Case management is seeing a surge in recruitment, amidst increasing demand for specialists to manage complex cases alongside growing recognition of the importance of the profession.
Businesses nationally are expanding, several also widening their geographical reach, and are taking on new case managers to add to the size and capability of their teams.
In the past few weeks, case management companies across the UK have announced new recruits, or advertised vacancies, as they build their service offering to clients and their families further.
One of the country’s only specialist case management recruiters, Jessica Remnant, reports ongoing expansion even during the pandemic.
“Year on year I’ve seen the case management market increase. Recruitment within case management has remained fairly consistent throughout the pandemic, I even worked with new clients to double their team size throughout the first lockdown,” she says.
“I’m now seeing an increase which I believe this is partly due to adjusting to the new normal of the pandemic, and also dealing with a number of cases that were backlogged from the first lockdown in March.”
The development of the Institute of Registered Case Managers (IRCM) is also helping to increase the profile of case management, as well as setting a host of stringent technical and professional standards for case managers to adhere to.
In recent recruitment developments, Stokes Case Management has taken on ten new case managers, six of whom joined from Brain Injury Services (BIS), a company which Stokes managing director Rhiannon Stokes supported during 2020 as clinical lead.
Upon the closure of BIS, Stokes employed six case managers from their team, in addition to a further four recruited externally. Three new people were also added to its operations team, to bolster its Sussex-based back-office function.
“Our multi-award winning team has now expanded in both case management capacity and operational support but we’re still focused on doing this organically – to grow our team where it adds value to our clients and legal professionals,” says Rhiannon.
“That’s why we’re so pleased to welcome our new case managers who all bring with them a shared passion for a fresh and highly creative approach to case management, and a ‘can-do’ attitude to further our support for individuals with brain, spinal and complex injuries, across the UK.”
Furthermore, Social Return announced it has taken on three case managers to cover the North East and Yorkshire, as its expansion continues.
“We’re proud to be creating jobs and supporting the ever-growing numbers of clients and families,” said the business, which is led by managing director Vicki Gilman.
Among the numerous other case management companies currently recruiting are Amber Case Management, AMS Case Management, Birchwood & Co Case Management and Bush & Co.
The expansion of case management businesses comes as the professional continues to adapt to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, with telerehab and remote working now becoming an established way of working, backed by the creation of the IRCM.
The IRCM – which has been developed and supported jointly by BABICM, CMSUK and the VRA – is working towards accreditation by the Professional Standards Agency (PSA), which will create an industry standard for case management for the first time.
“People are now recognising the value of what a case manager does much more, and increasingly realise the need to appoint one,” says Angela Kerr, chair of BABICM and the newly-created IRCM.
“We are starting to get the recognition now of the role we play, which I suspect is why case management businesses are growing, in response to this demand.
“The creation of the IRCM is also an important step in the recognition of our profession. The need has been there for some time but we’re now taking that forward, and it will be very important in the future.”
Jessica, a senior recruiter at Medicor, says this marks an exciting time for the profession.
“It is a really exciting time within case management, the collaboration of BABICM, CMSUK and VRA in creating IRCM is going to boost the case management field and really establish itself within healthcare, leading to the development of lots of new opportunities in recruitment,” she continues.
“The role of a case manager is so rewarding and fascinating that I’ve also found that by introducing new candidates to the field, they have referred colleagues across and it’s really helped get the word out about case management, creating a buzz and further demand for candidates.
“I’m really looking forward to watching the case management market grow and establish itself over the next few years. Demand in this sector will only increase and the future is looking very positive.”
