Communication, collaboration and stakeholder management
Communication, collaboration and stakeholder management
This domain tests how you work across teams, families, and systems while keeping the client centered.
Core rules
- Share information on a need-to-know basis with valid consent; use warm handoffs, not dropped referrals.
- Engage family and community partners according to the client’s wishes and privacy rules.
- Use “I” statements and respectful inquiry in conflict; avoid triangulation.
- Apply cultural humility to colleagues: ask about pronouns, communication norms, and decision-making preferences.
- Document agreements and follow-up dates.
Worked example
A clinician tells a peer, “Just tell him he has to take the medication.” The peer responds: “I can support him in talking with you about his concerns. What side effects should I watch for?” Reasoning: the peer does not prescribe or pressure; they facilitate communication and protect the clinical boundary. The peer then documents the conversation and the client’s decision.
Traps that cost marks
Gossip or side conversations about clients. Promising to keep team information secret. Excluding the client from meetings about them. Using jargon with families. Assuming one family member speaks for everyone. Triangulating between team members instead of addressing the conflict directly.