case load
Noun: - The number of cases or clients being handled by a person, court, or agency at one time or over a specific period. It refers to the total workload comprised of individual instances requiring attention, such as legal proceedings, social work clients, or medical patients.
The term "case load" is used to quantify and discuss the volume of work assigned to a professional or handled by an organization. It is often a measure of demand, capacity, and potential stress or efficiency. - It is typically used in professional contexts like law, social work, healthcare, counseling, and administration. - It is often modified by adjectives like heavy, light, manageable, or excessive to describe the workload's intensity.
- The public defender's case load has doubled this year, making it difficult to give each client sufficient time.
- A manageable case load is essential for maintaining the quality of care in nursing.
- The agency is hiring more staff to reduce the average case load per social worker.
- "to carry a case load": To be responsible for a set of cases.
- She carries a case load of over 50 active clients.
- "case load management": The strategies and processes for effectively handling a number of cases.
- Effective case load management is a critical skill for probation officers.
- Caseload (Noun): An alternative, often single-word, spelling of "case load." The meaning is identical.
- The therapist's caseload is full.
- Workload: The amount of work to be done. (More general; "case load" implies work divided into specific cases or clients.)
- Docket: A calendar or list of cases for trial or people having cases pending in court. (More specific to legal schedules.)
- Portfolio: The range of products, services, or clients handled by a person or company. (Broader, often used in business and finance.)
(Note: "Case load" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs. The following are common collocations.) - To assign a case load: To distribute cases to someone. - The new judge was assigned a heavy case load. - To be overwhelmed by one's case load: To have more cases than one can effectively manage. - Many caseworkers are overwhelmed by their case load.
(Note: There are no common idioms that use the exact term "case load." The concept is expressed directly.)
- the number of cases handled in a given period of time (as by a court or agency)