Case Management Officer

Case Management Officers (CMOs) work in both hospital-based and community-based mental health teams supporting working-age adults to make informed choices and decisions about their use of resources, support and services, with the aim of sustaining or improving their quality of life and well-being.
Working to integrate Council's model of health and social care, CMOs will carry a caseload with a particular focus on progressing the safe and timely discharge of clinically stable service-users. CMOs work within multi-disciplinary teams alongside health and care professionals and colleagues from the voluntary sector.
CMOs act as the main point of contact for service-users and their unpaid carers, and empower them to optimise their independence, make the most of personal budgets and community resources. They carry out a range of Care Act interventions including safeguarding adults and arranging, where appropriate high-quality community-based packages of care on behalf of the Council and the NHS CCG.
CMOs work directly with individuals and groups supporting them through initiatives to facilitate and support increased individual and community capacity, social inclusion and community networks, reciprocal support and sustainable caring roles by taking a strength based approach to case work.
Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:
· To be the key point of contact within Health and Social Care services for eligible clients completing assessments and reassessments of need / resource entitlement within the context of a strength based approach.
· Provide high quality information to vulnerable adults, carers and relevant stakeholders in order to promote wellbeing and prevention initiatives.
· Work in partnership with appropriate health, housing and community stakeholders for the benefit of vulnerable adults around i.e. signposting, referrals, multi-disciplinary working, joint assessments and relevant meetings.
· Develop personalised support / care plans with individuals, their unpaid carers and other stakeholders as appropriate. Or, to act as a point of contact for the client, their unpaid carers or an external support planner / broker who may be developing the support plan.
· Putting the person at the centre of the process, facilitate the selection of support services, activities or other routes to achieve outcomes and meet needs.
· Support people to find creative, individual and efficient ways of solving problems or challenges in their lives, including strengthening family or social connections.
· To promote self-directed support and direct payments to all service users and carers.
· Assist people to make their plans happen by signposting or researching and providing information about local services and opportunities, and negotiating with service providers on people's behalf if required.
· Provide people with, or signpost them to, information on rights, choices, self-management, non-statutory support and other provisions which may assist in their well-being.
· To be aware of, and adhere to all legislative requirements, and maintain an up to date knowledge of the care market.
· To ensure all provisions are brokered within the Joint Commissioning and Procurement Frameworks.
· Manage the recording and administration around assessment and planning and agreeing care provision through up to date, thorough and accurate recording on relevant IT systems as required.
· Steer people's support plans through the authorisation process including panels and other funding bodies.
· To undertake assessments and re-assessments in line with the Care Act 2014, to ensure that the support in place is meeting assessed needs and that service users continue to meet the Care Act 2014 Eligibility Criteria.
· To assess, issue where appropriate, and assist in process for major and minor adaptations, equipment and completion of housing needs or void property reports where relevant.
· To teach the safe use of equipment, assistive technology or adaptations to increase or maintain peoples independence where relevant.
· Undertake service user/carer reviews periodically and as required against outcomes and ensure people are maximising their independence and use of non-statutory services.
· Ensure clients are aware of processes in changing support, raising concerns about providers, complaints processes and awareness of safeguarding.
· Ensure that clients are aware of the Adult Social Care Charging Policy and refer as appropriate for financial assessments.
· Identify debt management concerns during interventions and raise as appropriate in partnership with the Financial Assessment Team and Debt Recovery.
· Provide general information and advice on related areas, including referring to Welfare Benefits, Housing, financial and other support service agencies, signposting as appropriate
· To recognize where social work or occupational therapist (or other professional) involvement is required and to refer issues that are beyond the scope of the post to a supervisor.
· To undertake regular risk assessments and help service users devise risk management strategies.
· To participate in the review and development of quality assurance systems within the unit.
· Act in accordance with the Council's safeguarding responsibilities, raising safeguarding concerns, where appropriate; and contributing to safeguarding enquiries and the implementation of safeguarding plans.
· Enable people to access local health, work, training and recreational opportunities and to have a positive role within the community.