Creating a Safe Space: Healthcare Worker Support Toolkit
Healthcare leaders and policy makers can use the Creating a Safe Space: Healthcare Worker Support Toolkit to develop, implement or improve healthcare worker support models (for example, a peer support program). In it you will find tools, resources and templates from organizations across the globe who have successfully implemented their own models.
We developed, and updated in 2020, this toolkit in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. It is a part of a comprehensive guide, Creating a Safe Space: Strategies to Address the Psychological Safety of Healthcare Workers.
Toolkit focus and categories
We built the Creating a Safe Space: Healthcare Worker Support Toolkit by selecting useful documents and examples from existing peer support programs for healthcare providers, with input from experts and contributing organizations. We sorted these practical resources into three tables – peer support, psychological self-care and moral distress – and listed the source organization, title and a short description for each.
The resource categories are:
- Background – background context on the importance of psychological health and safety in healthcare, and the value of peer support.
- Program description – overviews of existing peer support programs.
- Program development tool – useful when developing a peer support program; these tools include checklists and templates to help you get started.
- Policy document – examples from various peer support programs.
- Recruitment – role descriptions, documents and templates that can help you recruit peer supporters for a program.
- Training resources – documentation from training programs and links to established external training on mental health and peer support for healthcare providers.
- Documentation template – for documenting interactions between peer supporters and their peer.
- Promotional material – examples of brochures and flyers used to promote peer support programs.
- Evaluation tool – to evaluate satisfaction and impact of a peer support program.
- Testimonial – videos and podcasts from healthcare providers and patients about the importance of psychological health and safety and of peer support.
We have not made a complete inventory of every healthcare worker support model/resource available; we will update the toolkit regularly to ensure it remains relevant. Please use your discretion in selecting which tools are most appropriate for your context. We welcome feedback on what is helpful, what can be improved and content enhancements at info@hec-esc.ca
