3.5.f CENTRE Tool

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When a new team forms, it is prudent to establish how the team will function. Another tool, CENTRE, is a team guideline that provides direction for clarifying expectations for communication and behaviours (3).

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The confidentiality guideline is meant to ensure confidentiality for all team members. Discussions that occur among team members at team meetings are confidential and the team should feel secure in their agreements about confidentiality.

Each member is expected to be able to contribute to team decisions and discussions. All contributions should be respected, valued, and deserve consideration. This is achieved through providing everyone with equal air time. You can support this by monitoring your own air time and using group facilitation to ask others for their input.

Non-judgmental listening is closely related to equal air time. When someone is contributing their thoughts, their should be an attempt to hear the person and understand their role on the team. You can achieve this by understanding the common ground upon which the team stands.

Timeliness is about behavior and expectations within the team. Arriving on time and ending on time are some examples of timeliness within a team. But so are following up on your contributions to the team. Teams function best when each person is accountable to the team and respectful of each other's time and timely contributions.

Right to pass refers to being able to pass on group decision making or giving your input. There may be times that you, or another team member, need to "pass." Teams should be open to members choosing to pass sometimes. There may be good reasons for the person choosing to pass on that decision, or taking on that task. When people use their right to pass it should be accepted by the team with no questions asked. Using the right to pass is a right but should not be overused since this will create challenges for teams and team functioning.

Being engaged means being an active participant. This can be subtle engagement like using active listening, open and responsive body language, and balancing your time between speaking and seeking input form other members. Disengagement from team members usually affect team efficiency since more time is spent reviewing or revisiting key discussions and decisions.

asset-v1_UBC+LWright_02+2016+type@asset+block@Knowledge_Check.png Knowledge Check

A care team has a discussion on whether to proceed with a particular intervention. As team members take turns to voice their opinion, one team member says, "Sure, I don't care." Which CENTRE tool is not being used correctly by this team member?

a. Confidentiality

b. Equal airtime

c. Non-judgmental listening

d. Timeliness

e. Right to pass

f. Engaged