Mental health case management in Canada: job description analyses

The purpose of this study was to examine case managers' (CM) job position descriptions through content analysis. There were 29 case manager job position descriptions examined. The job descriptions could be grouped into four categories: (1) what the individuals should bring to the position, (2) what they did as CM, (3) to whom they were accountable, and (4) what was valued. Themes included focus on client as individual, focus on the external/system, or outer-directed work, and the articulation point between the individual and broader system. The CM works directly and indirectly in the system and community through education, organizing, planning, and networking, as well as through provision of direct care to the individual client. The expectations of the positions are extensive.