:44:11we don't know why it's always messy.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15Well, there is one reason, cos he's only five.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19And I'm at the top, as you can see,
0:44:19 > 0:44:24and it's, like, all comfy up here.
0:44:24 > 0:44:26Did you like living in the old house?
0:44:26 > 0:44:29Nah. It was all scruffy.
0:44:29 > 0:44:34Everything was boring, except...
0:44:34 > 0:44:38the telly sometimes and my consoles.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41As you can see, things are drastically different in the morning
0:44:41 > 0:44:43to where we started.
0:44:43 > 0:44:48They wouldn't have had breakfast at home and no-one would have been up.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55Go get your jumper on. Jumpers on. Eat your bananas
0:44:55 > 0:44:57and jumpers on.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59Well, it's definitely less chaotic.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02There's no shouting in the morning any more.
0:45:02 > 0:45:06- Say bye to your- mum. Bye.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10I'm very proud of this family.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13It's amazed me how far they've come and stuff
0:45:13 > 0:45:18and I get a lot of pleasure seeing how happy Brandon and Robbie are now.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20Have a good day at school.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23- Bye.- Bye.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26How do you think things have improved?
0:45:26 > 0:45:29There's a lot less stress cos we get more help
0:45:29 > 0:45:31and the boys seem to be happy and all.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35But now, if help was to sort of slowly stop, do you feel confident
0:45:35 > 0:45:41- in doing everything else yourself? - Yeah. I was on the phone for something,
0:45:41 > 0:45:43getting the dentist and doctors sorted out.
0:45:43 > 0:45:47- Okey dokey.- Right.- See you later. - See you later.- Bye.
0:45:47 > 0:45:51It's amazing to see where they've come.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54That just shows to everybody that give these families a chance
0:45:54 > 0:45:58and they can change. It's about giving them the chances
0:45:58 > 0:46:01and helping them to get those chances because
0:46:01 > 0:46:06some of these families are quite happy... Well, not happy, but are stuck in a rut.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09I think things this morning, just how Claire and Jon were taking pride
0:46:09 > 0:46:12in how smart the boys look for school, that was a huge thing.
0:46:12 > 0:46:16Both boys seem happy and are more involved.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19The boys seem to come to us more, always want to see us
0:46:19 > 0:46:20and talk to us.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23You, out. We do things at the weekend now.
0:46:23 > 0:46:27We don't just sit around watching the telly all day. Just be a family.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30So it makes us feel nice inside, warm inside.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33So, is that it for the day?
0:46:34 > 0:46:37No, it's only eight o'clock in the morning!
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd