National experience of case management in social work

Abstract

The article examines the development of case management as an individualized approach to the provision of social services in Ukraine. It is described that this method involves a comprehensive assessment of the client's needs, the development of an individualized assistance plan, coordination of various services, and continuous monitoring of results. It has been determined that case management is based on the combination of individual client needs with the available resources of the social infrastructure. It has been established that its implementation in Ukraine began at the beginning of the 21st century and gradually encompassed various social spheres, including the work of charitable organizations such as "Caritas," "SOS Children's Villages," and others. The main milestones in the development of case management in Ukraine, its directions, subjects, and objects, as well as its connection with the development of social service provision, have been identified.

It was found that significant development of case management occurred after the beginning of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine in 2014. A new important category of clients became internally displaced persons. At this stage, specialized projects were developed to manage cases involving internally displaced persons, veterans, and military personnel. Special attention was paid to the institution of the veteran assistant. The introduction of case management in the employment sector, starting in 2018, is also described, aiming to provide individualized assistance to the unemployed in their job search, and the prospects for implementing case managers and their advantages are considered. Additionally, the introduction of electronic case management in 2023 was studied separately. Its benefits, including the digitalization of social service provision processes and convenience for both clients and social workers, have been established. The importance of inter-agency cooperation for effectively solving clients' problems and the importance of implementing case management in territorial communities are also characterized.