It is important to note that the assessment form is of paramount importance in regard to case management. The given instrument is needed to properly evaluate and assess the social history of a client in order to identify the major issues and areas of his or her life, which requires attention (Summers, 2016). In addition, one should be aware of the fact that the assessment form needs to include information on a client’s desires and expectations (Summers, 2016). In other words, the key components of such an assessment form are evaluation, social history, key problems, areas of life requiring attention, expectation, desires, and strengths of a client.
Developing Service Plan
Prior to the preparation of a service plan, a case manager needs to be aware of the fact that he or she is not a direct service or treatment provider, which means that such a comprehension needs to be embedded in one’s understanding of his or her own role in the entire process. A case manager is primarily tasked with developing and setting the general objectives, which the provider agency is required to address (Summers, 2016). In other words, such a specialist only provides more precision and direction towards the healthcare service provision process, but, ultimately, it is in a provider agency’s responsibility to deliver a service.
It should also be noted that a service plan development might include goals, such as service and treatment goals. The examples of the former are educational and occupational objectives, transportation, in-home care, or welfare assistance, whereas the examples of the latter are emotional issues, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, or mental illness (Summers, 2016). Therefore, a case manager identifies key problematic areas, which require the attention of a provider agency, and the provider focuses on an in-depth and in-detail assessment of a client. In addition, a case manager needs to attempt to involve both clients and their families, and if the case is centered around children, the involvement of parents is mandatory.
In the case of identifying key resources and strengths of a client, a case manager should pay particular attention towards a client’s support group hobbies, family activities, special skills and abilities, interpersonal capabilities, cultural and religious background, and community support structures (Summers, 2016). Each service plan needs to be highly individualized, which requires a certain degree of self-awareness from a case manager since the clients might come from a wide range of demographic and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, it is evident that the service plan development will involve some form of barriers, such as intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses, lack of resources, disabilities, cultural differences, and language barriers (Summers, 2016). All these challenges need to be taken into consideration when devising a service plan.
Preparing for a Service Planning Conference
It is important to point out that a case manager needs to be highly prepared for a service planning conference, where professionals discuss the newly developed cases and collaboratively make decisions on how to proceed in each of them. The sole purpose is to determine the correct course of action for each client in order to lead to the best possible outcome for these individuals (Summers, 2016). A case manager needs to bring three key documents to the conference, which include a DSM handbook, a human service directory or list of community resources, and a tentative service plan for every client (Summers, 2016). The key objectives of the meeting are to identify three major goals, which revolve around diagnosis, case management level, and services. The presentation should involve the problem, client characteristics, client expectations, additional relevant information, and recommendations.
Reference
Summers, N. (2016). Fundamentals of case management practice: Skills for the human services (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.