6a. Finding and welcoming new members

Bringing a new person into a team is about more than filling a gap - it’s about strengthening the relationships, skills and care the team offers. This section covers how teams at Equal Care go about identifying, selecting and welcoming new members in a way that supports continuity, trust and choice.

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How new team members are found

There are two main routes:

• Via the Equal Care platform The platform includes searchable Giving Support Profiles so that teams can explore potential matches based on skills, location, availability, rate, personality and more. Team Owners and other team members can browse profiles and suggest potential introductions.

• Via the team’s own networks Sometimes, people already known to the team - friends, neighbours, volunteers - may be a good fit. As long as everyone involved consents and the necessary checks and training are in place, teams are free to bring these people into the process.

In either case, any prospective new member must have a Giving Support Profile and agree to the terms of support through Equal Care, including the expectations set out in our onboarding process.

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Who decides?

The team always decides together. That means:

• The Team Owner has the final say, but other team members may be involved in making suggestions, introductions or holding the 'Hat Holder' role for team membership.

• The Team Starter may facilitate the early introductions and help coordinate the steps - especially for new teams or in regulated support.

• Consent is required on both sides: the prospective member must also feel comfortable and want to join.

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The welcoming process

Once a match looks likely, the team makes space for introductions. This can include:

• Chat and messages - Starting a conversation through Rocketchat or another platform

• Phone or video call - A chance to say hello, ask questions and build rapport

• Shadowing or trial visit - Observing a session or joining a walk/talk-through (more in the next section)

Some teams find it useful to have a simple checklist for new introductions - for example, key routines to explain, who’s who in the team, any accessibility needs or house rules. Others may take a more informal route.

What matters is that people feel welcomed, informed and that expectations are clear from the start.

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Sharing responsibility

Welcoming new members isn’t just the job of the Team Owner or the Team Starter. Often the best welcomes come from those already giving support. People might:

• Show someone around the home

• Help explain team routines or access to Notes

• Be on hand to answer questions and give encouragement

• Offer feedback after the first few sessions

This is relationship-based support: how the team welcomes new members can set the tone for everything that follows.