‘For those wanting to make a difference, case management is a no brainer’

Tony Finnigan, senior case manager at AMS Case Management, discusses how he has regained the ability to work directly with clients and make a difference to their lives by moving into case management, in an environment which removes many of the stresses and growing challenges faced by those working in statutory services

When did you move into case management and why?

I became a case manager in June 2014 and my background is in operational, management and senior management roles, working with both adults and children. 

A colleague recommended case management to me – this happened to be Marie Sloan, director of AMS Case Management. 

I wanted to return to front line work with clients, having spent many years in a management capacity, but not as a social worker as there were too many restrictions, lack of resources, lack of coordinated services and communication and opportunities to support vulnerable individuals and their families with timely and early intervention/prevention, often working in a crisis situation. 

Case management offered the opportunity to manage and coordinate a highly skilled and experienced multi and inter-disciplinary team, seeing progress develop over the long-term.

What are your areas of expertise?

These include:

• Person centred holistic assessments
• Experience of working in local authorities
• Safeguarding and DoLS experience
• Risk Assessments
• Local network of therapists
• Working with clients with social needs
• Support regimes
• Communicating with a diverse audience
• Substance misuse
• Resolving complex requirements

I’m skilled at managing complex cases including complex family dynamics and I’m proud of my conflict resolution skills. I have extensive experience of working with clients with an acquired brain injury and associated catastrophic injuries including alcohol and drug misuse. I also have experience working with clients who have suffered a spinal cord injury and amputations.

I’m experienced in assessing and managing risks and i have proactive approach in managing positive risks that benefit the client.

I have worked on a number of accommodation projects, working alongside architects, builders, occupational therapists, family members and when appropriate, the client, to ensure that a property is appropriate to meet a person’s long-term accommodation and care needs.

What attracted you to AMS specifically?

AMS is a small ‘family’ company whose philosophy and values match my own, not in it for profit but focusing on the individual and their families.

How have you seen case management change as a result of the pandemic?

One of the main changes for me is the aftermath of the pandemic, particularly those clients who are in many ways independent but their mental health suffering as a result and became socially isolated. In some cases, this seemed to curtail the progress they were making with their rehabilitation and they are still having problems as a result.

Insurance companies are scrutinising case management recommendations more and refusing interim payments, leaving very vulnerable people without rehabilitation support for many months, sometimes years. 

However, as a positive, online meeting can be more productive in some instances and more financially effective for the client.

What makes AMS a stand-out name in the marketplace?

We have a strong reputation of being a small yet competent company with highly skilled and motivated case managers and case manager assistants with a clear philosophy of what case management is about. 

Can you share an example of where you believe case management has made a difference to a client’s life?

I have an adult client who lives with significant sight impairment (registered blind) as a result of medical negligence, who I have been working with for approximately four years. 

When I first met my client, he was living independently, supported by his father, who lived next door. He was very sociable and went out locally with his friends, but his social life and opportunities were limited because of his sight impairment, and only involved going to the local pubs and bars. 

I introduced a support worker to my client and immediately, his social and leisure opportunities increased as well as his independent living skills. He began to play football with a group of acquired brain injured adults in Manchester and soon found that he had a lot of skills and he really enjoyed being part of the group, not just from a fitness perspective but from a social perspective too as he was part of a WhatsApp social group and kept in touch with them. 

He also joined a local gym and started looking at outdoor pursuits such as horse riding and wall climbing. He started to learn how to shop for himself, prepare food and cook his own meals with adapted kitchen aids. He also has an assistance dog.

Unfortunately, this support worker left during COVID, but my client was able to recruit a new support worker in October 2021. Since that time, my he has started to play boccia, and volunteers in the café at the local YMCA. He also has a girlfriend who has recently given birth to their first child, a daughter. My client and his family have also recently moved into a new property. 

My client is extremely happy and contented with his new family, and moving house was the ‘icing on the cake’.

Would you recommend a career in case management and why?

Yes. When you see the restrictions faced by social workers, with apathy and the levels of stress within these services, if you still have a strong passion to help individuals and their families, case management is a ‘no brainer’.

• AMS Case Management is recruiting – for more information on current vacancies, visit here