Case management and how it can help children and their families

What is case management?

Romilly Houghton from Irvings Law takes a look at case management and how it can help children and their families.

Paediatric Case Management is the delivery of therapeutic, medical, and social care to promote a child’s recovery and comprehensive management of their needs. Case management brings together the various specialities needed to achieve the best possible outcome for a child’s recovery such as:

• Medical management
• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychological therapy
• Accommodation,
• Transport
• Education,
• Employment,
• Finances,
• Leisure, etc.

Who delivers case management?

Case managers are trained healthcare professionals such as paediatric nurses, OT and social workers.

How to choose a paediatric case manager

A Brain injury or complex conditions case manager should be a registered health professional and ideally an advanced member of the association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM) They should have sufficient expertise and experience and receive regular clinical supervision.

It is important that the case manager has sufficient time to devote to the child and family and the family can form a good working relationship with the proposed case manager.

Role of a case

Case managers will initially carry out a thorough assessment of a child’s needs and make recommendations to manage neurological conditions The case manager will work with the family to identify and facilitate goals to promote independence and the achieve the best outcome. A case manager will recruit appropriate specialist therapists and clinicians and monitor the goals set in order to deliver the best possible care.

Who pays for a case manager?

Case managers charge for their time at an hourly rate. If a family is pursuing a compensation claim on behalf of their child, the appointed solicitor will usually recommend the instruction of a case manager, the costs of which are included within the claim brought. Case managers’ fees are usually funded by way of interim payments from the opponent’s insurers before the conclusion of proceedings.

Case Study

OP was an infant suffering from encephalopathy after a hypoglycemic incident, an admission of breach of duty was secured from the Defendant Trust and a case manager appointed.The case manager was instructed to prepare an immediate needs assessment report . Once agreement was obtained from the family, the case manager was appointed to act and Irvings Law obtained interim payments to fund the recommendations made regarding rehabilitation.

The Case manager appointed a treating physiotherapist, psychologist and Occupational Therapist and arranged regular meetings to review OP’s progress and update goals. Irvings made sure interim payments were available to fund rehabilitation and pay for the case manager’s fee.

The OT attended OP’s school and gave training to his teachers about OP’s brain and ophthalmic injuries and the way in which these affected OP in an educational setting. A sloping board and various pieces of equipment were introduced into the classroom to support OP including a Bambach chair.

The psychologist instructed has worked with OP and his family to provide support to OP to address his specific needs and proactively anticipate future problems and introduce strategies to help OP and his family.

The physiotherapist has introduced a fun programme including trampolining to improve core strength and improve a left sided weakness.

The Care Support Package arranged by the case manager is continuing, and OP and his family continue to receive real benefits from it.

SMART goals are reviewed at each quarterly meeting to ensure they remain appropriate and to review the benefits received from ongoing therapeutic and case management input.

Author’s profile

Romilly Houghton is the head of the Child Brain Injury Department at Irvings Law and is a specialist solicitor representing children and their families in claims for compensation arising out of clinical negligence and accidents.

Romilly Houghton

Irvings Law
Exchange Station
Tithebarn Street
Liverpool
L2 2QP

E mail: romilly.houghton@irvingslaw.com

Mobile: 07896 815 165

Website: Romily Houghton – Irvings Law