University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

SafeGuard: enhancing psychological safety for child protection supervisors and workers in New Jersey

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SafeGuard: enhancing psychological safety for child protection supervisors and workers in New Jersey

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Content 2
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Fostering Psychological Safety for Child
Protection Supervisors and Workers
SafeGuard NJ

Dashboard
Quick Links:
Measuring Psychological Safety
Team PerformanceWorkshop
Value and Behaviors
Resources
Support
Although we recommend you follow this toolkit in order
page-by-page, here are quick links to move on to sections
to utilize at will. Remember in order to be successful its
important to always complete Post-tests and Feedback
sections.
Table of Contents

Table of
Content
Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Using the SafeGuard Toolkit
Toolkit Components
Implementation Guidelines “Getting Started”
Support and Supplementals
Visual Framework

Introduction
Overview of SafeGuard toolkit
The SafeGuard toolkit is a comprehensive, online resource designed to enhance psychological
safety among child protection supervisors and workers in New Jersey. It offers practical tools,
workshops, exercises, and templates aimed at fostering a supportive and empowering work
environment. By addressing the unique challenges faced by child protection professionals,
SafeGuard aims to improve their well-being, job satisfaction, and overall effectiveness in
safeguarding children and families.
Psychological safety is crucial in child protection services as it enables open communication,
mutual trust, and collaborative problem-solving. In a psychologically safe environment,
supervisors and workers feel confident to express concerns, share ideas, and take risks
without fear of negative consequences. This not only reduces stress and burnout but also
leads to better decision-making and more effective intervention. Ultimately, enhancing
psychological safety contributes to a more stable and resilient workforce, which is essential for
delivering high-quality care and support to vulnerable children and families.
Importance of Psychological Safety in Child Protection Services

Conceptual
Definitions
Framework
Theories Underpinning SafeGuard
Psychological Safety: A shared belief that the team environment is safe for interpersonal risktaking. In such a setting, individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns
without fear of humiliation or retaliation.
1.Inclusion Safety: The stage where individuals feel accepted and included within the team.
Learner Safety: The stage where individuals feel safe to ask questions, seek, feedback, and
make mistakes without fear of negative consequences.
2.
Contributor Safety: The stage where individuals feel safe to contribute their ideas and skills
to the team’s work.
3.
Challenger Safety: The stage where individuals feel safe to challenge the status quo, offer
innovative ideas, and question decision.
4.
(Psychological Safety, Psychological Safe Teams)
Psychological Safe Teams: Teams (supervisors and workers) where members trust each other
enough to communicate openly, share ideas, and collaborate effectively, leading to enhance
performance and wellbeing.
Psychological Safe Theory: Developed by Amy Edmondson (1999), this theory emphasizes the
importance of creating an environment where individuals feel safe to speak up and take risks. It
is crucial for fostering learning, innovation, and growth within teams.
Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory: This theory, proposed by Steven Hobfoll (1989),
focuses on the idea that individuals strive to obtain, retain, and protect their resources. In the
context of psychological safety, ensuring that Supervisor/ workers feel supported and valued
helps preserve their emotional and psychological resources, reducing burnout and stress.
Stages of Psychological Safety:

Framework
SafeGuard Visual
Team
Retrospective
Psychological
Safety Survey
Values and
Behaviors
Workshop
Team
Performance
Workshop
Fear
Conversation
Exercise
Post-test
Psychologically Safe
The SafeGuard Visual Framework is a flowchart that illustrates the toolkit’s
components and their interactions. It begins with the Psychological Safety Survey to
assess team dynamics, followed by the Values and Behaviors Workshop to align team
values. Next is the Team Performance Workshop, aimed at enhancing collaborative
problem-solving. The Fear Conversation Exercise addresses team fears, and the Team
Retrospective Templates provide structured reflection on performance. These
components are connected by arrows indicating the sequence of use, forming a
continuous improvement loop. Post-Test will determine if Psychological safety is
achieved or more exercises and workshops are needed,

Using
SafeGuard Toolkit
How to Access the Toolkit
This SafeGuard Toolkit is available online and can also be
printed as a PDF. (See menu at to of screen)
Navigating the Platform
After the Conceptual Framework page, the Dashboard
page serves as your main navigation hub. Here’s how to
navigate.
Dashboard: The starting point with an overview of the
toolkit’s components and quick links to key sections.
1.
Survey: Access the Psychological Safety Survey.
Follow the instructions to administer the survey and
interpret the results.
2.
Workshop: Details guides for conducting the Values
and Behaviors Workshop and the Team Performance
Workshop, including step-by-step instruction and
facilitator notes.
3.
Exercise: Comprehensive instructions for the Fear
Conversation Exercise and Team Retrospective
Templates, designed to foster open communication
and continuous improvement.
4.
Resources: A collection of additional tools, best
practices, and readings to support the ongoing
development of psychological safety within your team.
5.
Support: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and
contact information for additional help and support.
6.

Toolkit
Components
Psychological Safety Survey
Values and Behaviors Workshop
Team Performance Workshop
Assesses the current level of psychological safety within your team. To use
it, distribute the survey to all team members and collect their responses.
Analyze the results to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
The Values and Behavior Workshop helps align team values and promote
behaviors that foster psychological safety. Follow the step-by-step guide to
plan and conduct the workshop, ensuring you create a safe and open
environment for discussion.
The Team Performance Workshop focuses on improving team performance
tthrough collaboration problem-solving and open dialogue. Use the stepby-step guide to facilitate the workshop, encouraging active participation
from all team members.
Fear Conversation Exercise
The Fear Conversation Excercise addresses team fears and inhibitions,
fostering a safe space for open communication. Follow the guide to conduct
the exercise, ensuring that all participants feel heard and respected.

1
Implementation
Getting Started
Best Practices for Faciliators
Intergrating SafeGuard into Daily Practices
Guidlines
Begin by familiarizing yourself
with the SafeGuard toolkit
components. Identify key areas
within your team that could
benefit from increased
psychological safety and prioritize
these for initial implementation.
Facilitators should create a safe and inclusive environment,
encourage open dialogue, and be responsive to team members’
needs. Regularly seek feedback to improve your facilitation
techniques.
Intergrate SafeGuard practices into daily team activities by scheduling regular check-ins,
workshops, and retrospective sessions. Encourage individuals and team members to use the 3 toolkit resources consistently.
2

Support &
Supplementals
FAQ
Contact Support
Additional Resources and
Readings
Refer to FAQ section for answers to common questions about using the SafeGuard
toolkit. If you need further assistance, contact our support team.
For technical assistance or user support, contact our support team
at SafeGuard@me.com/ 908-484-6344. We are her to help you
make the most of the SafeGuard toolkit
Explore additional resources and readings on psychological safety and child
protection services to deepen your understanding and enhance your
practice.

Resources/ References
Additional Guides for Supervisor/Worker
Links for different resources which includes best
practices, tools, and strategies for fostering
psychological safety within your team.

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the SafeGuard Toolkit?
• Answer: The SafeGuard Toolkit is an online resource designed to enhance
psychological safety among child protection supervisors and workers. It includes
surveys, workshops, exercises, and templates to foster a supportive work environment.
2. Who can use the SafeGuard Toolkit?
• Answer: The toolkit is intended for child protection supervisors and workers in New
Jersey, but it can be adapted for use in similar settings.
3. How do I access the SafeGuard Toolkit?
• Answer: The toolkit can be accessed online at SafeGuard Toolkit or printed as a PDF.
4. Do I need special software to use the toolkit?
• Answer: No special software is required. The toolkit is accessible via a web browser
and can be printed for offline use.
5. What are the main components of the toolkit?
• Answer: The main components include the Psychological Safety Survey, Values and
Behaviors Workshop, Team Performance Workshop, Fear Conversation Exercise, and
Team Retrospective Templates.
6. How do I start using the toolkit?
• Answer: Begin by reviewing the Conceptual Framework and Dashboard pages. Then,
proceed to the toolkit components, starting with the Psychological Safety Survey to
assess your team’s current state.
7. Can the toolkit be customized for my team?
• Answer: Yes, the toolkit is designed to be flexible and can be tailored to meet the
specific needs of your team.
8. How often should I use the toolkit components?
• Answer: It is recommended to use the toolkit components regularly. For example,
conduct the Psychological Safety Survey quarterly, hold workshops and exercises as
needed, and schedule retrospectives at the end of each major project or period.
9. What if I encounter issues or need help?
• Answer: If you need assistance, refer to the Support section for contact information.
You can reach out via email or phone for technical support or guidance on using the
toolkit.
10. Are there any additional resources available?
• Answer: Yes, the Resources section includes best practices, supplementary tools, and
recommended readings to further support psychological safety in your team.

Thank You
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Abstract (if available)

Abstract According to Edmondson (1999), psychological safety is the belief that one can speak up, take risks, and express oneself without fear of punishment, crucial for fostering employee well-being and organizational efficiency (NPCS, n.d.). However, child protection supervisors and their workers, known as CPS teams, often experience high levels of stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion due to demanding work environments (Gazikova, 2023), impacting retention and job satisfaction and ultimately compromising service quality for children and families (Haight et al., 2017).
This project addressed psychological safety among CPS teams in New Jersey, aiming to foster a supportive and empowering environment within child protection agencies. Guided by the conservation of resources theory, the SafeGuard toolkit was chosen for its accessibility and efficient distribution of resources and support. CPS teams will benefit through enhanced well-being, reduced burnout, and improved job satisfaction, leading to better services for children and families.
The resources, support, and training in the toolkit were guided by feedback from CPS supervisors and workers during prototyping and testing phases. Support included access to mental health resources, peer support forums, and stress management strategies. To incentivize use, the toolkit offered recognition programs, certificates of completion, and professional growth opportunities. Its utility and effectiveness were evaluated through surveys, feedback sessions, and performance metrics. This project bridged resource gaps, promoting workforce development and enhancing outcomes for vulnerable children and families. It aligned with the Grand Challenge for Social Work’s goal to Build Healthy Relationships to End Violence by fostering supportive workplace relationships.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Moon, Tyson (author)

Core Title SafeGuard: enhancing psychological safety for child protection supervisors and workers in New Jersey

School Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Degree Doctor of Social Work

Degree Program Social Work

Degree Conferral Date 2024-08

Publication Date 08/31/2024

Defense Date 07/30/2024

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag burnout,child protection workers,New Jersey,organizational effectiveness,psychological safety,Social work,workforce development

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Smith-Maddox, Renee (committee chair), Little, Steven (committee member), Schwartz, Sara Laura (committee member)

Creator Email tysonmoo@usc.edu,tysontmoon@yahoo.com

Unique identifier UC11399A0AF

Identifier etd-MoonTyson-SafeGuard_NJ.pdf (filename)

Legacy Identifier etd-MoonTyson-SafeGuard_NJ

Document Type Capstone project

Format theses (aat)

Rights Moon, Tyson

Internet Media Type application/pdf

Type texts

Source 20240831-usctheses-batch-1205 (batch), University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

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Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA

Repository Email cisadmin@lib.usc.edu