Case management
A global community of therapists has been created to share best practice and knowledge, while enabling new and creative ways of thinking, working and support for clients to be developed using research, insight and experience from around the world.
Remote Rehab was established during the COVID-19 lockdown, during the unexpected and widespread introduction of telerehab when many in-person visits to clients were no longer possible. The online group was set up as a forum for therapists, experts and researchers around the world to connect, creating an opportunity to share information and knowledge, as well as providing much-needed support to fellow professionals.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced huge changes within case management and the traditional ways in which clients have been supported. In our continuing series of Q&A features with case managers across the country, Martin Gascoigne of Neuro Case Management UK (NCMUK) shares his experiences.
Can you summarise how the past few months have been for you. The past few months for NCMUK have been extremely challenging. This is due to the Government initially ring fencing all of the PPE supplies for NHS staff which made it very difficult for us to procure the necessary equipment. Also, due to our Paediatric Clients Parents furloughing, we have experienced different challenges with the type and level of care that they felt they would like us to provide whilst still working in accordance with National Minimum Standards.
The importance of research in case management is being promoted with the launch of a new initiative.
The Journal Club, launched by CMSUK, is encouraging case managers to engage with research as a way to increase their depth of knowledge, helping to develop their specialism and expertise further still. Case managers will be encouraged to read research papers and other evidence in key areas of work, with The Journal Club providing a forum for discussion and analysis, as well as support in analysing and interpreting documents. The Journal Club, set to be launched next month, is a first-of-its-kind initiative, which builds on CMSUK’s commitment to supporting research.
In the latest in our series of Q&A features with case managers to assess the impact of the pandemic, here Louise Sheffield of Active Case Management shares her thoughts and experiences. Can you summarise how the past few months have been for you. This year has been a strange one! There was a swift acceleration from the virus starting to be on my radar to it being upon us. It was a whirlwind and we had to think very quickly, with very limited information to make sure that colleagues safety was maintained and clients were looked after. 
As the country faces the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the management team at Richardson Care reflect on their experiences so far. Richardson Care has six specialist residential care homes – three for adults with acquired brain injury and three for adults with learning disabilities. Caring for up to 78 people, many of whom are vulnerable brings added responsibilities and pressures, as well as additional skills.
Our experience in supporting people who are rebuilding their lives after brain injury or living with learning disabilities means that we are problem solvers. We support people to overcome challenges every day. Never has this been more important and we’re proud of the way that our management team and staff have responded.
Case management has faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, to enable vital support continues to be delivered to clients. Here, in the first in a series of Q&A features with case managers across the country, Lisa Brown, managing director of Coastal Case Management, shares her experiences
How did you adapt to the restrictions of lockdown? Were you able to do this quickly or did it take a bit of time? We were pretty much set up with remote working and had literally just got our own IT man, who was invaluable. We changed to Sharepoint so the new way of working was certainly a challenge. It took a few weeks for us to settle in to our new world of Zoom and Microsoft Team chats but I love it.
A key figure in UK case management has won a prestigious award in recognition of her work in opening up access to chronic pain management support through innovative use of digital technology.
Deborah Edwards has overseen the creation of the RESTORE programme, an eight-week online support and coaching initiative which is helping people across the country to improve how they manage and deal with pain. The “revolutionary” programme, which delivers evidence-based improvements in sleep and movement for chronic pain sufferers, has enabled people to bypass long NHS waiting times to access a tailored programme and bespoke advice from specialists.
Case managers and service providers across the UK have embraced new ways of working during the COVID-19 pandemic which could become commonplace going forward, but concerns still persist about the lasting effects practically and financially, a new report has found.
Though the adoption of technology and remote means of client engagement, rehabilitation has continued to be provided in ways that will most likely become part of the ‘new normal’.
The Coronavirus - Impact on Rehabilitation report also highlights how by using ‘telerehab’, clients can feel more connected to their service providers, as more time is freed up for communication by taking out travelling time.
Case managers, clinicians, therapists and other brain injury professionals will gather virtually later this month for a national conference.
The 18th annual brain injury conference, hosted by law firm Hugh James on Wednesday 18 November, will feature discussions on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting patients and claims; plus challenges in paediatric neurorehabilitation and the latest on lobbying for improvements for all living with acquired brain injury.
A UK-wide research project to look at the experiences of case managers and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been launched.
The initiative will gather personal accounts of people living with brain injuries and their support networks during the pandemic, from lockdown to the present day, reflecting on how people have changed and adapted during that time.
The study, spearheaded by BABICM, will assess how case managers and clients alike found the availability of support and access to services during the past few months, and how challenges were responded to and overcome.
