Summarize the role of a case manager, including the four (4) basic functions.

Summarize the role of a case manager, including the four (4) basic functions. Then discuss at least ten (10) of the most important competencies that a good case manager should demonstrate, including the reasons for (or importance of) these competencies in the role of case management. Please refer to Box 5-3, page 131 in the text for assistance in identifying the ten selected competencies. (5 points for the summary of a case manager; 2 points each for the 10 selected competencies, 25 points total)

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Many people with a history of mental illness have a complex array of needs that must be considered. Case management is one of the major types of community aftercare that is used to provide ongoing management of chronic or recurring illness. Active case management is especially important for people who have been repeatedly hospitalised for mental illness. Too often these people experience a ‘revolving door’, a recurring pattern of discharge and re-admission to hospital because they are not adequately supported in the community. The more chronic and disabling the experience of mental illness, the more a case management approach to continuing care is required for people with mental illness, and their families and carers.

There are many different models of case management (Chamberlin & Rapp 1991), but the major approaches are assertive community treatment teams and case workers with individual case loads. In assertive community treatment, services are usually provided by a community team on an ongoing and intensive basis (Bond et al 1990). The effectiveness of the assertive community treatment approach in reducing relapse in terms of hospitalisation has generally been established (eg, Bond et al 1990, Chamberlin & Rapp 1991, Solomon 1992).

Most case management programs in mental health, however, typically involve a single case manager working with a consumer. The role of the case manager is to undertake assessment, monitoring, planning, advocacy and linking of the consumer with rehabilitation and support services (Intagliata, 1982). Its function is clearly illness management and relapse prevention.