National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

Case Management Subgroup7.15 It is recommended that each Housing and Disability Steering Group establish a CaseManagement Subgroup to facilitate the active management of individual cases, where thereare urgent housing needs arising. Where informal case management is already in placelocally, this process should be formalised within the remit of the Housing and DisabilitySteering Groups. Membership of the Case Management Subgroup should include keyworkers who have knowledge and resources to react speedily to address individual cases.7.16 Case study 7.1 below details an example of a case management group which hasbeen working successfully in Dundalk to ensure the best outcomes for clients.Case Study 7.1 – Dundalk Interagency GroupAn interagency case management group was established in Dundalk a number ofyears ago with the objective of placing people in the best housing situation for eachindividual and establishing how the needs of each person can be met by allservices in a coordinated manner. Members of the group, who meet monthly,consist of representatives of the local authority (homeless officer, director ofhousing services, housing allocations officer, social worker), the HSE (addictionservices, psychiatric services, disability services), probation service, the Gardaí, theSimon Community and Women’s Aid. The group discuss the needs of people whoare homeless or at threat of homelessness, particularly among people who are duefor discharge from institutional care e.g. prison / hospital or any other personidentified as being at risk by any of the members of the group, including people witha mental health disability who have a housing need.A key advantage of this group is that it promotes an understanding of the duties ofall members and increases understanding between agencies. It delivers a clientcentred approach as agencies work together to provide a personalised response tospecific need. The work of the group feeds into the local homeless forum.78