Teamwork and delegation
Work within competence, communicate clearly and check that delegated tasks fit each team member's scope and training.
Understand
Safe delegation requires a task within the colleague's scope, competence and circumstances, plus clear communication and support. The team should be able to challenge concerns.
Assess
Clarify the task, expected result, supervision and escalation route. Check what the receiving professional is authorised and trained to do.
Apply
Close the loop on the outcome and take responsibility for the decision to delegate. Avoid unclear handovers at shift changes or between services.
Key distinctions
Delegation should account for scope, competence, supervision and the clinical environment. A team member must know what result is expected and how to escalate an abnormal finding. Handover should name pending investigations and who will act on them. Speaking up about a safety concern is part of professionalism, not a failure of teamwork.
Think through a case
A dental nurse is asked to undertake a task outside their training because the clinic is busy. The delegating clinician must reconsider, not simply ask for agreement.
The distinction to remember
Do not use teamwork as a reason to blur scope, supervision or responsibility.
Test your recall
Who remains responsible for a decision to delegate?
Show answer
The clinician who delegates retains responsibility for that decision.