Update March 25: This information has been superseded. Please see our Registration and Renewal Policy and guidance on applying to join the register; these can be found on our documents page. Registration is now rolling out on a phased basis as described below.
The Institute of Registered Case Managers will be opening registration later this year.
In preparation for this we are sharing additional information about our initial eligibility criteria. Whilst the principles remain the same additional detail has been added addressing questions that have been raised.
Registrants must meet the following criteria:
| 1 | a) be a case manager; or b) be a case manager in training; or c) have already met the number of hours required in one or a combination of these roles and are working within the field of case management in a broader role such as supervision, management, teaching or research. |
| 2 | a) have a minimum of 5,000 hours (4 years FTE) experience as a case manager; or b) have at least 2,500 hours (2 years FTE) experience as a case manager and (i) have practised for at least 2,500 hours. (2 years FTE) in a profession regulated by a health and social care regulator overseen by the PSA, or (ii) have been on the BASRAT accredited register and practising in the profession for at least 2,500 hours. (2 years FTE) |
| 3 | be working primarily within the UK |
| 4 | be working at the competent level of proficiency or above this as set out in IRCM’s competency framework. |
| 5 | be working in line with IRCM’s standards of proficiency. |
| 6 | be a member of one or more of BABICM, CMSUK and VRA – this will be for a limited initial period. |
How do I calculate my hours for IRCM eligibility?
Your eligible hours are those spent as either:
- a case manager; or
- a case manager in training.
Time spent as a case manager’s assistant, as a supervisor or manager of case managers or providing treatment do not count towards the requirement.
One year working full-time in a role as a case manager or a case manager in training is equivalent to 1,250 case management hours. This factors in other normal non-service user-focused elements of the role.
Part-time case managers will need to calculate the number of hours that they work in a year. For example, a case manager working 17.5 hours a week, 0.5 FTE (full time equivalent) would take 2 years to acquire 1,250 case management hours.
Where dual roles are held for example as a case manager in training and treating practitioner, or as a case manager and supervisor then the eligible hours, that is the time spent as a case manager or case manager in training, would need to be separated and documented.
Case management is a relatively new profession, and the industry is in different stages of development around the world. Where your experience has been gained outside of the UK, we may ask for further information about it so we can understand its equivalency to experience gained within the UK.
How does IRCM define a case manager for the purposes of eligibility?
A case manager who meets IRCM’s definition for the purposes of eligibility would be able to answer yes to all of these questions.
| Question | Notes | |
| 1 | Do you deliver case management services? We define case management as “a collaborative process which assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet an individual’s health, wellbeing, social care, education and/or occupational needs, using communication and available resources to promote quality, cost-effective and safe outcomes”. | This is a high-level overview of case management activity. Case managers may specialise in a particular area(s) of practice but deliver holistic support within these. Not all case managers are called case managers, examples of some typical job titles include: care co-ordinator, care manager, community matron, vocational rehabilitation practitioner, Key Worker, Care Navigator, Rehab Support Coordinator, Rehab Pathway Coordinator, Neuro Navigator. |
| 2 | Do you provide case management to a service user or group of service users as a distinct and separate role? | You may also carry out different roles if you have multiple jobs – for example you may work as an OT in the NHS and also as a self-employed case manager or you may have a role in which you carry out two separate functions independently of each other – this criteria only relates to the case management role. Where you are undertaking multiple roles in relation to a single service user you need to be very aware of conflicts of interest – see section 2.4 in our standards of proficiency. |
| 3 | Do you carry a caseload of clients independently? | You would be the named case manager in communications with all parties including on client reports and be responsible for the activity. |
| 4 | Are you working at the competent level of proficiency as set out in IRCM’s competency framework? | You may be exceeding this requirement and working at advanced or expert level of proficiency. The competent level is a minimum requirement. |
How does IRCM define a case manager in training for the purposes of eligibility?
A case manager in training who meets IRCM’s definition for the purposes of eligibility would be able to answer yes to all these questions. Experienced case managers may again become case managers in training when developing a new area of practice.
| Question | Notes | |
| 1 | Your supervisor and/or employer has agreed that the work you are carrying out is part of a development route towards becoming an autonomous case manager who would meet the competent level of proficiency as set out in IRCM’s competency framework? | This should be clearly documented as part of your personal development plan and the date this commenced from noted on it. |
| 2 | Do you carry a caseload of clients but receive additional supervision from an experienced case manager over and above normal professional supervision? | You would be named as the case manager in communications with all parties including on client reports and be responsible for the activity. If you are not named as the case manager but some clients are allocated to you for specific aspects of their case management or other supporting activity, then you are working as a case manager’s assistant not a case manager in training. |
Definitions from IRCM’s glossary of terms
Professional supervision is defined as:
“Like practice supervision but with a broader and more long-term focus. Involves identifying professional learning and development needs and CPD. Also includes supporting the case manager to maintain their own wellbeing through supported reflection.”
Practice supervision is defined as:
“Aims to support learning and develop competency related to a specific task. Supervisor with more advanced skills than the supervisee. Lasts until the supervisee has reached competence in the specific task(s).”
More information about eligibility is in our FAQ which is regularly updated. If you have a question that we haven’t covered please get in touch
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