Westcountry Case Management

Congratulations to our Case Manager, Trish Watts who successfully passed her advanced BABICM assessment last week! Excellent news Trish 👏 #BestInTheWest #WCM #BABICM

As we conclude Safeguarding Adults Week, we encourage everyone to reflect on their safeguarding practices. What have been your successes and challenges in safeguarding adults? What areas require further development, and how can we continue to enhance our learning to create safer cultures? We would love to hear from you….. Thank you to Nemone Jakeman our CQC registered manager and designated safeguarding person at WCM for creating these posts.

It's day 4 of #SafeguardingAdultsWeek. Recognising exploitation, particularly in individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI), is crucial in safeguarding their well-being. One alarming form of exploitation is cuckooing, where a vulnerable person’s home is taken over by others, often for criminal activities like drug dealing. People with ABI are at heightened risk due to cognitive impairments that may make it difficult for them to recognise or resist such exploitation. Spotting the signs requires careful observation. Indicators may include a sudden increase in visitors to the person’s home, signs of neglect or distress, unexplained changes in behaviour, or the individual expressing fear or anxiety about certain people. You might also notice that the person is being isolated from their usual support network or that there is unexplained damage or changes in the home environment. As case managers, it’s essential to respond swiftly to these signs by raising concerns, conducting welfare checks, and collaborating with safeguarding teams to ensure the individual’s safety and well-being. #SafeguardingAdultsWeek #Cuckooing #AcquiredBrainInjury

Today is day 3 of #SafeguardingAdultsWeek. In case management, establishing and maintaining professional boundaries is essential to fostering quality relationships and ensuring the safety and well-being of those we support. Clear boundaries define the nature of our working relationships from the outset, helping to prevent power imbalances that could lead to blurred lines and compromised care. In our sector, it’s crucial to remain vigilant for signs that boundaries may be eroding, such as overly personal interactions or dependency on either side. If concerns arise, they should be addressed promptly through reflection and, if necessary, guidance from colleagues or supervisors. Beyond our relationships with clients and colleagues, boundaries also extend to our personal lives. Ensuring a healthy transition between work and home life is vital to prevent burnout and maintain professional effectiveness. Good practice involves setting clear distinctions between work responsibilities and personal time, allowing us to recharge and approach our roles with renewed focus and care. #SafeguardingAdultsWeek #ProfessionalBoundaries

Today is day 2 of #SafeguardingAdultsWeek and our theme is 'Partnering with the people we support'... One of our case manager joined one of our client's and a support worker for a Pokémon Go Walk. The purpose of this was to provide a non-threatening platform attempting to get better engagement from him as he is usually very anxious about meeting any new people. By meeting him doing something that he enjoys, that didn't require any eye contact he was able to engage more effectively. He could discuss the Pokémon game and then where he likes to play it. We then discussed what other things he does and doesn't like to do. This was by far the most conversation achieved since beginning work with him. At Westcountry Case Management, we're dedicated to embedding 'Making Safeguarding Personal,' 'Person-centred practice,' and 'Co-production' into every aspect of our work. Examples like the one above show our commitment to working in partnership with a client to ensure their voices are always heard. These approaches are key to building effective partnerships with those we support, ensuring their voices are central in all decisions. While balancing professional guidance with personal choice can be challenging, we believe that true safeguarding stems from collaboration. By sharing our successes and challenges, we continually refine our strategies to remain responsive and respectful. Let’s continue to work together to create services that are truly centered on the needs and wishes of those we serve. #SafeguardingAdultsWeek

This week is Safeguarding Adults Week. At Westcountry Case Management, we emphasise the critical role of professional curiosity in safeguarding adults. Our case managers hold a wealth of information, and it is our duty to maintain high standards of vigilance. By actively looking, listening, and asking probing questions, we can identify subtle signs of potential harm. It’s not enough to accept information at face value; we must engage with it critically, seeking to understand the full context. By fostering a culture of professional curiosity, we ensure that our clients' safety and well-being are always at the forefront of our practice. #SafeguardingAdultsWeek

Thank you to all who attended our internal conference yesterday and especially our speakers: Anita Pascoe Jo Jones Declan French Caroline Evans Huw Ponting Laura Johnson KC A great day learning and catching up with all the WCM team 😊

It’s always a cathartic and re-invigorating experience to attend a westcountry case management conference. Such a wonderful and inspirational group of people I’m lucky enough to call colleagues. As a company and group of professionals we are always striving to do more and get better at what we do. I am so glad I made the career move I did back in 2014- couldn’t have imagined how much I would love working as a case manager.

A sunrise run and litigation training/update ✅ in Ilminster A productive day. #bestinthewest #worklifebalance #litigation #westcountrycasemanagement

Next up presenting is Case Manager, Jo Jones & Associate Solicitor, Declan French on Writing witness statements. Case Manager, Caroline Evans will then be speaking on ‘What care experts want from Case Managers! #WCM #Litigation #BestInTheWest