# 7. Getting Organised: Roles and Hats

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Every Equal Care team is different, but all teams share a need for some coordination to make sure things run smoothly. We use '[**hats**](/equal-cares-model/hats.md)' to represent these organising roles. A hat isn’t a job title or a fixed label - it’s simply a role that someone agrees to take on for a while, in service of the team.

***

## 🧢 What is a “hat”?

A hat is a clearly defined responsibility that supports the running of the team. Hats are:

* Visible on the Equal Care platform
* Time-limited (with regular check-ins)
* Held by consent: no one is pressured to wear a hat they haven’t agreed to
* Redistributed as needed, based on people’s capacity and strengths

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## 🧰 The essential hats at the beginning

Some hats are needed from the very start. These typically include:

| Hat                               | What it’s for                                                   |
| --------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Rota Holder**                   | Makes sure the rota is up to date and shifts are filled         |
| **Profile Holder**                | Keeps the Getting Support Profile current                       |
| **MAR Holder**                    | Oversees medication records and updates the MAR chart           |
| **Team Chat Admin**               | Manages the online space, pinning key info and inviting members |
| **Check-in Facilitator**          | Arranges regular team check-ins to reflect and share feedback   |
| **Safeguarding Lead** (if needed) | The go-to person for concerns or safeguarding queries           |

At first, many of these will be held by the Team Starter, especially in teams that are still forming. Their aim is always to help others step in, one hat at a time, as confidence and trust grow.

***

## 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The first team meeting and hat nominations

Once a few people are in place, the team will usually have a first meeting. This is a good moment to:

* Reflect on how things are going so far
* Name the hats currently being worn
* Talk about what hats are needed
* Invite nominations: people can put themselves forward or be invited by others
* Agree who will try which hat for now, and when to check in again

This doesn’t have to be formal - sometimes it happens organically via chat or small conversations. What matters is clarity and shared understanding.

***

## 🌱 How hats evolve over time

As the team develops:

* People may take on new hats or pass them on
* More hats may be created (e.g. “activities organiser” or “family liaison”)
* Teams can split complex hats into smaller ones, or combine lighter ones
* The team may start to rotate some hats to share learning and experience

It’s all about what works for the people involved. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, only the principle of working together with openness, clarity and care.


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