Course Title: Case Management

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Case Management

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HWSS1169	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010

Course Coordinator: Assoc Professor Jeff Walkley

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7359

Course Coordinator Email: jeff.walkley@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree

Course Description

The participation of people with disabilities in the same lifespan opportunities as other citizens with disabilities is not only a right, but is also the aim of disability policy and service delivery. However, with an increased range of flexible, community based, and generic options there is also the risk of fragmentation of service delivery. The role of the case manager is to facilitate the access of people with disabilities to the opportunities that meet their needs and aspirations.
Case managers engage in partnerships with people with disabilities, family members, other informal supports, service providers, and community based opportunities to ensure that the individual’s aspirations and needs are met. A case manager acts as a facilitator, not controlling and dominating the process, but taking the lead from the individual and their family and working with them in a manner that is empowering as well as effective. In a way, the case manager acts as a travel guide, providing
Graduates of the disability studies programs at RMIT University are the preferred applicants for case management positions. As such, they need to have the skills to negotiate with a range of stakeholders, identify and develop community-based opportunities, manage their own workload, assess needs and aspirations, and to plan, implement and evaluate individual plans.
This course will build upon the students’ capabilities in assessing the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities, planning for supports and services, and community development techniques. This course represents a culmination of all of the capabilities developed in previous stages of the program, with case management as a framework for bringing these skills and knowledge together in a partnership with people with disabilities and the community. In particular, this course will develop graduate capabilities in; a) reflective practices in managing their own workload, including stress management, b) evidence based practice where the goals and strategies of the case management are supported by evidence, c) problem solving and diagnosis in relation to crisis management as well as simple requests or needs, d) communication, with a range of stakeholders and formal and informal sources of supports, e) strategic thinking and action with long term as well as short term actions, f) socially aware and responsible practice when working with individuals whose behaviours pose a risk to themselves or others, f) integration of personal values with service values while working as a professional with a diverse group of people with diverse values and, g) facilitation through building individual and community capacity through partnerships, networks, and actions.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

• Evaluate their own effectiveness as a case manager
• Implement techniques to self manage work associated issues.
• Collect information from families, people with disabilities, service providers, and other key stakeholders.
• Discuss the models, principles and issues in relation to case management practice.
• Apply the principles of person centred planning in a framework of case management.
• Describe approaches to case management and identify the appropriate approach according the context of its use.
• Discuss the components essential to effective case management.
• Demonstrate the application of a problem solving approach with a case management
• Support and supervise case management practice
• Gather information for the development of individualized case plans.
• Produce individualized, accessible written plans and case management reports.
• Allocate priorities in case management practice.
• Develop case plans that specify long term and short term goals and strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate case plans and case management practice.
• Describe the issues for people with disabilities from CALD backgrounds in accessing case management and effective case management strategies.
• Identify the services available to support people with disabilities from CALD backgrounds.
• Identify methods for ensuring coordination of interagency and cross sector services and opportunities

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities of this course will focus on the development of the skills and knowledge required to provide effective case management to people with disabilities. Previous learning in relation to assessment, communication, report writing, negotiation, plan development, and building community capacity will be further developed.

Effective frameworks and principles for case management will be examined as well as the application of person centred planning in a case management context. Application issues will identified and explored for the development of solutions and strategies. The learning in this course will be largely based on a problem solving approach where students will identify issues, explore options, apply solutions, and evaluate outcomes.

Specific information such as local policies the roles of key stakeholders will be addressed.

Students will work in groups and on an individual basis to apply their skills and knowledge in real and hypothetical situations.

Overview of Learning Resources

The students will be able to access course information and learning materials through the learning hub (also known as Online @ RMIT) and will be provided with reading lists or other sources of information. Students will also use the library resources and University computer facilities.

Overview of Assessment

Analysis of case studies, development of written reports, written assignments.