About this resource
Many team problems are communication problems. This agreement template helps a team decide which channels to use for what, expected response times, how urgent issues are escalated, how handovers and documentation work and how disagreements are resolved.
Purpose
To reduce miscommunication and duplication by making the team's communication expectations explicit.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Allied health and multidisciplinary teams.
Client or participant group: Multidisciplinary teams in health, disability and community services.
Practice setting: Team establishment, team reviews and service changes.
Suggested uses
- Setting up a new team or service
- Reviewing team communication after problems
- Onboarding new team members
- Clarifying expectations across organisations
Instructions for practitioners
- Complete the agreement together as a team.
- Be specific about channels and response times.
- Agree escalation for urgent issues and clinical risk.
- Review the agreement after three months.
Accessibility considerations
Keep the agreement short and visible. Consider the needs of part-time, remote and casual staff.
Scope and limitations
A team agreement template. It does not replace organisational policies, clinical governance or privacy requirements.
Research basis
Interprofessional collaboration interventions may improve professional practice and outcomes, although the evidence is still limited.
- Reeves, S., Pelone, F., Harrison, R., Goldman, J., & Zwarenstein, M. (2017). Interprofessional collaboration to improve professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Article CD000072. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd000072.pub3
What is included
A 3-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
