Case management for the Northern Territory Correctional Services

In 1997, the Community Corrections Division, Northern Territory Correctional Services engaged the primary author, a social worker, as a consultant to undertake two projects. The first of these projects was the development of a case management system, and the second was a, related, interviewing skills training program. These projects, hoth in process and outcome, aimed to reflect a shift in Community Corrections philosophy from an authoritarian focus of practice, to one which sought to be participatory and inclusive of clients. Further, as a means of demonstrating this shift in focus, departmental staff were included in the development of the case management system and its related training. The task of those involved in the projects was to develop an approach which was able to address the problem of delivering services effectively to a remote, often English as a second language, population, in the face of limited resources. This paper will outline both projects, the stages through which they proceeded, and the process used to implement them.