Prepare case managers through strong leadership

The combination of a nursing shortage and an increased need for case managers and social workers has some calling for case management leaders to step up to ensure the next generation is well prepared for the role.

A recent article in CMSA Today highlighted how strong leadership, mentoring, onboarding, and retention can pave the way for case managers and social workers to be successful in the future.

To meet the demand for case management and social work professionals, case management leaders must be confident and able to communicate effectively with professionals throughout a healthcare facility. CMSA Today said leaders should focus on the following:

• A willingness to learn
• Being a visionary
• Coaching
• Motivating the workforce
• Taking risks
• Team building

Since the new generation of case management professionals will be largely millennials, it is recommended that seasoned case management leaders look to younger staff members for assistance in developing an onboarding process for new hires. The onboarding process should go beyond organizational procedures and focus on retention and skills development. A strong leader should be able to recognize the talents unique to each group that is part of a multigenerational workforce as well as the ways needs may differ between groups, according to CMSA Today.

Leaders should look for opportunities to mentor the younger generation to aid them in their skill development. This generally occurs outside the workplace, but with a focus on teaching the mentee how to approach professional issues and solve problems in the workplace, according to CMSA Today.