About us

IRCM is an independent not-for-profit organisation.  Our role is to protect the public, and to achieve this:

• We set and publish standards of proficiency that define safe and effective case management practice.
• We maintain a public register of Registered Case Managers who have demonstrated their eligibility and committed to practising in line with these standards and a Pre-Registrant Pathway for those working towards Registration.
• We operate a clear and fair concerns process so that issues can be reported, investigated, and addressed where a Registered Case Manager or Pre-Registrant may pose a risk to the public or to confidence in the profession.

Mission: To safeguard the public by setting and upholding standards for case managers.

Vision: Every case manager delivers safe, ethical, quality services.

A Certificate of Proficiency in Case Management is currently being developed and an accreditation for CPD opportunities that meet our requirements will be launching shortly.

IRCM will be seeking accreditation from the Professional Standards Authority under its accredited register scheme. This will validate IRCM’s commitment to high standards and public protection and service users will be able to have confidence when choosing services from someone who is not otherwise regulated for their case management practice.

You can find our standards, policies and other key documents here.

Our History

Members of BABICM, CMSUK and VRA the three UK case management membership organisations (CMMOs) worked towards the development of a professional body for case managers starting in 2010. This was based on the responses to surveys and research – related to the views of case managers and other stakeholders – regarding the need for regulatory mechanisms, underpinned by standardised training and a professional pathway that includes an educational framework.

There was extensive work via members and leaders of the CMMOs to develop a professional pathway for case managers in the UK. This was based on the “strong evidence in support of the need for a professional pathway that includes an educational framework.” In addition, evidence suggested that partnership working between case management organisations would be the most effective way of implementing any change.

Building on the work of BABICM and CMSUK which resulted in the development of the Joint Code of Ethics (revised 2017 and amended to reflect the inclusion of the VRA and again Summer 2022), this tripartite working party continued its’ common goal of achieving the highest quality of case management services alongside the protection of service users and the public. Professor Edgar Meyer, Associate Dean at Imperial College Business School and specialist in the Development of Education programmes and Education quality was appointed as a facilitator to support the direction and development of the goals.

Research related to accreditation models and processes identified that UK Government policy was only to regulate further groups in exceptional circumstances and where voluntary registers are insufficient to manage the risk involved. The tripartite group undertook an extensive review of a number of alternative mechanisms for accreditation, which included Chartership, the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) Accredited Register scheme and other schemes such as the one operated by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). Following this review, it was agreed that the PSA’s Accredited Register Scheme was the most suitable route.

The PSA is an independent body accountable to the UK Parliament and responsible for the oversight of the nine health and social care regulators who maintain professional registers such as NMC and HCPC. The PSA assess the standards and processes that an organisation uses to determine whether a practitioner should be on their register in order for that register to be accredited (quality assured). They also review fitness to practice decisions as part of their oversight function. An individual practitioner gains gravitas from being accepted onto a PSA-accredited register, and the public can be reassured about the register’s integrity.

Following the approval of all three Boards:

• • A new company was established trading as the Institute of Registered Case Managers (IRCM)
  • An initial vision and mission was developed
  • It was agreed that an application will be submitted to the PSA as soon as appropriate

The group worked tirelessly to review each organisations’ standards of practice alongside those in existence with other professional groups. They utilised internationally recognised research undertaken by Sue Lukersmith to create first draft technical standards.

In November 2021 a consultation was held about draft standards of practice.  Working groups were formed with sector representatives and development commenced on the processes, procedures and documentation needed to support the operation of a register seeking PSA approval.

In January 2022 with support from Irwin Mitchell IRCM rebranded replacing the ‘Together’ logo developed by the three membership bodies and used for the project and began to focus on its own visual identity. Summer 2022 saw the launch of IRCM’s supporter community which provides a way for commerical organisations to show their support and commitment for case management and IRCM’s work.

In October 2022 the Case Management Competency framework and Standards of Proficiency were published. In 2023 IRCM continued began to publish policies and other supporting documents.

In 2024 IRCM welcomed its first allies, Headway and Birth Injury Litigation Support (Billy). Allies are not for profit and charitable organisations who play an important role in supporting many of those who use case management services and their family and friends and help raise the profile of the Register of Case Managers with service users and the public.

Following an open recruitment process for Directors and other representatives which was open to both future registrants and lay people, in Autumn 2024 IRCM moved to a new organisation structure.  Made up of subcommittees and supporting groups this was designed to provide the robust governance structure needed to support an operational register.

The Register of Case Managers opened for applications in March 2025 and was published in May 2025; since then the Register has continued to grow and includes hundreds of case managers from around the UK. Click the link for more information about and to access the Register of Case Managers.

In May 2025, IRCM updated its mission and vision to more accurately reflect the organisation’s evolving role and plans following the launch of the register. The update signalled a clear commitment to advancing standards, supporting professional development, and enhancing public confidence in case management. 

The new broader mission enabled expansion beyond a single Register for experienced case managers and in January 2026 IRCM opened the Pre-Registrant Pathway for case managers and case managers in training who have not yet gained sufficient experience to apply to the Register of Case Managers. The Pre-Registrant Pathway provides assurance that appropriate supervision, mentoring and professional support are in place to enable less experienced case managers to work safely and effectively.