Last Updated on June 3, 2022
Case managers are often confused with social workers. I’ve had clients for years that thought that I was their social worker instead of their case manager. When I explain that I’m the case manager and not the social worker I often get a confused look in response. Case managers are also referred to as other titles such as case workers and service coordinators. There are some similarities and there are many areas where the two jobs overlap. It really depends on the type of case manager or social work position. Both require similar educational backgrounds but specific job duties can differ depending on the services provided.
Case Managers
Education- Case
managers require a minimum of an undergraduate degree in a human services
related field of study (Psychology, Human Services, Criminal Justice, etc.). Case
managers that work in hospitals might also have undergraduate degrees in
nursing and have an RN certification. Case managers can also have a degree in social work.
Job Duties – The
primary job duty of a case manager is to coordinate services. I like to
consider case managers as the “middle man” of human services. They often serve
as the liaison between the client and the service provider primarily through
the referral process. The case manager is also usually the mediator when
problems arise between clients and providers.
Case managers complete screening assessments to determine
program eligibility as well as functional assessments to determine eligibility
for additional services.
Unlike some social workers, case managers do not provide
therapy to clients. Case managers might provide supportive counseling at times
but if ongoing counseling is needed, they would link the client to a licensed
therapist, social worker, or psychologist. There is no license for a case
manager to provide therapy. However, nurse case managers can be certified but
other forms of case management do not typically require any form of
certification.
Social Workers
Education- Social
workers usually have Bachelor’s degrees in Social Work (BSW) or Masters degrees
in social Work (MSW). Licensed Clinical Social Workers
(LCSW) are usually required to have an MSW before going through the licensing
process. However, social workers in other human service positions can also have
degrees in similar fields like psychology and sociology just like case managers.
Job Duties-
Social workers often work in local public agencies and can perform a variety of
job functions. These social workers often work in child and adult protective services. Social workers perform some traditional case management tasks such as service
coordination for long-term APS or CPS cases.
They might also work in more administrative roles such as determining
eligibility and completing long term care documentation. These social workers
typically don’t go out to the home or provide clinical services. These “social
workers” typically handle issues that arise with Medicaid eligibility and they
also provide assistance when Medicaid benefits are discontinued or denied.
Clinical social workers can be licensed and provide mental
health counseling and other forms of therapy.
In general, case managers and social workers are similar in
education and overall job functions. However, social workers often cover a
wider range of services depending on the type of social worker. Social workers
can also become licensed to become therapists.
Case managers primarily provide service coordination and linkage to
services. Case manager duties are basically the same regardless of the kind of
case management (foster care, mental health, etc.).
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