Dealing with conflict and change

Support teams in navigating challenges, disagreements and transitions with clarity, kindness and accountability.

Care relationships are human relationships. And like any human relationship, they change over time. Conflict may arise, people’s availability might shift, or it might simply become time for someone to step away. None of this is unusual - in fact, it’s expected. What matters is how it’s handled.

At Equal Care, we don’t avoid the messy parts of working together. We face them with honesty, courage and care. That means acknowledging when something isn’t working, and putting in place the support needed to talk it through, adjust the setup or bring things to a close well.

When things get tough

Disagreements, misunderstandings or tensions between team members can and do happen. These might involve communication difficulties, blurred boundaries, mismatched expectations, or changes in a person’s needs or availability.

If this happens, the first step is always to try and talk. The person best placed to support this conversation will vary — sometimes it’s the Coach, other times it might be a trusted team member or the person holding the team hat for support coordination. The aim is to clear the air, listen to each other, and work out what (if anything) needs to change.

Even if the outcome is someone leaving the team, these conversations can be hugely valuable in maintaining trust and learning for everyone involved.

When it’s time to leave

Sometimes, a team member will need to leave for reasons that have nothing to do with conflict — for example, a change in availability, a shift in circumstances, or because the support needs have changed. Whatever the reason, it’s important that people have the opportunity to leave well.

We encourage:

• Clear, timely communication about the decision to leave

• Trying to find cover for upcoming support, where possible

• A short goodbye message in the team chat (or another format)

• Appreciation and acknowledgement of contributions

The Coach or another trusted person is available to support this process, particularly where emotions are running high or relationships have been strained.

Support and accountability

If a conflict cannot be resolved through conversation, or if a serious concern arises (such as a breach of trust or policy), the issue may move into a more formal problem-solving or safeguarding route. We always aim to handle these processes with transparency, fairness and care for everyone involved.

Our values in action

We hold to the principles of:

• Bravery: naming what’s difficult and facing it together

• Honesty: saying what we need, clearly and respectfully

• Kindness: remembering the humanity in everyone involved

Goodbyes can be as meaningful as hellos. They are part of building strong, resilient teams where change is acknowledged, and relationships are treated with respect.