Care Management

What is it? Effective care management plays a key part in achieving the Govt’s objective for the care of vulnerable people in community. There are many models of care management and it is up to the health and social care boards to decide which models best suit their own needs and those of the individual client groups.

What does it do?  It must ensure that the resources are available and that they are used in the most effective way to meet client needs  Promote partnerships between service providers in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors and clients and their carers.

Case Finding  This includes publicising services in such a way as to assist both those who are likely to require them and the referring agencies including general practitioners in making appropriate referrals

Screening  This is the initial examination of all the referrals in order to determine an appropriate response –  The level of assessment likely to be required

Assessment  This is the systematic determination of need.  It will take into account the perceptions and wishes of the clients and their carers and the views of the relevant professionals  All assessments will continue to be carried out by the appropriate MDT members  The contributions of all those involved will be co-ordinated by one professional (usually the SW) to produce an overview of care needs.

Care Planning  Care plans should emerge from the assessment of need and should aim at preserving or restoring as far as possible the normal patterns of living

Monitoring  This should be designed to identify any unmet needs: To measure the effectiveness of the care provided and to measure any gaps or inadequacies

Review  This involves the review of care services as well as the needs of the clients and their carers.  The review periods will change over time.

In a nut-shell  Care management can be distinguished from traditional casework and service management approaches by its emphasis on tailoring services to the individual needs of particular clients – instead of trying to fit the clients into existing service provision.  Where clients needs are already being identified and met in this way, the introduction of care management for people with complex needs may amount to little more than making existing roles more explicit.

What are the principles of good care management?  Treat clients and carers with dignity and respect  Respond flexibly and sensitively to needs  Explore a range of options for care in order to widen clients choice  Focus on enabling people to go on living at home for as long as is practical  Intervene no more than is necessary  Encourage and equip clients and carers to play an active part  Concentrate on those whose needs are greatest