BABICM looks to the future

BABICM is the leading membership organisation for professionals working in brain injury and complex case management. The organisation works collaboratively, sharing knowledge and experience, and provides best-practice guidance on case management for people with brain injury and other complex medical conditions. BABICM provides high quality, evidence-based training, initiates and disseminates case management research, and maintains and expects high professional standards from its members.

As the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM) moves on from celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2021, the organisation is looking forwards to an exciting future.

With a 20% increase in its membership in the last year, BABICM, the leading organisation for professionals in brain injury and complex case management, is delighted with the increased interest in case management as a profession. However, with that increased interest comes a responsibility for the organisation to provide all members with access to high quality guidance, information, and support to assist in the delivery of best-practice services to their clients.

Vicki Gilman, BABICM Chair said: “BABICM maintains and expects high professional standards from its members. Going forwards the organisation will continue to focus on the support of its members in the delivery of best practice services by providing high quality, evidence-based guidance, initiating and disseminating case management research”.

The future for case managers will involve the Institute of Registered Case Managers (IRCM), a new independent regulatory body. The IRCM was established following discussions involving BABICM, the Case Management Society of the UK, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Association about the need for a nationally recognised but independent register of case managers who can demonstrate their competence and that they meet specific standards for case managers. The IRCM is currently progressing along the path towards gaining the accreditation necessary to enable it to uphold standards for registered case managers. Vicki said: “It’s important that case managers are regulated and registered by an independent body; we’re actively involved with the ICRM working towards the implementation of this new regulatory body. And we will ensure that BABICM continues to provide high quality, evidence-based training which will support registration by the IRCM.”

BABICM’s mission: To ensure that the needs of people with brain injury and complex medical conditions are recognised and met through excellent case management.

MEETING TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES

Four Working Groups facilitate and support BABICM’s work, with a focus on meeting the challenges and issues ahead.

BABICM’S AIMS

To share knowledge and excellence in brain injury and complex case management To lead the way in related research and evidencebased practice To influence and shape national policy through collaborative working To maintain the highest professional and ethical standards

BABICM’s Professional Practice and Membership Group (PPMG) champions best practice, promotes professional standards and oversees membership of the organisation. The PPMG will continue to provide professional guidance to support case managers with clients who have brain injuries or complex conditions implement best practice, maintain all the expected professional standards, and have all the necessary competencies for IRCM registration. Going forwards the PPMG is developing documents to illustrate examples of

good case management practice and improve the skill base of new case managers. ‘What does good case management practice look like?’ will soon appear as a series in the BABICM magazine and on its website. The PPMG is continually writing and updating guidance for its members, clients and families about case management and best-practice service delivery, and the group provides the tools necessary to support case managers applying for Advanced Membership. Research is a key aspect of case management and best practice evidence is crucial for steering BABICM’s future work and the delivery of optimal service for clients. Research is crucial for building the knowledge base, facilitating learning, understanding the issues that affect clients and providing the information required to drive change. Through the work of BABICM’s Research Group, the organisation plays a significant role in improving and enabling progress for its clients as it continues to promote the dissemination of, and encourages research into, brain injury and complex case management.

At an early stage in its history BABICM recognised that training was critical in driving standards and competencies. Consequently, the Training Events Group is producing an extensive programme of training events throughout 2022 and beyond to support the professional development of members and other professional organisations working with people with brain injuries and complex conditions. The training courses relate to the BABICM Competencies and Standards and help to ensure members can respond to challenges, changes, and developments within the appropriate legal, statutory, medical, social, and scientific case management practice. The events are UK-wide, face-to-face and include webinars. In the future members will have access to all past and future webinars on the BABICM website.

The Company Strategy Group (CSG) is responsible for BABICM’s strategic planning and promotes the organisation’s identity within the industry sector. CSG also supports and develops the organisation’s collaboration projects, marketing and communications activities as well as championing the membership.

“BABICM is committed to excellent case management. The organisation will provide the education, training, and support so that members can meet the necessary professional standards and practice competencies to uphold the BABICM Code of Ethics and gain IRCM registration” commented Vicki.

MAINTAINING ITS INFLUENTIAL AND POWERFUL VOICE

BABICM is now recognised as an influential and powerful organisation raising awareness of issues such as improved care and service delivery that impact on its clients. The organisation’s opinion is frequently sought on national policy.

A recent survey was conducted amongst members to gather objective statistics alongside subjective narratives about their experiences recruiting and retaining support workers for clients. The questions addressed the range and frequency for higher rate payments for support workers and the impact of mandatory vaccination for case managers, support workers and clients. The results will be used to highlight the issues being experienced by clients with particularly complex disabilities, their families, and the support sector.

BABICM communicates, lobbies, and collaborates with many organisations such as the Care Quality Commission, Court of Protection (CoP), Department of Health and Social Care, Law Commission and Office of the Public Guardianship, on issues that affect clients and impact on brain injury and complex medical conditions case management. The organisation is currently developing training resources that can be used by external organisations such as the CoP to raise awareness of the role of a case manager amongst stakeholders.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING A CASE MANAGER AND JOINING BABICM?

If you would like to know more about case management and/or join BABICM then please get in contact. There are various memberships available from Advanced Registered Practitioner, Registered Practitioner, Practitioner, Corporate Associate, Affiliate, Student or Charity Associate.

For further information, please visit www.babicm.org or janette@babicm.org