This book is about how front-line workers in the personal social services, such as social workers, probation officers, occupational therapists, health visitors etc can approach the task of managing the varied and competing demands on their time and energy in order to provide a professional service to those people who are in need. It is based on a balance between theory and practical application of workload management schemes, and therefore not only faces the reality of the task but also seeks to offer practical and workable suggestions. Trying to help people with their problems is stressful and, because of the frequent emergencies, chaotic. This book sets out to suggest ways of bringing order to the chaos whilst at the same time offering an efficient and humane way of providing services.