Case Management Overview Essay

The case worker has many different roles and responsibilities that are part of their jobs. Being able to support all of their roles no matter of what population or problem there is the case worker needs to be able to deal with it, this is an important part of a case worker responsibly. The case worker can use different tools and methods to help support their clients. Roles and Responsibilities of a Case Worker There are many roles that case workers have. Some may think that the case workers are only there to find services for a client, but there is more to their jobs and responsibilities. Some of the roles that case workers have are caregivers, teachers, advocate, outreach worker, mobilizer, community planner and a behavior changer. Case workers have responsibilities that go with each role. For the caregiver role the case workers role is one that supports a client and is concerned about their wellbeing the caregiver is also part of the planning process. The teacher role, this role is a support to the client helps the client gain, develop and increase knowledge in emotional behavior or intellect. Advocate role for a care worker a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular service or resource that will help the client in their plan. Outreach worker is another responsibility that a case worker has, an outreach worker will reach out to people that are having problems, and help them find services that may need. The role of the mobilizer is to get specific service that are not yet in the area, that service does not have a presents in that particular area that the clients need support. A case worker may work on getting certain support with help from others. Another is a Community Planner; this role helps the clients as well as the community. The responsibility is to work with community based boards, committees, to ensure that a community development  supports the community and the people in it. The last role is behavior changer, is to encourage their clients to change their negative behaviors for more positive behavior. Behavior changers provide support for their clients and provides them with the needed tools to change their behaviors, so they are more positive. There are many roles and responsibilities that case workers have, all of their roles support their clients in many ways. Theoretical Models â€Å"Ecological model to develop a broad understanding of each individual client who comes before them. This model sometimes referred to as person-in-situation or person-in-environment model looks at the individual client in the client’s context†. (Summers, 2012). Within this modal there are three levels that, Micro, Meso, and Marco levels. Micro level, where the focus is on the client’s personality, motivation, affect, and other personal attributes Meso level, where the focus is on the context immediately surrounding the client (family, church group, close friends, and work group) Macro level, where the focus is on the larger society’s characteristics and the way the client experiences these or the way these are brought to bear on the client’s situation (institutions and organizations such as the political system, social stratification, the educational system, and the economy). (Summers, 2012) Being able to use these levels will help identify the problems that the client is having. The Micro level, is more personal, the Meso focus on the surroundings of the client and the Marco focus on the larger group around the client. Being able to figure out the problem and where it is coming from and affecting will help the overall help the client. When looking at all the problem behaviors that come up, one that we can look at it Life transitions. This situation in someone’s life can affect many things. Breaking it down it done into the levels can help support the client and figure out how to help. The Mico level, getting to understand the life transition and the client, the Meso level, looking at the close relationships that the client is having is any of these relationships supporting or interfering with the client’s behavior and last the Macro level looking at the community and the bigger picture of where the client is at. Looking at all of these areas will help support the client’s behavior problems. Special Populations When a case worker is thinking about Special Population they have a good understanding of what that is really saying. Special population is a term used to express a disadvantaged group.[where?] In health professions, special populations include those with disabilities, minors, and the elderly. Special populations often require accommodations for physical, mental or emotional differences. Their bodies may respond in a different manner to treatment or medication. For example, the small liver in a child means that he or she can’t take typical adult doses of medication. The same goes for an elderly person, whose decreased liver function similarly affects the processing of medication. (â€Å"Wikipedia†, 2014). As a case worker you have to be prepared to have a good understand of things that may come up. There may be certain issues that may come up when working with a client that is part of a special population. One issue is does their special population and or problem fall within the Human Service field, or do you as a case worker need to help them find other services. Other issues are there and mental, emotional or physical development problems that could change the services that are out there to support the situation they are in. Also there can be problems with understanding what is needed and getting them support in there are, which them may cause transportation issues. As a case worker, being prepared to handle things that special population deal with, abuse and neglect for an example. When working as a case worker there are many roles and responsibilities that are taken on as part of a case workers job. Having a good idea how to support their needs and help to figure out how to help is important and to make sure that as a case worker you understand them as a person is also needed. As a case worker there will be many different types of people that you woke with Special Population being one of the group, and may be one of the most challenging. But, remembering that as a case worker there is a job to be done, it is not always done the same way, and remembering that is very important. References Mehr, J. J., & Kanwischer, R. (2011). Human Services. Concepts and Intervention Strategies (11th ed.). : Pearson Education. Summers, N. (2012). Fundamentals of Case Management Practice. Skills for the Human Services (4th ed.). : Cengage Learning. Wikipedia. (2014). Retrieved from http://n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_populations