Registrations are now open to staff for the Speaking Up for Safety (SUFS) program.

The SUFS program is a series of one-hour workshops designed to equip staff with the skills and confidence to escalate concerns around patient and/or staff safety with assertiveness and respect. The program aims to build and normalise a culture where we feel comfortable to check on each other, and to welcome being checked on, with the aim of preventing unintended harm.

Bianca Fazzari, People Experience Business Partner, People and Culture, said, “creating a culture of safety where staff feel empowered and comfortable to raise concerns is essential at Northern Health. The Safety CODE (Checks, Options, Demands, Elevates) is a proactive tool that enables staff to speak up before mistakes happen to prevent unintended harm to patients and/or staff.”

Working in partnership with the Cognitive Institute to deliver an evidence-based model that enables staff to raise safety concerns, Northern Health will roll out Speaking Up for Safety workshops. These workshops will enable staff to explore ethical considerations that may impact them as they consider the decision to speak up for safety, as well as improve confidence, skills and develop a common language, using the Safety CODE to speak up for safety with collegiate communication as a first approach.

The workshops will be delivered face-to-face across Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre and Craigieburn Centre over the next 12-18 months by 15 Northern Health employees who have been accredited to deliver the program.

“We strongly encourage all staff to attend the workshops so that we can build a culture where everybody feels comfortable to speak up for safety. Doing so is critical to the delivery of quality patient care and a positive employee experience,” Bianca said.

For registrations and further information on the program, please visit the Intranet.

Featured image: Some of the Northern Health SUFS trainers.