What is a care manager in adult social care?

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A central role in adult social care

A care manager – sometimes called a social worker or social care practitioner – is a professional employed by a local authority who is responsible for assessing needs and arranging care and support for adults.

This may include services such as:

• home care
• care home placements
• a personal alarm or telecare through the council
• other daily living support

The aim is for the individual to receive the support they need to live as independently and safely as possible.

What does a care manager do?

A care manager is responsible for the entire process from initial contact to the arrangement of care.

This involves:

• receiving referrals and self-referrals
• carrying out a needs assessment
• making an eligibility determination under the Care Act 2014
• arranging and coordinating services
• reviewing and updating the care plan

Local authorities must carry out an assessment of anyone who appears to have needs for care and support, regardless of whether those needs are likely to be eligible for funded care (1).

How does a needs assessment work?

The process usually begins when the individual themselves, a family member or a health professional contacts adult social care.

The care manager then carries out an assessment which may include:

• a conversation with the individual
• a home visit
• an assessment of function and daily living
• liaison with health and care professionals

The Care Act 2014 requires that the person is involved in the assessment and that their desired outcomes are central to the process (1).

What determines which support is provided?

Decisions about care and support are based on a structured assessment of:

• the person’s needs and their impact on wellbeing
• living situation and home environment
• physical and cognitive function
• ability to manage daily activities independently

A local authority must determine whether needs meet the eligibility criteria under the Care Act and provide a written record of its determination (1).

Personal alarms through the council

Many local authorities can arrange a personal alarm or telecare device as part of a funded care package.

This typically applies when:

• the person lives alone
• there is a risk of falls or acute incidents
• a need for rapid access to help has been identified

Eligibility and provision vary between councils, and an individual needs assessment is always required.

Who benefits most from a personal alarm?

To make well-informed assessments, it is also useful to understand who benefits most from a personal alarm – and how the care manager role relates to the prescribing of assistive equipment in the UK.

When council provision does not fully meet the need

In some cases, needs may change or fall outside what is provided through the formal care package.

This may involve:

• a need for an alarm that works outdoors
• a preference for the alert to go directly to family
• a desire for a shorter response time
• situations where the person does not meet eligibility criteria

In these cases, private options can complement council provision.

Right of appeal

If a local authority declines to provide support, it must give written reasons. The individual has the right to request a review and, if needed, to complain through the local authority’s complaints process. Decisions can also be challenged through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

How does the care manager relate to the prescriber?

In some situations, a care manager and a prescribing health professional work in parallel.

• the care manager decides on funded services and support
• the prescriber assesses and recommends assistive equipment

Together they contribute to a holistic plan around the individual’s needs.

Personal alarm as a complement to the care plan

A personal alarm can be arranged through the council, but needs may also differ from what the care plan covers. Sensorem’s personal alarm enables fast alarm handling and can be activated manually or automatically with two-way communication to pre-defined contacts. The device works both indoors and outdoors and has built-in GPS positioning, making it possible to locate the user and ensure the right response in time. It can be used as a complement to council-arranged services, or ordered privately without a care plan.