Social work employer standard 3: Workload and case allocation management

Implement transparent systems to manage workload and case allocation in order to protect service users and practitioners.

In order to deliver consistently high quality services and outcomes for children, adults, and families, employers should manage workflow effectively and respond quickly to changing demand. Workload management and case allocation processes should prevent work overload and safeguard staff and service users for the risks associated with high caseloads and unallocated cases.

The requirements for this standard are summarised below. View the full details for this standard on the LGA website.

  • Put in place transparent systems to allocate work and a means to collect information about workload within teams.
  • Use this information to assess and review the workload of each social worker, taking account of their capacity and allowing sufficient time for supervision and CPD activity.
  • Have contingency plans in place for resolving situations where workload demand exceeds the staffing capacity.
  • Have a system in place which generates relevant information to be used as part of regular reporting to strategic leaders and feeds into supply and demand models, and the social work accountability framework.