Case conferencing describes a meeting of staff and/ or agencies that may be working with a contract holder at the same time in order to help ensure the agencies are working together and providing consistent advice. Case conferencing is fundamentally about joint problem solving and achieving better outcomes for our contract holders.
How do we know if a case conference is required?
If we become aware a contract holder is working with one or more internal or external service providers, a case conference may be beneficial to allow everyone to meet and discuss their involvement. Situations where case conferencing should be considered include:
- Internal Case Conference – A contract holder receiving internal support, in rent arrears and causing contract management issues. A contract holder with poor standard of housing refusing to accept support but willing to work with a non-support officer.
- External Case Conference – A contract holder causing anti social behaviour due to mental health issues. A community experiencing severe ASB due to suspected drug dealing.
How do I set up a case conference?
The relevant staff and/or agencies will need to be invited to a suitable venue and any required attendees unable to attend and unable to send a representative a written update should be requested and shared during the meeting. An Attendance form and Sharing Protocol must be completed and minutes of the meeting recorded using the Minute Template. All actions must be followed up by the Community Housing Officer.
It is advisable that the individual or contract holder are invited to the case conference, however this is discretionary and will depend on a variety of circumstances e.g., where the individual or contract holder displays aggressive or violent behaviour, then it would not be deemed appropriate.
Further recommendations
- Any actions agreed for staff or agencies should be recorded and additional follow up meetings set up in order to ensure ongoing feedback and updates can be provided if required.
- BA should not lead on Case Conferencing for concerns relating to POVA, Child Protection or Domestic Abuse. Concerns of this nature should be referred to the relevant support agency e.g. Police, Womens Aid, Social Services, IDVA at the time they are presented to you, for their organisation processes to be completed.