caseloads

Caseloads refer to the number of cases or clients assigned to a single professional or unit within a given period. They are used as a proxy for workload and can vary by field, organization, and policy. The term appears in social work, healthcare, legal professions, and education, among others. The composition of a caseload also matters; not all cases are equally demanding, so caseload size is often considered together with case complexity and required time per case.

In social work and welfare settings, caseload size interacts with case complexity, risk factors, and service duration. A worker handling high-need families or individuals with complex needs requires more time per case than one with routine follow-ups. High caseloads can delay service, reduce engagement, and affect outcomes, contributing to burnout.

In healthcare, caseloads may refer to patients assigned to a nurse or clinician. Patient acuity, comorbidities, and care plans influence the workload; higher-acuity caseloads demand more monitoring, coordination, and documentation and can impact safety and satisfaction.

In law and education, caseloads describe the number of cases a lawyer or number of students a teacher manages. Larger or more complex caseloads can affect case preparation, access to legal assistance, and instructional attention.

Management and policy approaches aim to align caseloads with outcomes. This includes setting caps or guidelines, using triage and prioritization, employing support staff, and leveraging data and technology to monitor workload, time use, and caseload balance. The evidence on optimal caseloads varies by setting and is an active area of organizational research.