What is Case Management?
An Introduction
Case management is a process devoted to the coordination, rehabilitation, care and support of people with complex, clinical needs. It aims to facilitate their independence and improve their quality of life whilst acknowledging safety issues.
Why did Case Management develop?
The practice of case management developed in the United Kingdom in recognition of gaps in services for those individuals whose needs did not fall conveniently within the boundaries of a single agency or professional group.
Who are Case Managers?
Case management is not a profession per se: it draws on the involvement and valuable skills of qualified and regulated professionals such as therapists, nurses or social workers.
Case managers are employed in many business spheres, including Health and Social Services, but also privately and in insurance companies.
What do Case Managers do?
The case manager assesses the needs of clients and their families and identifies relevant and cost effective resources which can be made available to them in order to obtain maximum benefit for the client, the family and the budget holder. A plan is prepared and implemented to create a support package, individually tailored for each client.
The key activities in which a case manager would become involved are set out below in brief. Co-ordination and communication remain essential and integral to all aspects of case management.
1. Assessment
The gathering of relevant information from a range of sources including the individual and their family and different practioner disciplines. They develop an appreciation of the individual's illness or injury and how this may impact on their level of independence, personal safety, family and social life, finances and vocational opportunities.
2. Planning
The development of a plan, in association with all concerned parties, which addresses guidance, support and advocacy issues for the individual and the family, and establishes rehabilitation goals, in order to develop management systems, recruit and train the necessary support staff and carers and seek out the most appropriate and cost effective resources for the client.
3. Implementation
The support to ensure that the wishes of the client and the family are always heard and understood, to demystify medical jargon and to facilitate open and honest communication between all those involved. In addition, to act as a point of reference for the client, the family and others, a sounding board of knowledge and expertise, and to facilitate the client's and the family's decision-making and acceptance of changed circumstances.
The systems to co-ordinate health, rehabilitation, social service and voluntary agencies to ensure an individually tailored programme of rehabilitation is provided for each client, to establish the necessary level of care at home or in a residential setting, and to liaise with external agencies to help obtain the funding necessary to meet these needs.
The task of implementing, reviewing, monitoring and changing the programme, as required, to ensure that the client's and the family's needs are sustained, rests with the case manager, who has a duty of care to the client and a responsibility to ensure that the appropriate services are accessed and that continuity and consistency of support are developed and maintained.
The case manager is obliged to prepare and maintain written records and produce reports, to monitor the client's progress and care, at regular intervals as determined by the client or their representatives.
How to find a Case Manager
Clients and their families need to identify a case manager in whom they have trust and confidence and with whom they can develop a good professional relationship. Case managers come from different professional backgrounds and have their own particular areas of expertise. Potential clients and their supporters should ask the proposed case manager for a CV as an indication or his or her relevant experience and specialisms.
BABICM maintains a list of Advanced members, who work in a variety of settings. For further information please contact us at secretary@babicm.org.