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Collaboration and teamwork

 

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Definition of competency

To be able to work co-operatively with colleagues and other health professionals to develop a shared picture of the clinical situation and facilitate appropriate task delegation, to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and efficient surgical care through:

  • documenting and exchanging information
  • establishing a shared understanding
  • playing an active role in clinical teams.

Key clinical tasks and the workplace

The related key clinical tasks (KCT) have been designed to help you apply the Framework to your job. You can use these to obtain feedback on, and/or assessment of, your level of performance.

Select the PGY (1–3) tabs below to view the progression of the expected skills, knowledge and behaviours across the early postgraduate years.

  • PGY1
  • PGY 2
  • PGY 3
  • Establish respectful good working relationships with team members and other healthcare professionals.
  • Recognise the roles and responsibilities of other professionals within the healthcare team; respect and listen to their concerns about the patient.
  • Respond positively to requests for help from team, as needed.
  • Adopt flexible roles within different teams and accept assigned tasks.
  • Understand both personal and collective responsibility within the team to ensure the safety of patients.
  • Resolve simple conflict with another team member to the satisfaction of both.
  • Self-awareness of how one’s views may contribute to team tension.
  • Awareness and respect of differences, misunderstandings and limitations with other team members.
  • Well prepared for ward rounds and patient management.
  • Inform the presence or availability of team members to patients.
  • Perform effective handover in a structured format, e.g. team member to team member, or hospital to GP, to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.
  • Maintain accurate records and follow-up on investigation results.
  • Accept responsibility for own roles and tasks.
  • Anticipate patient care needs and communicate these to other members of the team.
  • Recognise issues that impede teamwork and suggest/implement actions to improve it.
  • Work harmoniously within a team and resolve simple team conflicts.
  • Recognise expertise and roles of other health team members and staff.
  • Support new unit (team) members.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to plan and implement work rosters.
  • Participate in shared decision-making activity involving patients, families and relevant health professionals, such as development of a care plan noting reference to open. disclosure in ‘Communication’ section.
  • Maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records of assessment, clinical issues and planned management.
  • Identify issues that impede teamwork and suggest actions; after discussion with Unit Head, assist with implementation.
  • Identify and manage fatigue with the team.
  • Work within the team to identify and remedy errors, particularly using a systems approach.
  • Predict and manage conflict between members of the healthcare team.
  • Collaborate effectively with other specialist teams involved in the patient’s care.
  • Effectively prioritise patients with multiple medical conditions of varying disease severity.
  • Able to coach or supervise juniors, as required by the clinical task.
  • Encourage participation of all team members and allocate appropriate tasks to junior members.
  • Engage junior doctors, nursing and ancillary staff in ward rounds.