Community-Based Rehabilitation/Case Management
The brain injury case manager provides the overall co-ordination of continuing rehabilitation and care, identifying local resources and activities to help the individual to structure his or her time.
The overall aim is to achieve the best possible reintegration into the community - to achieve safe long-term community living, with the best possible quality of life.
CMS was established in 1988:
- Our team includes case managers, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, nurses and rehabilitation assistants.
- All are suitably qualified and experienced. We seek to meet/exceed applicable professional standards such as those of the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers, and the Case Management Society-UK.
- We provide brain injury case managers in Scotland and the North of England.
Why is case management needed?
Following a brain injury, individuals may be left with a range of permanent deficits. While the exact difficulties vary, some problems are very common, including:
Cognitive deficits
- Language/communication difficulties
- Memory/learning problems
- Reduced mental speed and poor concentration
- There is often difficulty with future planning, even of simple activities
Behavioural changes
- Lack of initiative/motivation and limited insight
- Increased tiredness
- Irritability/anger
- Depressed mood/social withdrawal
- Physical limitations may include
- Balance difficulties
- Reduced strength/power/precise control of movement
What does a case manager do? The role of a case manager may include:
1. Setting up a care regime
Recruiting, maintaining and training carers. Putting forward an appropriate and cohesive care package. Acting as support and confidante to members of the care team.
2. Organising therapy and training
Introducing remedial activities and retraining. Maintenance of current fitness and mobility. Improvement and maintenance of daily independence.
3. Family intervention
Acting as a mediator, informing families what the individual can and cannot do, and what they need to be prompted to do for themselves.
4. Researching activities
Exploring possible social activities, encouraging current interests/prompting new ones. Investigating the possibility of some form of occupation/ employment, if appropriate.
How do we provide a case manager?
1. Following a referral for case management we conduct a full assessment of the client's needs by reviewing the relevant records and meeting with the client and a close family member.
2. From this we identify the client's key requirements and match these to a case manager we believe is equipped to do the job in terms of qualifications, experience and personality.
3. We find a case manager who is as local as possible to the client, so that the case manager has local knowledge and will be on the spot when needed.
4. Once the client has been assessed and a case manager found, we are able to prepare a proposal. This details our recommendations as regards the package of case management, and care where necessary.