Introduction: What are technical support visits?
Technical Support Visit =
Any visit working to strengthen the implementation or quality of a Care Group intervention
Care Group Technical Support Visit Activity Menu
Observations (Promoter training by supervisors, Care Group meetings, Neighbor Group meetings, Home visits, Supervision visits/checklist use)
Interviews & Focus Group discussions (Neighbors, Mother Leaders, Promoters, Project Staff, Other stakeholders)
Data Review (QIVC data, monitoring data, outcome data)
Feedback / Troubleshooting / Refresher Training (discuss strengths/weaknesses with team, identify barriers & make commitments, refresher training)
Planning wisely = better visit
Menu Item | Advantages | Drawbacks | Pro tips |
Observation | -Ground reality | - Scheduling - # of interactions | -Cover as many levels as possible -Observe supervision - Random sample or “problem areas” |
KII/FGD | - Time efficient & many voices | - Reports ≠ reality | - Use to triangulate observations - Probe, probe, probe - Open/informal dialogue - Great to hear from others too (men, non participants, etc) |
Planning wisely = better visit, part 2
Menu Item | Advantages | Drawbacks | Pro tips |
Data review | -Promotes use of information already available to managers | - Data system doesn’t track everything | -Include local team as you review - Triangulate with what you’re hearing |
Feedback, troubleshoot, refresher training | - Team ownership - The “commitment step” | - Not super useful as a standalone | - Add this to the end of all TA/TS visits - Incorporate as many staff as possible/appropriate - Model facilitation |
How do I choose?
It’s an art more than a science.