Whether you work with children, underserved populations, healthcare patients, or others in need, case management is a highly rewarding job. Case managers often get to know their clients personally as they work to connect them with the support and resources they need to achieve their goals, inspiring feelings of gratitude and empowerment.
However, the process can also be taxing and stressful, especially as the demand for case managers’ services increases. This can lead to burnout, high turnover rates, and even health issues for those under intense stress.
To avoid burnout as a case worker or manager, it’s important to first get familiar with the risks and potential effects of burnout. In this article, we’ll explore the latest statistics along with steps you can take to reduce your risk of burnout.
1. Women and young adults are 32% and 29% more likely to report burnout, respectively.
Burnout isn’t unique to the public sector. In fact, a 2022 study found that burnout is on the rise globally for those in all types of career fields. But among those who report experiencing the hallmarks of burnout — exhaustion, reduced productivity, and cynicism due to long-term, work-related stress — some groups have higher rates than others.
In particular, this study found that burnout disproportionately affects two groups:
- Women are 32% more likely to report burnout than men.
- Young adults aged 18-29 are 29% more likely to burn out than those over 30.
Since the vast majority of case managers (76%) are women, much of the case management workforce is susceptible to a higher risk of burnout than average. This makes it especially important for female case managers to take steps to deal with their stress effectively and adopt a healthy work-life balance.
2. Burnout can affect how case managers confront ethical dilemmas.
The core principles of case management include building trusting and empowering client relationships, using evidence-based strategies, and leveraging data collection tools. To successfully follow any of these principles, case managers need to approach clients with empathy no matter what challenges they’re facing.
When faced with burnout, however, the distress that case managers experience can affect how they confront ethical dilemmas. This means affected case managers may struggle to empathize with and empower their clients, leading to less person-centered care and fewer positive outcomes overall.
To solve this problem and reduce your own risk of burnout, ensure that you tap into both your professional and personal support networks when you need them. Get adequate rest, and adhere to clear work-life boundaries.
3. Case worker burnout is the primary cause of high turnover rates.
Many nonprofits and human services agencies have a high demand for services and a limited number of case workers who can deliver those services. In part, this is due to high employee turnover rates caused primarily by burnout, as well as a lack of funding.
One study found that 25% of Texas social service workers leave their jobs within a single year, while one-third of Kentucky’s social service workforce was lost to turnover in less than a year.
When case managers resign, their caseloads fall to the employees who stay. High caseloads can then lead to more burnout and even more turnover, leaving case workers stuck in a cycle. And as we discussed earlier, burnout not only impacts employee engagement and retention but also case managers’ ability to deliver the best care to their clients.
4. In one survey, 80% of social workers said administrative work contributed to burnout.
Many factors can contribute to case manager burnout, like large caseloads, complex client needs, and secondary trauma. While the emotional toll of serving clients with complex needs and traumatic life experiences is often unavoidable, the impact of other contributing factors can be easily lessened to reduce burnout.
For instance, 80% of social workers cite administrative work as one of the top contributors to burnout. Mountains of paperwork and manual data entry cause many case managers stress, especially those using outdated systems.
Fortunately, robust impact management software can help case managers cut down on draining administrative tasks and paperwork by:
- Automating routine tasks like sending emails or assigning tasks to team members.
- Simplifying data collection and management in one central, intuitive system so you can reduce time spent on caseload monitoring.
- Streamlining intake, scheduling, and forms so it’s easier to manage clients and collect their feedback.
- Making your organization or agency more data-mature, which saves your team time and energy while helping you achieve more positive outcomes.
- Improving your reporting capabilities, which allows you to determine and demonstrate case management outcomes more quickly.
The right case management software will help you save time, reduce your risk of burnout, and improve the quality of your service delivery long term.
Tips for avoiding burnout as a case manager
The risks and likelihood of case manager burnout can feel overwhelming, but there’s plenty you can do to avoid it and continue providing the best care possible. Start by using the following tips to reduce your own risk of burnout:
- Limit your caseload. While this isn’t always possible due to staff shortages, try to set a reasonable caseload limit for yourself and stick to it. Speak to your supervisors when you feel overwhelmed, and explain to them that limiting your caseload will improve your service delivery and keep you in the best shape for helping others.
- Use case management software to lessen administrative burdens. Quality software not only helps you save valuable time and energy, but it can also holistically improve your organization. The right software can improve your data privacy, ability to demonstrate impact, and overall service quality.
- Achieve a healthier work-life balance by setting boundaries. If you allow your job to seep into your personal time or you frequently take on extra work, you can easily start to feel burnt out. Avoid this by setting boundaries relating to your work hours, client availability, and caseload. You may also consider remote work if it makes sense for you.
As you try out these strategies, don’t forget to make time for self-care as well. Outside of work, do what restores your energy, whether that’s spending time with family, journaling, or even seeking out massage therapy. The better you take care of yourself, the better you’ll be able to serve your clients.
Burnout is a prevalent issue in the world of case management, but it’s one that we can fight together. By staying aware, prioritizing stress management, and speaking about burnout with your supervisors and colleagues, you can normalize the issue and lessen your own chances of burning out.