Who's in?

Who can be part of a Team

Equal Care Teams are made up of the people the Team Owner (the person receiving support) chooses to have around them. We don’t limit membership based on professional status or organisational role. If someone is trusted, valued and has something to offer: they can be part of the Team.

That’s what makes this model powerful: it recognises that care doesn’t only come from paid professionals. It also comes from family members, friends, neighbours, and peers - and it all matters!

When a care and support professional is able to connect with other individuals involved in someone's support - be they a relative, a friend, a neighbour, another care professional or indeed the Team Owner themselves - they are able to build a better picture of the support needed, and pick up on developments and changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.

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Core principle: mutual consent

Being part of a Team isn’t automatic. Everyone is there by mutual agreement. The Team Owner invites someone in, and that person agrees. No one is assigned. No one is obligated.

This ensures that relationships are built on willingness and trust, not obligation or rota.

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Types of Team members

Here's who you might find in an Equal Care Team:

Role	What they do
Team Owner	The person receiving care and support. They lead the team and shape how things work to the extent that they want to.
Family and friends	Trusted people already involved in day-to-day life. They may offer support, coordination, advocacy, or simply presence and insight. Their contributions are recognised and visible.
Care and support workers	Paid professionals who provide personal care, companionship, or practical help. They are chosen based on shared values, skills, and personal fit.
Volunteers	Community members who offer time and energy to support someone, often through companionship or one-off tasks.
Peer supporters	People who have lived experience of care or specific conditions and offer emotional, social, or practical support based on shared understanding.
Team Starter (temporary role)	A facilitator who helps get the Team off the ground - supporting matching, coordination, and early relationship-building. The person in this role steps back once the Team is established.

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Everyone brings something different

Each Team reflects the uniqueness of the person at its centre. Some Teams may be mostly family-led. Others might have a mix of volunteers and paid workers. Some will include peer supporters with lived experience that deeply resonates.

What matters is that every Team is built on consent, shared values, and a commitment to supporting the Team Owner’s wellbeing and autonomy.

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Recognising contributions through Team Hats

On the Equal Care platform, roles and responsibilities are made visible using something called Team Hats. These help clarify who’s doing what, whether it’s rota coordination, note-taking, or helping to welcome new members. They also make it easy to share or hand over responsibilities if things change.

Everyone in the Team - including unpaid members - can wear a hat. This helps to recognise all the work involved in support, not just the paid hours.

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A few guiding principles

• No one is in the Team without consent from both sides

• Team members are treated as equals, not ‘professionals’ vs ‘relatives’

• Contributions are valued whether paid or unpaid

• Team Owners can be as hands-on or hands-off as they wish