Case Management

Case management is a process that brings together clients, carers, care managers and appropriate care and support organisations in a customised way to meet each client's needs.

One of the main aims of case management is to help clients find their way through the service system. This includes services provided by local governments, private service providers and numerous others such as community health centres, local churches and volunteer groups.

Often the complexity of the service system stops many people from finding and then accessing the services that best meet their needs.

In addition to linking clients to the most appropriate supports, case management also involves advocating for new or extended services to meet the ever changing needs of clients. This involves collecting information where a client's need cannot be met and then creating a plan to raise awareness of the issue. A response is then sought from service providers and funding bodies.

A major challenge in the case management process is respecting and promoting the decision making ability of clients. Case management should encourage clients to keep and possibly extend control over their own lives, with the care manager responding to the desires and directions that the client is pursuing.

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