Summer brings vacations from caseloads

I take a break from my series of blogs, to celebrate summer or more precisely, the annual summer vacation.

Back in the old days when I had a caseload, I dreaded summer. It was the time of year when one's caseload always seemed to south, especially while on vacation and I was expected to handle other peoples cases while they exploded while they were gone on vacation.

My dread was two-fold, it stemmed from the uneasy feeling of leaving my caseload to my colleagues, as well as having them leave theirs to me. It was inevitable that problems would arise and then explode. On one side I was left trying to coping with a colleague's files and trying to figure out the best course of action to bring various situation to an end and not over step by bounds. On the other side I hated to be away from my caseload, because I knew what I was doing and why, but I wasn't always convinced my colleagues understood my methods or plans for may clients.

So what did I learn? First, spend time to document your decisions and your future plans for a file. This will help those who work your files to understand what has been done and why it was done (even though they may not agree with your plan, they will at least understand what you are up to).

Second, create a "potential problems list" (this is a stand alone document not appearing on any client's file). This is a list of potential problem files, the issues of concern, and what to do if the clients cause problems while you are gone.

Thirdly, try to ensure that no major decisions or events are scheduled to occur while you are away, and if this can't be avoided leave instruction on your "potential problems list" as to what should be done.

Forth, if you make a decision on a file you are covering document your actions, what happened, and what you did to resolve the situation. This will help your poor colleague when they get back and have to figure out has happened and why (I need not say anymore, we have all been there, it will pass).

So given what I have said, enjoy your vacations and know that there is nothing you can do to prevent issues from coming to a head when you are gone, so thrust in your fellow colleagues to handle your cases while your away and enjoy your time away from the caseload.