SAFETY TALK COVID-19 - PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY—SPEAK UP

Did you know? The COVID-19 Pandemic has heightened the need for patients, families, physicians and staff, to feel able to speak up about any concern they have or about a process they don’t feel is safe. Now more than ever it is important to speak up without fear of judgement, without fear of repercussions from other staff, management or physicians, and without fear of concerns being ignored.

You need to know:

PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY in the workplace has a positive effect on the mental health, participation and productivity of staff and physicians, as well as our patients/residents/clients, families and system partners. Living our SHA values in real and practical ways prevents psychological harm everyday, for everyone. Psychological safety is created through: our courage to speak up our willingness to respond in the right way when a concern is raised. SPEAK UP In that critical moment it is important to ask yourself “who do I need to be?” and then commit to the following: BE courageous—our goal is to create a culture of continuous

improvement and safety to deliver high quality people-centered care BE respectful—have positive regard for the best intentions of every

person BE clear in your message BE knowledgeable about how to escalate concerns if necessary

RESPECT THE MESSENGER When someone is speaking up to you, it is important to ask yourself “who do I need to be?” and then commit to the following: BE empathetic BE an active listener (no interrupting) BE open-minded and non-judgmental (listen to understand—not to answer) BE an active problem solver BE knowledgeable about how to escalate concerns if necessary

May 1, 2020

Question ?

How do your personal thoughts

and actions support a culture of psychological

safety?

It’s about an action you observe, not about the person performing the action!

May 1, 2020 Safety Talks can be found on the SHA Intranet

WEEKLY TOPIC: PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY—SPEAK UP

DATE:

FACILITY: DEPARTMENT:

SAFETY TALK CONDUCTED BY:

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM A CULTURE WHERE IT’S SAFE TO SPEAK UP?

WHAT HELPS IN ORDER FOR YOU TO SPEAK UP? WHAT’S HARD?

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT FOR OUR TEAM AROUND SPEAKING UP TO PROMOTE “WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER” ?

Example: WASHING OUR HANDS AND PPE—How can we use a Buddy system?

WHAT CAN WE MEASURE AROUND SPEAKING UP TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN OUR

AREA

Example: Safety Cross to track Good Catches every time we speak up and remind one another to “wash your hands”

or _______________________.

SAFETY TALK NOTES: WORKERS PRESENT: