WHO SHOULD BE THE CASE MANAGER FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS? SOCIAL WORKER, NURSE OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?

Abstract

Case manager for persons with mental illness is a skilled professional who works directly with clients and administers specialized care to them. The ultimate goal is to facilitate clients to re-integrate into the community during their recovery process. In Hong Kong, professionals usually employed as case manager in the community setting are social workers, psychiatric nurses and occupational therapists. In principle, every member of the recovery team could be the case manager. However, who is the best fit for this role? This article discusses which professional would best fill the role of case manager. The role of case manager and their relationship with clients are examined. The article explores the core values, roles, functions and work practice of three disciplines in caring for the mentally ill. The code of ethics, training and characteristic of approaches employed from each discipline are reviewed and discussed. In conclusion, social workers, nurses and occupational therapists share similarities in philosophy and theoretical foundations. Expertise from each discipline complements one another and contributes to the symphony in the recovery journey.