# 7. Getting Organised: Roles and Hats
Every Equal Care team is different, but all teams share a need for some coordination to make sure things run smoothly. We use '[**hats**](https://play.equal.care/equal-cares-model/hats)' 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 *** ## 🧰 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.