1.4 Explain the roles and responsibilities of team members

This guide will help you answer 1.4 Explain the roles and responsibilities of team members.

Effective teamwork supports positive outcomes for people in health and social care. Different team members bring specialist knowledge, skills and experience. Their roles and responsibilities interlock to provide safe and person-centred care. Understanding what each person does creates a smoother working environment. It reduces risks and enables clear communication. Every team member helps to shape the quality of support delivered.

This guide covers some of roles and responsibilities of team members in a healthcare setting. You will see how each role contributes to meeting individuals’ needs and supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.

The Registered Nurse

Registered nurses have wide-ranging duties. They are qualified, regulated professionals who deliver care across healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics and care homes. Their role centres on direct patient care and clinical tasks.

Core responsibilities include:

• Carrying out assessments of people’s health and care needs
• Planning, delivering and reviewing care plans
• Administering medications and treatments
• Keeping accurate records of care and handling confidential information
• Liaising with doctors, families, and other services
• Supervising junior staff and support workers
• Carrying out risk assessments and ensuring health and safety

Registered nurses use clinical judgement and follow codes of practice set by their professional regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Healthcare Assistant (HCA) or Support Worker

Support workers help with personal care and day-to-day support. They work under the guidance of registered nurses or other lead professionals. Support workers have close contact with individuals, often assisting with tasks that meet basic needs.

Key tasks include:

• Helping with washing, dressing and eating
• Supporting people to move safely
• Observing and reporting changes in people’s condition
• Taking observations, such as temperature and pulse
• Assisting with social activities
• Recording care in logs or charts
• Supporting people emotionally

Support workers must follow instructions carefully. They maintain dignity and respect at all times.

Doctor or General Practitioner (GP)

Doctors diagnose and treat illness. They make decisions about medical care and lead treatment for a wide range of conditions.

Common duties:

• Assessing symptoms and medical history
• Carrying out examinations and diagnostic tests
• Prescribing medication and treatments
• Referring to specialist services if needed
• Communicating findings and advice to nursing staff and families
• Leading medical emergencies
• Keeping up-to-date, accurate records

Doctors must follow standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)

This is a group of registered practitioners with specialist expertise. Some of the main AHPs in healthcare settings are:

Physiotherapists

They help people recover movement and function lost through injury, illness or disability.

Tasks include:

• Assessing movement
• Creating rehabilitation plans
• Delivering exercises and treatments
• Advising on lifestyle and mobility aids

Occupational Therapists

They enable people to manage daily living, work and hobbies. They focus on independence and adapting environments.

Core duties:

• Assessing what support an individual requires
• Advising on equipment and adaptations
• Teaching coping techniques
• Working with others to support discharge from hospital

Speech and Language Therapists

They support people with communication difficulties and swallowing disorders.

Tasks include:

• Assessing and treating communication issues
• Designing therapy programmes
• Training staff, families and other professionals

Dietitians

They advise on nutrition and special diets for those with specific health problems.

Their role involves:

• Creating eating plans for people with conditions like diabetes or eating disorders
• Educating staff and individuals about healthy eating
• Helping to address malnutrition

Every AHP works to standards set by their respective professional bodies. They often assess, plan and review care within an agreed scope. They share updates with the wider team.

Social Worker

Social workers support people with social, practical and emotional challenges. Their role connects health care, housing, benefits and family support.

Main responsibilities:

• Assessing social care needs
• Planning packages of support
• Safeguarding people who may be at risk of harm
• Coordinating with local authorities and community resources
• Supporting mental capacity assessments
• Advising and advocating for individuals’ rights

Social workers are registered and must follow codes of practice.

Senior Carer or Team Leader

This role supports the registered manager or nursing staff. Senior carers oversee other care workers and guide day-to-day operations.

Key tasks:

• Allocating duties to the care team
• Supervising staff and mentoring new recruits
• Checking standards of care and reporting any issues
• Managing medication administration
• Leading handover meetings
• Acting as a point of contact for relatives and professionals
• Escalating concerns to a manager or nurse

Senior carers need strong communication skills and attention to detail.

Registered Manager

Registered managers lead health or social care services. They are responsible for the safe delivery of care in line with regulations.

Example duties:

• Recruiting, training and supervising staff
• Overseeing care planning and documentation
• Managing budgets and resources
• Ensuring policies and procedures are up-to-date
• Handling complaints and safeguarding alerts
• Liaising with inspectors from the Care Quality Commission

Registered managers ensure the service stays compliant with the law.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists provide expert advice on medicines. They check prescriptions for safety, prepare medications and give information to staff and patients.

Responsibilities:

• Checking and dispensing medication accurately
• Advising on side effects, interactions and dosage
• Supporting staff with medication errors or queries
• Providing immunisation and health clinics
• Keeping medical records up-to-date

Pharmacists work to rules set by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Receptionist and Administration Staff

Administrative staff support the smooth running of services. Their work often involves dealing with confidential information.

Tasks:

• Booking appointments
• Answering queries and directing phone calls
• Managing files and records
• Updating computer systems
• Supporting finance, payroll and ordering supplies
• Meeting and greeting visitors

Confidentiality and accuracy are vital in this role.

The Housekeeping Team

Housekeeping includes cleaners, porters, and catering staff. They create a hygienic and comfortable environment.

Duties:

• Cleaning wards and other areas to infection control standards
• Transporting patients, samples or equipment
• Preparing food and drinks safely
• Reporting maintenance issues to the relevant department

Housekeeping roles support the health, safety and comfort of everyone in the setting.

Teamwork and Shared Responsibilities

In healthcare, care delivery is rarely the job of one person. Each role depends on communication and collaboration.

Shared duties of all team members include:

• Protecting privacy and dignity
• Promoting person-centred care
• Following health and safety rules
• Reporting concerns or incidents immediately
• Keeping accurate records
• Working within professional boundaries
• Respecting the values and wishes of each person
• Attending training and staying up to date with legislation

Everyone must know when to escalate an issue and who to go to if they feel unsafe or unsure.

Delegation and Accountability

Each team member has clear guidance on what they are trained and permitted to do. This is called their ‘scope of practice’. Workers must not undertake tasks they are not competent to perform.

Accountability means staff are answerable for their actions. If a mistake is made, the individual and the organisation can be held responsible. This highlights the importance of clear record keeping, following guidance, and asking for advice when needed.

When senior staff delegate tasks, they have a duty to check the person is trained and supported. Those taking on delegated tasks must refuse if they are not sure they can do the job safely.

Communication in the Team

Handovers are a daily or shift-based meeting. Here, the outgoing team updates the newcomers on a person’s condition, mood and any incidents. This ensures everyone has the latest information.

Regular team meetings allow staff to discuss improvements, raise concerns, and share learning from events.

Where teams work well together, care is safer and more joined up. People using services feel more secure, respected and valued.

Multi-disciplinary Teams (MDTs)

Many healthcare settings use a model called a multi-disciplinary team. MDTs bring together professionals from different backgrounds. They meet to plan, deliver and review care for each person.

People involved may include:

• Nurses
• Doctors
• Therapists
• Social workers
• Pharmacists
• Mental health practitioners
• Housing or benefits advisors

The MDT approach ensures that people receive holistic assessment and coordinated support. Each person brings their own perspective and expertise. MDT meetings are where plans are agreed and progress is monitored.

Volunteers

Volunteers give time to support people and the daily running of services. They might do activities, provide companionship, or help at mealtimes.

While unpaid, volunteers must still follow the rules and policies of the setting.

Responsibilities:

• Attending induction and training
• Respecting confidentiality
• Reporting issues or concerns
• Understanding the limits of their role
• Supporting—not replacing—paid staff

Volunteers can make a huge difference to people’s experience of care.

Working with Families, Next of Kin and Advocates

Family members or advocates may be involved in care planning. Their input gives important background and helps people to express their wishes.

Responsibilities of the team include:

• Communicating clearly—avoiding jargon
• Involving families in reviews or meetings (with consent)
• Respecting people’s legal rights and decisions
• Supporting with information and practical advice

When a person lacks capacity, families and advocates may help make decisions in the person’s best interests. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 sets out the rules on what should happen.

Legal and Regulatory Duties

All team members must work within the law and organisational policies. This protects both people using services and staff.

Key areas covered by law:

• Consent: No care or treatment should be given without informed consent, unless someone cannot decide for themselves, and a best-interest decision is needed
• Data protection: Personal information must be secured and used properly
• Safeguarding: Every worker must watch for abuse, neglect or unsafe practices, and report it quickly
• Health and safety: Staff must take reasonable steps to protect themselves and others from harm

Regulatory bodies inspect health and social care services on these duties. Staff are expected to know and follow guidance in their daily work.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

Healthcare is always changing. Staff at all levels need to update their knowledge. This might be through formal training, shadowing others or learning “on the job”.

Managers encourage ongoing learning by:

• Organising regular training sessions
• Supporting induction for new starters
• Reviewing incidents and making changes
• Encouraging feedback from team members
• Reflecting on what went well, and what could improve

Continuous improvement ensures the team delivers the best possible care.

Final Thoughts

A healthcare team brings a wide range of skills, each with specific roles and responsibilities. There is no role that is more important than another—all are needed to provide person-centred and safe care.

Clear communication, respecting boundaries and understanding each role creates an effective and supportive team. Everyone, from managers to cleaners and volunteers, makes a meaningful contribution to the quality of care. Remember to always work within your role, stay up to date with best practice, and seek support if you need it. This approach keeps people safe and helps you meet the high standards expected in UK health and social care.