An adult case manager, a case manager focused on working with adults, is a mental health professional. In the United States, case managers work closely with a diverse range of clients. The overarching mission of a case manager is to assess a client's needs, develop a comprehensive, highly personalized treatment plan designed to meet these needs, and adjust the treatment plan as needed. Equally important is a case manager's work making referrals to other professionals and community services that can better treat specific needs. Case managers not only organize a list of these referrals and help clients get in touch, but also communicate directly with other agencies to ensure they are complying with their role in the client's treatment plan.
Adult case management is a demanding, time-consuming field of work. Individuals who begin pursuing a case management career will need a range of professional skills to thrive in the position.
Communication is a critically important skill in many disciplines, particularly those in the field of mental health, and case management is no different. To begin, case managers must establish a communicative relationship with their clients. Professional case managers may encounter several barriers to establishing a good rapport with clients, including an overbearing workload that minimizes time with individual clients. Other challenges may include their own behavioral issues, an unstable home environment, or a lack of cultural competence and diversity training. Counseling and conflict resolution skills are helpful when it comes to communicating with clients.
In some cases, clients may be highly communicative and receptive to their treatment plan. However, case managers must also communicate the plan and the importance of following its structure at all times to every member of the household. This is especially true when it comes to helping young children and older family members understand and adhere to the plan. As mentioned, case managers must also communicate with a host of professionals, from fellow social workers and mental health professionals to doctors and school leaders.
Unsurprisingly, organization is also an important skill for aspiring case managers to develop. Research indicates that case managers should take on no more than 30 clients at a time - the average case manager in America has 29.1 clients. Managing 30 unique treatment plans is a massive responsibility and time commitment. Meanwhile, close to 40 percent of agencies have case managers with more than 30 cases. Individuals must be capable of scheduling dozens of clients throughout the week, accounting for extra time each week to meet with teachers, family members, and other people listed in a treatment plan, and attending work meetings, all while managing a healthy, balanced personal life.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are also paramount to a case manager's success. No two treatment plans are the same, meaning case managers must be able to effectively assess problem areas, recall past cases with similar challenges, develop a new plan for each client, and update the plan with each success and failure. Case managers lacking the ability to accurately assess client needs or who do not take the time to create individualized treatment plans will struggle to close cases. With that in mind, successful case managers must develop their discharge planning skills.
These are only a few skills beneficial to professional case managers. Other helpful skills include acquiring knowledge of social services and home health, the ability to analyze large volumes of information, and empathy.
