Introduction: purpose and target audience

The Community-Based Interprofessional Teams (CBITs) course is designed for health and social care professionals. It aims to prepare individuals to work in CBITs or to enhance the skills of those already working in CBITs. In order to achieve the competencies and learning outcomes set out in the curriculum, it is recommended that ‘work-based learning’ (WBL) is implemented into educational strategies.

Work-based learning, which is understood as:

“acquisition of knowledge and skills through carrying out – and reflecting on – tasks in a vocational context, either at the workplace (such as alternance training) or in a vocational education and training institution”1

can be implemented in both private and public community health care providers. Training in such settings, in various forms such as internships, clinical placements and apprenticeships, aims to:

  • combine the theoretical knowledge acquired during basic education with practice;
  • understand the concept and value of working in CBIT;
  • understand the needs of the different groups involved in CBIT, such as patients, patients’ families, social workers, health professionals, management institutions;
  • become familiar with the use of new technologies, devices, equipment, medical instruments, etc;
  • develop key communication skills in the context of working in CBIT.

1 Terminology of European education and training policy (2014), European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-d/vocational-education-and-training