Caseworker

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A professional dedicated to aiding individuals by managing their social service needs
2. A person employed to help individuals navigate and access various social support programs
3. An individual responsible for supporting people in overcoming challenges by coordinating social assistance

Etymology: "Caseworker" is a plain compound of "case" and "worker," with no hidden history behind it. The "case" half comes from the older sense of a case as a particular instance or situation requiring attention, such as a patient or a client whose affairs need handling. A caseworker, then, is literally a worker assigned to particular cases, looking after the individuals in them rather than a general category of employment. The compound follows the common English pattern of pairing a noun with "worker" to name someone who does a particular kind of work, as in "factory worker" or "social worker." Its meaning has narrowed over time to the social service sense in the definition: a professional who coordinates help for a person, such as arranging housing, benefits, or support services. The word is a transparent formation, so its meaning follows directly from its two parts.

Synonyms: social worker, counselor, support worker