July/August 2023Vol. 24, No. 6Caseload and Workload Management
Child Welfare Information Gateway published an issue brief, Caseload and Workload Management, which offers valuable insights into the principles, strategies, and best practices for managing caseload and workload situations. Reducing and managing caseloads and workloads are challenging tasks for a variety of reasons. However, reasonable caseloads and workloads are vital to a caseworker's ability to effectively serve families and avoid burnout.
Manageable caseloads and workloads contribute to higher engagement and better outcomes for children and families. Other benefits for agencies and workers include the following:
- Improving caseworker retention
- Supporting caseworker attitudes and well-being
- Improving Child and Family Services Reviews performance
- Complying with legislation and litigation
The brief provides information on assessing caseloads and workloads. Time studies, for example, can help agencies compare the amount of available time to the amount of time spent completing casework. The results of these and other studies can include justifications for funding requests and the adoption of workload-centered standards.
The brief emphasizes the need for ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement of caseload management, as well as the importance of data collection to inform decision-making. Suggestions for staff retention include mentoring, flex time, and reward programs. Recommended strategies for improving caseload and workload management fall into four categories: enhancing work processes and supports, prevention and permanency initiatives, staffing strategies, and improving caseworker effectiveness.
For more details and additional resources, access the full brief.