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The case management industry is always changing and evolving, but there are some things that remain the same. Being a case manager is challenging–and supervising them comes with unique victories and hurdles, too. Even though you have client outcomes to deliver, you’ve also got a team to serve. At CaseWorthy, we believe that a fulfilled, empowered team of case managers will deliver better human services. To help prepare your organization for 2022 (and beyond), we’ve compiled a list of top tips that will help you lead an effective, healthy team.
Encourage your team to maintain a good work-life balance.
When we polled a group of senior case managers, nearly 50% of respondents said burnout was the most challenging part of their job. As the need for case managers arises, there’s a good chance you may need to allocate more work to each of your case managers. Not only is it important for you to provide as much support to your team as possible, it’s also vital that you make it clear it’s okay to leave work at work. Here are a couple of tips you can consider so you can support your team:
- Advise your case managers to set hours when they’ll never be available to clients, unless there is a dire emergency. Some case managers find it helpful to make sure they always have time with their family around dinner time. Other case managers make sure they “log off” after a certain time. It will look different from person to person, but what’s important is to be sure your team knows they don’t have to be on call all the time.
- Grant time off. Unfortunately, there’s never a great time for case managers to take vacation. There will always be people in need. But taking days, or even a week or two off can significantly help maintain healthy work-life balance.
Be as accessible to your case managers as possible.
Maintain regular communication with your case managers.
That way, they won’t feel like they’re navigating an overwhelming caseload alone. It can be helpful to check in with your team on a daily or weekly basis to go over particularly demanding cases or challenging scenarios. Case managers will always know there are set times they can check in with you, and they can also bounce ideas off each other. Part of being a good support to your team is making sure they know they can also rely on each other.
Your case managers might ask for help–and they should know you’re willing to give it.
Whether a case manager is feeling overwhelmed and needs emotional support, or a case manager needs help coordinating services, be there to help out when you can. Of course, as a supervisor, you’re juggling a lot of tasks and team members. If someone reaches out for assistance and you aren’t able to jump in right away, then let them know you hear them and you’ll do what you can.
Encourage your case managers to look at all victories, big and small.
No case manager will have a perfect track record. Being able to focus on the positive is crucial for case managers, especially if they’re working through particularly challenging cases or managing numerous clients at once. Rather than fixating on less-than-ideal outcomes, remind your case managers to focus on the good they’re able to do. Some case managers find it helpful to keep a scrap book or journal of client successes they can look back on during tough days.
Use technology to your advantage.
Software built for the way you work can be a game-changer.
Paperwork is part of the job–but it shouldn’t be the biggest part. Time-consuming case notes can detract from face time with clients, and can significantly contribute to case managers feeling overwhelmed. Some tasks can only be completed by humans, and your team members should feel like they have enough time to check those off without getting bogged down in data entry and filling out documents.
CaseWorthy is a software designed for nonprofits. Work can be significantly automated and streamlined through custom-built dashboards. Your team can communicate with clients and each other using CommHUB. And client intakes are a breeze with our premade templates.
