Caseload management

Caseload management

A full-time SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'.'s caseload should be sustainable — typically in the order of a few hundred people per year, varying with the complexity of cases and the maturity of the local service. The right number for your context is the one that lets the role be done well, not the one that hits the highest target.

Why caseload matters

SPLWsSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. typically support people for 6–12 contacts over three months. The number isn't arbitrary — it has to account for the time the role actually takes:

• Initial holistic conversations (long, deliberate, not rushed)
• Multiple follow-up sessions per person
• Warm hand-overs to community offers
• MDTMDT— Multidisciplinary teamA team of professionals from different disciplines working together with the person at the centre. meetings and case discussion
• Community outreach and partnership work
• Reporting, recording, and reflective practice
• CPDCPD— Continuing Professional DevelopmentOngoing learning and reflection used to maintain and improve competence in a role. and supervision.

A safe ceiling matters. Above it, things start to give — usually quality of care first, then SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. wellbeing, then retention.

Don't let target metrics override safe caseloads

Performance or funding incentive targets should be viewed in the context of safe caseload limits, with staffing levels set accordingly. If a target requires more cases than is safe, the answer is more SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. capacity — not the same SPLWsSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. working faster.

Caseload composition matters

Two FTEs handling the same headline caseload aren't equivalent if one has predominantly low-complexity cases and the other is a specialist seeing high-complexity cases. Specialist cases, multi-condition cases, and cases involving safeguarding or complex social need take far more time.

Let the SPLW manage their own caseload

Within the agreed limit, SPLWsSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. manage their own caseload to work with people in formats that suit them — face to face, home visit, community-based. Trust the SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'.'s judgement. Don't micromanage allocation.

Watch the leading indicators

If you're employing or supervising SPLWsSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'., regularly check:

• average caseload per FTE
• proportion of complex cases
• average duration of episodes
• DNA / cancellation patterns
• whether the SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. is taking annual leave
• whether protected time is being eaten by case work.

These are early-warning signs. By the time the SPLWSPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. says "I'm drowning", you're already late.