National Disability Services :Case Management

Brief description

• The end of semester essay will enable you to explore case management or support coordination (you need to choose one or the other) with respect to a specific group of people.

If choosing to focus on case management, specific groups might include Indigenous Australians, refugees, children experiencing abuse or neglect, those who are homeless etc.

If choosing support coordination, specific groups might include those with psychosocial disability or intellectual/cognitive disability, people with disability living in rural/remote areas etc.

If you are unsure which group to choose, check with your tutor.

In particular, this report should include:

• introduction briefly introducing the topic and outlining what is to be included in this assignment (approx. 200 words)
• A description of your client group, including relevant background information (e.g. prevalence, or other descriptive information) (approx. 400 words)
• A discussion and critical analysis about the issues and concerns it is necessary to consider in providing or facilitating case management/support coordination for your chosen client group (see guidelines below) (approx. 500 words)
• What skills and knowledge do you think case managers/support coordinators need to work effectively in supporting the client group on which you have focused? (approx. 500 words)
• A concluding summary of your key points (approx. 200 words)

For this written assessment you are required to:

• use a minimum of FIVE ACADEMIC references(e.g. peer reviewed journal articles or textbooks). Avoid referencing dictionary definitions and webpages (unless information is from a highly reliable source such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports or the World Health Organisation (WHO)).
• use APA (7^thedition) referencing guidelines (please refer to the Writing Guidelines available on FLO)

Use the sub-headings provided above

Consider the following guidelines to facilitate the discussion and critical analysis section:

What are some of the key issues for clients and case managers/support coordinators in the group you have chosen to explore?

• Some issues may be individual in nature and related to specific client characteristics/needs (e.g. disability- or disadvantage-related) and their impact on eligibility and access to services and support; others may be systemic and include funding or political factors, attachment to or positioning within particular service sectors (e.g. disability, health, education, employment) geographical location, etc.
• Make sure you provide analytical and critical comments about information you access and opinions you form through interpreting this, not just descriptive points about details you have accessed through various sources.
• This commentary will need to be done concisely and with adequate links to the literature to support your arguments/statements.
• Where your personal opinion about a point or issue is stated, be clear about this: For example, ‘In the author’s [or student’s] opinion…’, or ‘In my opinion…’; ‘Based on the author’s/my experience, it seems that…’.

What skills and knowledge do you think case managers/support coordinators need to work effectively in supporting the client group on which you have focused?

• You should include clear points about the skills required, in terms of their perceived value and importance, to meet the support needs of your identified client group (from the literature, other resources, and based on your own experience/opinions).
• Is there specific knowledge or experience required to work effectively with your chosen client group?
• Do some skills and areas of knowledge seem particularly important based on your understanding of clients’ potential needs?