When something goes wrong in a Human Services agency, the traditional response is to blame employees, make new policies, or give more training. But this approach doesn't make systems safer. In this session, we will explore a different approach that involves employees in safety efforts and looks at all the factors that contribute to problems.
Based on the research and practice of safety science, this approach has been successful in industries like aviation and healthcare. Human Services Agencies across the country have now adopted this approach and have seen positive results in areas like system improvement, worker satisfaction, and retention.
This session will cover the underlying science and key segments of this approach, including redesigning incident reviews to be less focused on worker failure and more focused on systemic issues that impact outcomes. We will also discuss strategies and supports for supervisors, upper management, and central leadership to promote improved performance and compliance with staff by having open conversations and
identifying needs and supports. Lastly, we will examine how central leadership can change how the organization responds publicly when high-profile events occur, shifting language of individual failure to highlighting the complexity of Human Services.
By attending this session, you will gain insights on how Human Services Agencies can create a culture of trust and transparency in their organization, where staff feel comfortable sharing their concerns and ideas for improvement. You will also learn how agencies can promote a systemic approach to safety that can lead to positive outcomes for their agencies and the individuals they serve.

Alyse Preston: Associate Vice President at 

Overture

and Alliance Board Member