The Case Management Society UK (CMSUK) has produced best practice guidelines in a bid to move a step closer to accreditation and remove unethical companies.
The case managers' association's guidelines set out views on issues including therapeutic relationships, the role of the case manager and referrals. It has also been working alongside the Vocational Rehabilitation Association and the British Association of Case Management Society to raise industry standards for rehabilitation case management and to gain government recognition.
CMSUK director, Eileen Richardson, said: "The industry is unregulated and there are companies out there who aren't quite as ethical as they should be.
"We represent the client and we are appointed to help them. Our role is to stand up and be an advocate.
"We want to be the one the government comes to, and become 'the body'. We want them to adopt our standards when the time for regulation comes."
CMSUK's chairperson Rosie Corless said: "Each organisation has specific case management skills and we recognise the need to work closely together."
She added although there has been talk of government regulation in the future, their current focus was on receiving accreditation and raising awareness in government.
