iIRCM’s definitionof case management is,

“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”.

Find out more here.

We are not currently registering case managers so are not able to assist with this. A process for raising concerns about registered case managers will be published in due course. In the meantime you may wish to see whether the case manager is a member of an organisation such as BABCIM, CMSUK or VRA or a regulatory body who may be able to assist.

IRCM is not a regulatory body.The Professional Standards Authority (PSA), the body that oversees health and social care regulators also operates an accredited register scheme and we will be applying to them through this.  Being accredited will demonstrate our commitment to high standards and public protection.

“Accredited Registers help people get better care by ensuring that the health practitioners they register are competent and trustworthy. They set standards for people working in unregulated health and care occupations, encourage them to meet them and take action to protect the public when necessary. They ensure that the information they and their registrants provide is clear and helps you to make informed choices about the practitioner you want to see and about the treatments, therapies, care and products they offer.”  The PSA

There are no plans for us to implement a process to do this at present and it is not something we are aware of other regulators or registers doing.  We will have a process by which concerns about registered case managers can be raised and investigated.

We will be involving lay people in all levels of the organisation and as part of any consultations and hope to see service users and service user groups represented within this.

General feedback about case managers and case management as well as suggestions for developing our policies and procedures in the future are very welcome. Please contact us at hello@ircm.org.uk

Registration is not yet open. Please see the information below and join our mailing list to keep up to date.

The process for becoming registered during the first 2 – 3 years will be different from what it will become as IRCM matures. During the initial period, we envisage these will be membership of either BABICM, CMSUK or VRA and:

• Have a minimum of 5,000 hours. (4 years FTE) experience as a case manager; or 
• Have at least 2,500 hours. (2 years FTE) experience as a case manager and 

1. 1. 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 
   2. have been on the BASRAT accredited register and practising in the profession for at least 2,500 hours. (2 years FTE)

Once the certificate of proficiency is available (likely early 2024) it is planned that all new applicants will need to have:

• • Achieved the certificate of proficiency.
  • Have at least 2,500 hours. (2 years FTE) experience as a case manager

All existing registrants will need to complete a certificate of proficiency once available

Part-time case managers will need to calculate the number of hours that they work in a year.

This is not simple to answer because the terms are not standardised and may be used differently in different contexts or organisations.

Essentially, the issue is one of autonomy and independence, and there may be two clear distinctions depending on whether you: –

a) carry a caseload independently with some supervision over and above normal professional supervision and it is agreed with your supervisor and/or employer that this is part of a development route towards becoming an autonomous case manager yourself.

In this case you may be considered to be a ‘Pre-Registration’ Case Manager (a trainee CM), as described in the IRCM Competency Framework.

You would need to be able to evidence your development and its duration (through a CPD plan, and/or CPD logs) and any experience whilst on this route could be counted towards the experience requirement for an application for IRCM registration

or

b) practice as a Case Manager’s assistant where the caseload is actually carried by the Case Manager and some of their clients are allocated to you for specific aspects of their case management or other supporting activity.

In this instance, the work is not being carried out as part of an agreed plan for you to be training or transitioning towards independent or autonomous practice as a Case Manager and your hours would not be counted towards the experience requirement for an application to the IRCM register.

You can access the IRCM Competency Framework, The Standards of Proficiency, and the Glossary of Terms here.

The case management competency framework states,

“Competent denotes a case manager who can plan effectively. They should now know what to expect and have adopted a holistic approach in their practice. They will think analytically, with an evidence-informed approach (see glossary), rather than following instruction. They can anticipate risks and consequences in unpredictable situations, operating with an increasing level of autonomy and scope.

They should continue to develop by engaging in managerial and professional supervision for themselves, as well as by providing the same for others.”

The definitions taken from the IRCM Glossary of Terms which is available here.

Supervision (practice)

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).

Supervision (professional)

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. This term may be used in relation to the Case Management Service providers working together to achieve positive outcomes for their service users.

Supervision (operational/ management)

Refers to the oversight and support of case management provision to ensure that practitioners can and do perform competently, and service users experience effective and safe services. It involves regular monitoring, review, reflection, and support, often from the line manager. Mainly for inexperienced/novice case managers, or in performance management situations.

If the Case Manager has been accepted for registration by a health and social care regulator overseen by the PSA such as NMC or HCPC, their experience in that profession can be taken into account during grandfathering.  All other criteria such as the number of hours and case management experience must also be met.  

Where they have not been accepted by the appropriate regulator then they may still be eligible for registration if they can meet the higher number of case management hours required.

Please note that registration is only open to case managers working primarily in the UK.

Until case managers have gained enough experience they should be working under the direct supervision of an experienced case manager.  During this time, they should be undertaking training and development to build competence in case management and working to ensure their practice should be in line with the IRCM Standards of Proficiency. 

We have published an updated case management competency framework which provides useful information for pre-registrants and are developing an education framework and a core curriculum. We will be working with training providers including the membership bodies to establish pre-registration IRCM accredited CPD to support case managers who are not yet eligible to apply for registration.

Having a proper registration process and support with accredited training for case managers will provide reassurance for those who purchase/commission case management and help to protect the public who use case management services. It may also encourage more people into the profession as it will be a much clearer and more structured route into the profession.

You can download the competency framework and standards here.

There are no current plans to provide this. It is anticipated that the support of IRCM for training providers including the membership bodies producing CPD and mentorship for pre-registrant case managers will negate the need for a beginners register with the IRCM. The membership bodies may possibly consider some form of recognition for pre-registrant case managers on their membership lists.

However, this is still being debated and we will of course be considering all the feedback received.

To become an OT you complete a degree in occupational therapy and will have gained some practical experience for the delivery of occupational therapy through those supervised placements. Case management is not currently taught in any related qualifying programmes as such there are no equivalent qualifications in case management. A key part of acquiring the necessary skills and experience to work independently as a case manager is working under the direct supervision of experienced case managers. 

This has been an important consideration since the beginning and a wide range of options have been considered. Individuals moving into case management will generally have some transferable skills that will support their practice but they still need to acquire those specific to case management.

Perhaps in the future, there will be in-depth and consistent qualifying training programmes available, that can provide the skills in case management and experience in delivering case management services, with appropriate support and supervision. But until then we believe the model that we are proposing for a Certificate of Proficiency assessment process (see education section below) is the best way to enable an inclusive approach where all those practicing case management have the opportunity to demonstrate they have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and behaviours to meet the IRCM standard requirements.

If a substantial portion of your work is within the UK then you will be able to register even if you are based elswehere.  We are not able to accept registrations for people working primarily outside of the UK as PSA can only accredit a register of those working within the UK. 

IRCM is keen to develop relationships with other registers and regulators and we have already been in contact with a number on various matters. This is something we will pursue further once registration has opened, and we have applied to PSA. We will check publicly available information where an applicant declares that they hold or have previously held a registration.

In cases where we receive a concern that may be more appropriately dealt with by another regulator or register these may be referred on. We will also be notifying relevant registers and regulators when we publish sanctions.

The initial year of registration costs will be covered by BABICM, CMSUK or VRA therefore registrants will be required to be a member of one of these bodies to register.  It isn’t possible at this stage to give details of future fees, however we are mindful of the costs of multiple registrations and memberships.

There will be a process for renewal, however, the details are in development as we have initially focused on the many aspects of registration.  We will share more details about this once its available, please join our mailing list to keep up to date.

Registration is for individual case managers only.  Organisations that employ case managers will be encouraged to ensure all their case managers are registered and those who instruct case managers to ensure that all of those instructed are registered or are working towards registration and practising under the direct supervision of an experienced registered case manager. 

Organisations can show their support for IRCM by becoming part of our supporters’ community, part of becoming a supporter is signing up to our code of conduct for supporters.  Find out more about our supporter community here.

We have published an updated case management competency framework, and will be developing an education framework and a core curriculum and we intend to accredit appropriate training. The membership groups are also committed to supporting case managers’ training and development and will work with the IRCM on requirements for the development of pre-registration CPD.

This will be a standardised assessment of the skills, knowledge, and abilities required to be a Case Manager. It will use case studies with questions requiring specific responses that represent the minimum level of competence that clients have a right to expect. Case managers will complete this assessment before registration once available or in the case of grandfathered case managers within the time limit specified by IRCM in due course.  

The certificate of proficiency case studies and required responses will be created by experienced case managers and developed by a group not an individual.  It will therefore be a standardised assessment.

If you are interested in being part of the advisory group please get in touch.

No, it won’t become a protected title. The government’s preference is for voluntary registration and a compelling case would have to be made for statutory regulation.  An extensive review of alternative mechanisms for accreditation, which included Chartership was held. Following this, it was agreed that seeking Professional Standards Authority approval for an accredited voluntary register was the most suitable route.

Instructing parties will still be able to commission whichever case manager they choose. However, feedback has been that many commissioners have been concerned about a perceived lack of quality assurance in the industry to date and welcome the opportunity and reassurance of being able to access case managers from an accredited register. Members of the IRCM Supporters Community have committed that “when commissioning, recommending or employing case managers, to endeavour to use the services of registered case managers or those working towards registration whilst being supervised by registered case managers;”

We are in the process of finalising many of our documents and anticipate rolling them out over the Autumn and Winter 2022.  You can find all of our published documents here.

IRCM registration is specifically in relation to your role as a case manager. Your registration with HCPC is  in relation to the specific profession that you are registered for (e.g., OT, Physio etc), which does not include your case management role.

To reiterate, the IRCM is not a regulating body; we intend for it to be a voluntary register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) who also accredit many of the registration bodies (e.g., HCPC).

Whilst there are roles in which it is required that a case manager have a clinical background, there are equally many roles where a clinical role is not required.  IRCM are liaising with both clinical and non-clinical groups to ensure that we are developing in an appropriately diverse way being inclusive and reflective.  In some specialist areas, having clinical training and experience alongside case management knowledge and skills is important, but the case management aspects of these roles are not currently regulated in the way that the clinical aspects are. 

The IRCM believes there is a need for a professional pathway for all types of case management that includes an educational framework and a mechanism that protects the public by providing a register of case managers working to recognised standards, whatever area they work in. 

All case managers whether clinical or not are required to work within their scope of practice as set out in our standards of proficiency.

We have provided guidance on scope of practice here.

Anyone will be able to use the relevant process to raise concerns with IRCM about registered case managers. 

IRCM is consulting widely on all aspects of its work. In addition to the 2021 standards’ consultation, we hold regular check-in sessions with Q&As and follow up with surveys providing the option of giving feedback anonymously as well as seeking out more direct feedback. We welcome all those who want to get involved in our project groups. 

We will be reflecting further on our role in relation to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within the case management industry.

IRCM, as a body, is focused on ensuring that experienced case managers who deliver case management do so safely, effectively, and consistently, in the interests of protecting the public.

The membership bodies are focused on representing their members and their specialisms, supporting their skills and practice development, networking and delivering events, lobbying government and other stakeholders, providing training, sharing good practice and providing valuable support and guidance to practitioners.   

The IRCM sees the membership groups as important organisations facilitating the growth of case management as a powerful beneficial service.  These groups encourage new practitioners into the field and they nurture them to the point where they are ready to become registered.  IRCM will continue to support membership of these groups because they do vital work.

BABICM advanced practitioner membership requires people to have completed an evidence-based assessment process by submitting evidence of their ability to work at level 3 across all of the BABICM competencies to a peer-review process. To apply for this assessment, they must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 3500 hours (3 years full time working) as a case manager and show evidence of their CPD and supervision.

Registration with the IRCM will reflect general experience in case management rather than any particular specialism. We believe the services offered by the membership bodies and IRCM are complementary.

IRCM competences are relevant for all case managers regardless of specialism and experience levels. We have no plans to combine them with those of other organisations.

It is for BABICM to comment on any plans they may or may not have.  You can listen to our June Check-In where BABICM Chair Vicki Gilman shared her thoughts on this.

Organisations can join our supporter community and play an important role in IRCM by showing their commitment to safeguarding users of case management services and the public. We have inclusive opportunities for organisations of all sizes. Find out more here.