Psychological safety: Beyond the buzzwords

Psychological safety: Beyond the buzzwords

By The CIPD Branch in the North East of England

Psychological safety is one of the most talked-about ideas in leadership and culture – but what does it actually look like in practice?

Date and time

Location

Boldon Clarion Hotel

Boldon Business Park Witney W Jct. A19, A184 East Boldon NE35 9PE United Kingdom

Good to know

Highlights

  • 2 hours, 30 minutes
  • In person

About this event

Business • Other

Psychological safety has become one of the most talked-about ideas in leadership and culture – but what does it actually look like in practice?

Join us for 'Psychological safety: Beyond the buzzwords', a practical, discussion-led session exploring what psychological safety means for today’s teams — and why it might just be at the heart of performance, trust, and long-term success.


In this session, we’ll explore:

  • Can you really measure psychological safety?
  • Is it the key to high-performing, happy teams — or just another HR trend?


This won’t be a theory-heavy lecture. Expect real-world scenarios, open discussion, and practical tools you can take back to your own team or organisation.


Speakers:

Scott Smith, Managing Director – People Spark Solutions ltd

Scott is an experienced facilitator, coach, and change consultant with over 20 years of experience supporting leaders and teams across sectors. As the founder of People Spark Solutions, he’s worked with organisations navigating complex change, growth, and cultural transformation. Known for his honest, down-to-earth approach, Scott blends evidence-based practice with sharp insight to help leaders build trust, clarity, and connection in their teams.

Jen Southern, Head of People Science, Hive HR

Jen is a Business Psychologist, people geek, and Head of People Science at Hive HR. She leads a brilliant team helping organisations listen better, act smarter, and build workplaces where people (and performance) can actually thrive.

With a background in psychology and years of experience in engagement, culture, and leadership, Jen’s all about moving beyond surveys and scorecards to real conversations that spark change. Her approach is evidence-based, practical, and refreshingly honest (with just the right amount of humour thrown in).

Additional information:

There will be breakfast and networking from 08:30, the event will start promptly at 09:15.


Please note:

1. Reminder emails will be sent to you the day before, with a further reminder on the morning of the event.

2. Photography and video production may take place at the event, and these images may be used in the CIPD newsletters.

3. By attending the event, you are giving your consent for your image to be used on any CIPD promotional materials.

4. Please cancel your ticket so someone else can take your place if your plans change and you can no longer make it – there is usually a waitlist for our events.

5. This event may include an external speaker who has prepared their own presentation. Any views or opinions expressed by the speaker are their own and do not reflect those of the CIPD.

6. If you require any reasonable adjustments to enhance your experience, please get in contact with us by responding to this email and we will do our best to accommodate.

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