Chapters 1-7: The Practice of Generalist Social Work by Marla Berg-Weger Julie Birkenmaier

Author:Marla Berg-Weger, Julie Birkenmaier [Marla Berg-Weger, Julie Birkenmaier]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Sociology, General
ISBN: 9781351676687
Google: LAkqDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2017-05-25T03:02:24+00:00

In thinking about the preceding descriptions of selected social work skills and behaviors, consider the specific roles workers assume in support of client strengths and environments. These roles include the following:

Case manager

Counselor

Broker

Mediator

Educator

Client advocate

Collaborator

The following discussion focuses on the assumptions that underlie these roles and the ways the roles are actualized in social work practice.

Case Manager

Case management is “a procedure to plan, seek, and monitor services, resources, and supports from different social agencies to enhance client strengths and well-being in helping them achieve their goals” (Barker, 2014, p. 56). Clients with multiple challenges and needs particularly benefit from case management. For example, a client with a serious mental health issue, a back injury, and a housing issue may need medication, a referral to vocational rehabilitation, and a referral to a housing resource. Because of this client’s multiple needs, he may be an appropriate candidate for case management. Case managers coordinate services and are responsible for monitoring how well services are meeting client needs by holding providers accountable, ensuring client participation, and collaborating with others to raise awareness of unmet needs. A case manager may also collaborate with others to advocate for and build needed resources in a community. Case managers work in a variety of settings including aging services; behavioral health; substance abuse and addictions treatment; child, youth, and family services; corrections; disabilities programs; educational settings; employee assistance; health care; housing; immigrant and refugee services; income support programs; military and veterans services; and tribal programs (NASW, 2013b). Clinical case managers provide specialized services that combine clinical and case management strategies and work with persons with serious mental illnesses (schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and substance abuse) around issues of social relationships, housing, income support, medical care, job training, recreation, counseling, and medications (Walsh & Manuel, 2015).

Common Components of Case Management A planned case management process that incorporates the twelve challenges includes these steps (Roberts-DeGennaro, 2013):

Ensuring eligible clients are informed of available services at your organization

Assessing a client’s needs and strengths

Developing a plan for intervention

Identifying and designing an appropriate network of services

Creating a written contract that includes achievable and measurable goals, time limits, agreed-upon actions, and consequences of failure to fulfill the contract (if any consequences exist)

Implementing the plan

Monitoring the plan to determine progress or a need to re-evaluate the contract

Evaluating the outcomes of the intervention

Terminating the case management relationship

Following up on the client after termination to determine if the client has maintained the desired change

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