Care management and social work: working with carers

This second paper on care management and social work examines the ways in which practice can reflect the special circumstances of carers. Using the findings from a research project established to develop partnership in social services work, it is argued that social work values, skills and techniques provide the core elements of a care management approach, but that further work is needed to develop a practice which fully reflects the principle of treating the client as a user and as a citizen. In particular, practice must recognise the ambivalent feelings of carers, extend information to clients and opportunities for participation, reinforce choice, resolve conflict between carer and client in ways which safeguard the rights of each and coordinate the services of a wide variety of providers to the benefit of the client.ab