Case Management - Summary of Key Points

• Each consumer of public mental health services can be helped by case management.
• Each consumer may enlist the support of their family, carer or advocate to gain access to the services they require.
• Each consumer will be assigned a case manager when they start using public mental health services.
• The case manager is a central point of contact and will act as a guide to help the consumer, their family or carer, to make the best use of services.
• Each consumer will receive a thorough assessment, which will include a psychiatric assessment and a 'needs for service' assessment.
• A written summary of the consumer's goals and strategies will be prepared together by the case manager and consumer-this is called the vii Individual Service Plan. With the consumer's permission, the family or carer can also be involved in this process.
• The case manager will be responsible for making sure the individual service plan is carried out in the best possible way.
• Each consumer will have their individual service plan reviewed at least six monthly.
• A consumer's involvement with public mental health services will finish when they no longer require such services, or the services they have been using are no longer appropriate.
• Wherever possible the consumer will be linked into other services, such as their general practitioner or disability support service, for ongoing support and assistance.