Re: workloads

[ppolinsky@xxxxxxxx (Peggy Polinsky)]

Yve - All I can say is the average caseload for a worker in the Los
Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is 60 (ranging
from 50-100).  Impossible?  Yes.  And the worker turnover is so great
(job is too stressful) that hiring barely keeps up with the number who
leave each month.  It's very sad.  There are studies of ideal caseloads.
I remember that Massachusetts came up with a figure of 20 during the
1980's.  I just don't have any references off-hand.
If you can stick with 12, you can do good, meaningful work -- even though
the amount of work per client will vary.   "Dosage" is an interesting
concept.  Intensity of services has been demonstrated as a predictor of
"success" in many programs, but sometimes certain services are more
helpful than others  (I'm more familiar with the area of substance abuse
treatment.)  No matter what, the worker has to have time and energy to
provide the services and that will happen with a caseload of 12!
Peggy 
Margaret  L. Polinsky, MSW, PhD
Director of Research, Parents Anonymous, Inc.
675 W. Foothill Bl., Claremont, CA 91711
TEL:909-621-6184, Ext213; FAX:909-625-6304
email:  ppolinsky@juno.com

On 2 Sep 1998 10:01:51 +1000 "Yve Repin" <Yve_Repin@uow.edu.au> writes:
>i'm seeking resources / references which address the question of size 
>of
>caseload for cps workers.  the union which represents cps workers in   
>the dept
>of community services in new south wales, australia, has deemed that 
>maximum
>caseload should be 12.  this seems simplistic, since the amount of 
>work for any
>case will vary depending on the degree and nature of the abuse, size 
>of family,
>age of children, social supports, etc etc.  any leads would be 
>appreciated.
>
>yve repin
>32 armagh parade
>thirroul  2515
>phone / fax:  61 02 4268 3128
>email:  yve_repin@uow.edu.au
>

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