What is a Case Manager

Case Management is a collaborative process which: assesses, plans, implements, co-ordinates, monitors and evaluates the options and services required to meet an individuals’ health, social care, educational and employment needs, using communication and available resources to promote quality cost effective outcomes.

What is a Case Manager

  • A professional with specialist experience
  • Advocate for the client
  • Catalyst to promote health and social care for clients
  • Promotes collaboration of services working with the client
  • Independent of the litigation process

Requirements of a Case Manager

  • Develop a therapeutic relationship
  • Professional qualification
  • Appreciate the different environments you may be working within
  • Deliver a service according to your core competencies
  • Selecting appropriately skilled professionals to be involved in rehab delivery
  • Co-ordination and critical appraisal of a rehab plan
  • Report writing / accountability
  • Financial accountability / proportionality / objective feedback
  • Robust / confident

The Stakeholders – initially this will be:

  • The claimant (the person who sustained the injury)
  • The claimant’s solicitor
  • The Third Party Insurer

Who could also be involved as the case progresses:

  • Defence lawyer
  • Barrister / Council
  • Expert Witness
  • Medical companies
  • Care Assessors

When a claim is brought, the claimant’s solicitor will send a letter to the insurance company.

Depending on the severity of the case, the solicitor will then send a letter of referral to a Case Manager, requesting their specialist services.

Immediate Needs Assessment (INA)

A Case Manager will carry out an INA Immediate Needs Assessment.  This will involve visiting the client at their home, or wherever they are currently staying, which could be in a rehab unit.

The INA will include this information:

  • Age
  • Pre-existing physical and Psycho-social co-morbidities
  • Return to work / education issues
  • Dependants living at home
  • Geographic location
  • Mental capacity
  • Activities of daily living in the short and long term
  • Realistic goals, aspirations, attainments
  • Fatalities / those who witness major incidence of trauma within the same accident
  • Length of time post-accident

The INA should also consider and give examples of:

  • The physical and psychological injuries that were sustained as a result of the Accident and how these impact on the individual’s ability to function, how much care / support they require and any equipment or adaptations which may improve safety and autonomy in these tasks
  • Should consider the impact of the injuries sustained as a direct result of the accident on mood, motivate, quality of life, social contact and access to the community
  • Consider the statutory pathway in place to support the treatment of the client, including access to employer, insurance policies or private health insurance schemes
  • Consider the home environment
  • Consider access to appointments and treatment
  • Consider finances and whether a benefits assessment is required
  • Consider the impact on ability to continue with work

 

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