TCI’s Implementation Support Core Competencies and Functions
Published in June 2024
Check out our 3 interconnected resources:
PDF resource (see below!) that describes each of the competencies and functions in a practical and accessible way
Our white paper where we describe how we developed the core competencies and functions
A free self-evaluation where you can reflect on your relationship to each competency and function, plus receive a report and next steps for strengthening those that could be improved
Core competencies are the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors needed to become adequately competent in performing certain actions or jobs.
In recent years, there’s been an emerging focus on the core competencies required for implementation practice and implementation support, which are extremely helpful to implementation practitioners and implementation support practitioners.
Implementation support practitioners have a special role. They support local implementation teams by building their capacity to implement, are a vital mechanism for spread and scale, and can enable sustainability through their support role.
In this resource, we describe 10 core competencies of the implementation support practitioner role. These emphasize the technical knowledge and skills required by implementation support practitioners to adequately support implementation. We also describe 5 core functions of an implementation support practitioner – these are the “essence” of the role.
How can these core competencies be used?
We know that implementation support practitioners are important to a well-functioning implementation system. Defining core competencies for this role can help set boundaries around the role and describe the knowledge, skills, and functions that define what implementation support practitioners do; develop and select the right training for implementation support practitioners that gets to the heart of their role; plan for career growth; and appropriately hire the right people for the right jobs.
These implementation support core competencies also help to distinguish between Level 1 Implementation Support Specialists who have foundational implementation support skills and Level 2 Implementation Support Specialists who have more advanced knowledge within our Certificate Program.
You can also download a printer-friendly version here.
Looking for our Core Competencies for Implementation Practice? This legacy document, published in 2018 and last updated in 2020, focuses more on the technical skills of implementation practitioners at large (for example, including those at the front line), rather than the specific role of the implementation support practitioner. | Download it here.