Community Links Changes Service provides a specialist support service to women and men who have complex needs and have experienced trauma. They have offending history or maybe at risk of offending, in the Kirklees area. These individuals will have traits of personality disorder whether diagnosed or not which include self-harm; low self-esteem; struggling to engage and/or express needs; difficulty adapting to change; anti-social behaviour; impulsivity, difficulties with relationships.
The service also offers peer support using a range of activities supporting clients with improving their circumstances. The peer support workers provide a range of support for practical and social needs identified by the clients.
Please contact the team for more information 01924 448 975 or 07891598183.
Referrals are welcome from all services. To be eligible for the service, the individual’ should have complex needs and traits of personality disorder, they also need to be at risk of offending or have offended, had a caution or conditional caution in the past twelve months of referral being made. The individual must reside in the Kirklees area.
“Got more confidence and trusting people a lot better. I am happy with the progress I’ve made specifically housing, and all the other things we are working on and the help I’m getting”.
“I don’t think the service can improve; you are all skilled to do your job.”
“You have made a change in my life.”
The Journey From Receiving Support to Becoming a Volunteer
Wendy was referred to the Changes service by her GP. Wendy had difficulties managing her emotions and feelings. Wendy often used alcohol to help her to cope with her emotions and feelings when triggered. Wendy would often isolate her self from others as she was unable to maintain positive relationships with others. Wendy acted on impulse and was displayed offending behaviour.
The Changes service offers skills based therapeutic support carried out by a Complex Needs Worker and a Peer Support Worker who supports clients with their practical and social needs.
Wendy has tried various therapeutic support in the past but felt that they had not helped her, and she had become low in mood and lacked motivation. Wendy was ready for the support that the Changes service had to offer her and was excited about attending groups with her Peer Support Worker.
Wendy’s Peer Support Worker completed graded exposure work with her to help reduce anxiety and this improved Wendy’s confidence to attend the group sessions. Her Complex Needs Worker completed work around triggers and coping skills and Wendy was able to mange her emotions and feelings in a positive way and did not need to turn to alcohol.
She also completed work around assertiveness and mindfulness and Wendy was able to develop positive relationships with others.
Wendy went on to complete a course with the Recovery College and is now a volunteer with the Changes service.
Wendy said:
The Changes service is so important for people like me. The service and support have turned my life around and I would not be where I am today had I not received your help. I had a full year of private Psychotherapy but the DBT and CBT that I received from my Complex Needs Worker coupled with the emotional support from my Peer Support Worker helped me far more than the Psychotherapy ever did. I am more confident than I have every been and this is because the service helped me to develop my confidence and self-esteem.