TCI’s Core Competencies Release Party 🎉
Elevating Implementation Support Practitioners
June 4, 2024 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
At this event, we celebrated the release of our NEW core competencies for implementation support practitioners!
We’ve been referring to 2 sets of core competencies for implementation practice for several years: our Core Competencies for Implementation Practice, and the Implementation Support Practitioner Competencies developed by Allison Metz and colleagues.
As we’ve been working more and more with people who are occupying and emphasizing the implementation support practitioner role, we realized that developing a new set of core competencies (drawing primarily from those 2 key sources) would help to reflect the full scope of skills that implementation support practitioners need.
Shifting the role of the implementation support practitioner more into the spotlight has been a priority for us for us over the last several years: We launched our Implementation Support Specialist certificate program in 2022, held a joint event on Supporting the Implementation Support Practitioner with the Collaborative for Implementation Practice, and then released this exciting new set of core competencies specifically for this role.
What’s an implementation support practitioner?
If you’re hearing this term for the first time, you might be an implementation support practitioner and not even know it!
This role supports others in implementing change initiatives (for example, programs or policies). But because implementation support practitioners can be in any sector, industry, or level of the system, there are many different job titles that this role can fall under.
Their work often involves capacity building, coaching, helping with problem-solving, developing tools/resources, or engaging in quality assurance.
Often, these professionals have expertise in the topic area they’re working in (e.g., public health, education, social services, cancer), but are relatively new to implementation science.
Why are the core competencies important?
For individuals
Validate the great work you’re already doing
Identify your strengths and areas for improvement
Direct your career path and skill development
Inspire your organization to fund your professional development
Help you reflect on aspects of your work that involve supporting implementation
Support your personal growth objectives
For leaders and organizations
Develop new positions and role descriptions
Inform hiring processes by outlining the competencies professionals need to have
Build and leverage training programs
Help you find new ways to support your staff in furthering their careers
And, perhaps most importantly, these competencies acknowledge and recognize the skills that many implementation support practitioners have, which are often undervalued.
Our goal with these competencies is to elevate the aspects of the implementation support practitioner role to highlight what makes these professionals good at their jobs.
Who this event was for
Anyone who currently has an implementation support role (regardless of their job title)
Anyone who is looking for a career in supporting implementation
Leaders and managers who want to build or hire implementation support expertise on their teams
Researchers who have an implementation support role or want to partner with professionals who are supporting implementation
It doesn’t matter what field you’re in — we explored core competencies for implementation support in general, not core competencies within a particular field.
At this event, we covered:
How to better define the role of the implementation support practitioner
The underlying competencies and support functions that an implementation support practitioner should embody
The different uses for the core competencies to help build teams, set career trajectories, and adequately train people in the field
A simple way to self-assess your competencies and options for building capacity
New resources on core competencies
We shared 3 linked resources we’ve developed for different audiences.
White Paper
Core Competencies and Functions of Implementation Support Practitioners
Purpose: Describes how we developed the competencies and functions
Who’s it for? Researchers and others who want to understand the methods we used to develop the competencies, and are looking for a citation for implementation support practitioner competencies.
PDF Resource
TCI’s Implementation Support Core Competencies and Functions
Purpose: Describes each of the competencies and functions in a practical and accessible way
Who’s it for? Anyone interested in competencies, including those who are looking to advance their own knowledge and skills, as well as organizations and leaders.
Online Quiz
TCI’s Implementation Support Core Competencies and Functions: Self-Evaluation
Purpose: Provides a way to self-evaluate competencies and functions, plus set priorities for moving forward
Who’s it for? Anyone interested in reflecting on their unique relationship to each competency and function as well as learning about training options to strengthen those that could be improved
Coming September 2024
Hidden Curriculum: Igniting Change From the Middle
Our new online course peels back the curtain on implementation support practitioners, revealing the unwritten lessons on how to deliver high-quality implementation support.
Watch the recording
