Betty Nelson is assigned to assess the McKesson family and opens an investigation case. Betty contacts the mother, Anna and asks for a time to discuss the situation. They set an appointment for that afternoon at Anna's home. Betty comes to Anna's home. When she gets there, Anna has just come home from work. She invites her to sit in the living room and asks if she would like a glass of water. Nick is still in his bedroom. Larry is not home. Anna begins to cry. She states that Nick missed school. Betty talks with Anna and learns that the house is under foreclosure. Anna has very little food in the kitchen and Nick is a growing teen-ager but he hasn't been eating because he is worried about the family's financial situation. After talking to Anna for awhile, she asks if it is ok to go and talk to Nick. Anna agrees. Betty walks into Nick's room. He is lying in bed and has not turned on any lights. After a very long discussion, Betty asks Nick if he wants to eat something. Nick says he hasn't had a decent meal for days. Betty calls her supervisor and gets approval for takeout food for the family. The food arrives and so does Larry. He states he has found a new job as a landscaper. He seems inebriated. Anna apologizes for bothering Betty and asks Betty to leave. Betty provides her contact information and leaves.
Betty records the information and consults with her supervisor and team members the next day. Betty contacts the school to see if Nick is in school. The school social worker reports he has missed over 10 days in the last semester and that his performance in classes has deteriorated significantly. Betty contacts School-Home Support (SHS) to provide support for Nick's concerns about housing and money worries, as well as support for improving his school grades and results.
Betty contacts Anna to see how things are going. Anna said that Larry did not get the landscaping job. Betty asks whether Larry has interacted with JobCentre Plus (of the Department for Work and Pensions [DWP]). Anna indicates that she's not sure if Larry has been keeping his appointments. Betty directs Anna to the DWP's Directgov Website and explains that it includes information for job seekers, and also indicates that she can assist Anna and Larry in applying for Jobseekers Allowance and Employment & Support Allowance. Anna quickly agrees. She also agrees to meet with Betty and others to work out an Outcome Management Plan for the family to get through this time. The family's case is transferred for ongoing case management and services by a 3rd sector agency.