What is Case Management

Case management is about the timely co-ordination of services to meet a person's specific needs in a cost-effective manner:

The care needs of a person who has sustained a brain injury and those of their family are very often complex and presuppose a multi-agency network of service availability.

The idea of case management is that a nominated person takes responsibility for identifying what the problems are and working to ensure that appropriate services and support are accessed by the person with the brain injury and by family members.

Because of the multiplicity of problems which arise this is very often a long term service and clients continue to be monitored so that as changes occur in the natural course of their lives these can be accommodated with the least possible disruption.

Assessing

The first step in the case management process is to appraise the need for intervention through the gathering of relevant data and evaluating it.

Planning

Following assessment, the case manager draws up a case management plan to identify the problems and immediate, short term and long term needs of the client and where, when and how these needs will be met in ways that are appropriate and acceptable to the individual and his or her family.

Implementing and co-ordinating

The case manager implements and co-ordinates the case management plan, having regard to quality, safety, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Monitoring and evaluating  

The case manager monitors the client's well being and health; the quality of care, services and equipment delivered to the client; the achievement of identified goals of the case management plan and will evaluate whether these goals remain appropriate and realistic.

What does a case manager do?

  • answers questions
  • provides information
  • finds out what is needed
  • knows what other help is available - or how to find out about it
  • organises access to appropriate services with a variety of agencies
  • co-ordinates services
  • provides ongoing support to the client and their family
  • raises other people's awareness of issues involved