Identifying Core Teamwork Competencies for Community-Based Health and Social Care Professionals: An e-Delphi Study
The TEAMCARE project is pleased to announce the publication of the study “Identifying core teamwork competencies for community-based health and social care professionals: an e-Delphi study” in BMC Medical Education.
The study presents the Interprofessional Framework of Core (IFC) competencies, a validated and evidence-based set of key teamwork competencies for professionals working in community-based interprofessional teams (CBITs). Developed through a rigorous e-Delphi process, the framework refines and consolidates competencies across five thematic areas, ensuring strong alignment with ESCO skills and EQF descriptors, while supporting workforce mobility and continuous professional development across Europe.
By promoting interprofessional collaboration, digital health literacy, and person-centred care, the IFC framework has the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of community-based health and social care services. A key expected impact is the reduction of avoidable emergency department visits, achieved through improved early intervention, better chronic disease management, and more effective referral coordination—ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time.
Importantly, the framework also addresses several well-known barriers to effective interprofessional collaboration in primary and community care, including limited time and training opportunities, unclear professional roles, concerns related to professional identity, and ineffective communication. In addition, the IFC competencies support public health and prevention strategies, strengthening community responses through health education, risk identification, and inclusive, equity-oriented care approaches.
By equipping professionals with transversal, digital, and collaborative competencies, the IFC framework contributes to improved service integration and health equity, helping to reduce healthcare disparities and improve access to care. Its adoption in education, training, and policy development could play a key role in building more sustainable, resilient, and person-centred community healthcare systems across Europe.
Evidence from international experiences further supports this approach. For example, a pilot interprofessional care coordination model evaluated by Parsons et al. (2021) in the United States demonstrated a reduction in emergency department visits and hospital admissions, alongside significant improvements in students’ knowledge and perceptions of interprofessional practice, particularly in teamwork, collaboration, and patient-centredness.
In conclusion, while the TEAMCARE IFC competencies are well aligned with existing ESCO classifications, they also offer an expanded and refined understanding of transversal teamwork competencies. As such, they may inform future updates of the ESCO framework, ensuring its continued relevance to the evolving needs of community-based health and social care professionals.
Reference
Aleo G., Pagnucci N., Walsh N. et al. Identifying core teamwork competencies for community-based health and social care professionals: an e-Delphi study. BMC Medical Education (2026).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08478-9
