Abstract Social support teams are intended to meet societal demands by acting innovatively in the social care sector. However, the introduction of social support teams has not led to expected...Show moreAbstract Social support teams are intended to meet societal demands by acting innovatively in the social care sector. However, the introduction of social support teams has not led to expected results. Drawing on perceptions of professionals and leaders, this study examines how psychological safety can moderate innovation outcomes of exploration and exploitation. Using multilevel data from 764 professionals and 60 leaders from 84 teams from five different municipalities, it shows that psychological safety positively and significantly moderates the relationship of innovative leadership behavior and exploration. The findings and discussion show how leaders can increase innovation outcomes in the organizational forms adopted in social support teams.Show less