| Policy Title: | Critical Incident Policy |
| Written/Adopted Date: | Drawn up by the Board of Management of St. Patrick’s Girls National School on 7th November 2016 |
| Final Date of Review with Staff: | November 2016 |
| Date Ratified by BOM: | Ratified on 12th December 2016. |
| Review Date: | Reviewed by Board of Management on 15th October 2018.
Resultant from the COVID 19 school, this Policy was revised and updated and was reviewed by the Board of Management in ____ April 2020
|
| Policy Implementation Date: | With immediate effect. |
Introduction:
In St. Patrick’s Girls’ National School, we aim to protect the well being of our pupils and staff by providing a safe, tolerant and well catered for environment as outlined in our school philosophy statement.
The BoM through the Principal, the Staff and the Parents Association has drawn up a critical incident management plan. They have established a Critical Incidents Management Team to steer the development and implementation of the plan.
What is a Critical Incident?
‘A critical incident is any incident or sequence of events which overwhelms the normal coping mechanism of the school and disrupts the running of the school’.
Examples:
- Death, major illness/outbreak of disease (COVID 19)
- Criminal incidents
- Major accidents, serious injury
- Suicide
- Civil unrest, war (foreign nationals may be traumatised by events that happened in their country of origin)
- Fire, natural and technological disaster
- Disappearance of student from home or school
- Unauthorised removal of student from school or home.
- World events that may affect the student body and/or staff. May be a need for provision of discussion and involvement in ceremonies e.g. 9/11, tsunami
Aim
The aim of the CIMP is to help school management and staff to react quickly and effectively in the event of an incident, to enable us to maintain a sense of control and to ensure that appropriate support is offered to students and staff. Having a good plan should also help ensure that the impact on students and staff will be limited. It should enable us to effect a return to normality as soon as possible.
Creation of a coping supportive and caring ethos in the school
We have put systems in place to help to build resilience in both staff and students, thus preparing them to cope with a range of life events. These include measures to address both the physical and psychological safety of the school community.
Physical safety
Regular fire drills occur
Health and Safety is a responsibility of all staff as referred to in school safety statement.
Fire exits and extinguishers are regularly checked.
All visitors to the school must report to the office and sign in.
Daily procedures are revised and updated at the start of the school year and this includes Rules of the Playground.
Psychological safety
The management and staff of St. Patrick’s Girls’ National School aim to use available programmes and resources to address the personal and social development of students, to enhance a sense of safety and security in the school and to provide opportunities for reflection and discussion. Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is integrated into the work of the school. Issues such as grief and loss; communication skills; stress and anger management; resilience; conflict management; problem solving; help-seeking; bullying; decision making and prevention of alcohol and drug misuse are addressed in the SPHE curriculum. Promotion of mental health is an integral part of this provision. Staff have access to training for their role in SPHE. Staff are familiar with the Child Protection Procedures and the name of the Designated Liaison Person. Books and resources on difficulties affecting the primary school student are available in the staff room.
Inputs to students by external providers are carefully considered in the light of criteria about student safety, the appropriateness of the content, and the expertise of the providers. See DES Circulars 0022/2010 (Primary)
Staff are informed about how to access support for themselves and the Employee Assistance number is placed on display in the staffroom.
There is an anti-bullying policy in place and incidents of bullying are dealt with in accordance with this policy
There is a care system in place in the school using the “Continuum of Support” approach which is outlined in the NEPS documents published on 2007 for primary school.
Critical Incidents Management Team:
Leadership Role: Mrs Eileen Kelly (Principal)
Communication Role: Ms Yvonne Crosse (Deputy Principal)
Student Liaison/ Counselling Role: Mr Brendan O’ Connor NEPS
Chaplaincy Role: Fr. Myles McSweeney
Family Liaison Role: Ms Lizanne McCartain (Home School Liaison Teacher)
Parents Association Rep: Ms Audrey McSweeney Chairperson of the Parents’ Group (CHECK)
B.O.M. Rep: Mr Denis O’ Sullivan (CHECK)
The first-named person has the responsibility as defined.
The second-named person assists and only assumes responsibility on the absence of the first-named.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Leadership Role:
Intervention
- Confirm the event
- Activate the Critical Incident response team
- Liaise with the Gardaí/Emergency services
- Lead briefing meetings for staff on the facts as known, give staff members an opportunity to express their feelings and ask questions, outlines the routine for the day
- Express sympathy to family
- Clarify facts surrounding event
- Make contact with other relevant agencies
- Decide how news will be communicated to different groups (staff, pupils, outside school)
Postvention
- Ensure provision of ongoing support to staff and students
- Facilitate any appropriate memorial events
- Review Plan
- Communication Role:
Intervention
- With Team, prepare a public statement
- Organise a designated room to address media promptly
- Ensure telephone lines are free for outgoing and important incoming calls
- Designate mobile numbers for contact
- Liaise with relevant outside support agencies
Postvention
- Review and evaluate effectiveness of communication response
- Student Liaison/ Counselling Role:
Intervention
- Advise the staff on the procedures for identification of vulnerable pupils
- Alert staff to vulnerable pupils
- Outline specific services available in the school
- Put in place clear referral procedures
- Address immediate needs of staff
- Provide materials for staff (from critical incident folder and NEPS Book ‘Responding to Critical Incidents)
- Provide information
- Provide counselling
Postvention
- Provide ongoing support to vulnerable students
- Monitor class most affected
- Refer as appropriate
- Review and evaluate Plan
- Chaplaincy Role:
Intervention
- Visit home(s), if appropriate
- Assist with prayer services
- Make contact with other local clergy
- Be available as personal and spiritual support to staff
Postvention
- Provide follow-up support to families in conjunction with Home School Community Liaison
- Work in partnership with Critical Incident team
- Review and Evaluate Plan
- Family Liaison Role:
Intervention
- Co-ordinate contact with families (following first contact by Principal)
- Consult with family around involvement of school in e.g. funeral service
- Assist with all communication dealing with parents of any student affected by critical incident
Postvention
- Provide ongoing support to families affected by the incident
- Involve as appropriate the family in school liturgies/memorial services
- Offer to link family with community support groups
- Review and evaluate plan
- BOM
- DES/Schools Inspector
- Convene a meeting with Key Staff/Critical Management Team
- Organize a staff meeting, if appropriate
- Ensure any absent staff members are kept informed
- Organise timetable/routine for the day. (Adhering to the normal school routine is important, if this is possible)
- Class teachers to take note of any absentees who might need to be contacted, list of friends etc, or any other relevant information. This is to be given to the Student Liaison person
- Arrange supervision of students
- The Chaplain/Principal will liaise with the family, to extend sympathy and clarify the family’s wishes regarding the school’s involvement in funeral/memorial service
- Arrange a home visit by two staff representatives within 24 hours, if appropriate. (Student Liaison person + Class teacher)
- Have regard for different religious traditions and faiths
Action plan
SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (Day 1)
- Immediate contact with family/families
- Consult with the family regarding appropriate support from the school, e.g. funeral service
- Ensure that a quiet place can be made for students/staff
Media Briefing (if appropriate)
- Designate a spokesperson (Leader)
- Gather accurate information
- Prepare a brief statement (Team)
- Protect the family’s privacy
- It is important to obtain accurate information about the incident
- What happened, where and when?
- What is the extent of the injuries?
- How many are involved and what are their names?
- Is there a risk of further injury?
- What agencies have been contacted already?
- Contact appropriate agencies
- Emergency services
- Medical services
- S.E. Psychology Departments/Community Care Services
- NEPS
MEDIUM-TERM ACTIONS (24-72 HOURS)
- Preparation of students/staff attending funeral
- Involvement of students/staff in liturgy if agreed by bereaved family
- Facilitation of students/staffs responses, e.g. Sympathy cards, flowers, Book of Condolences, etc.
- Ritual within the school
- Review the events of the first 24 hours
- Reconvene Key Staff/Critical Incident Management Team
- Decide arrangements for support meetings for parents/students/staff
- Decide on mechanism for feedback from teachers on vulnerable students
- Have review of Critical Incident Management Team meeting
- Establish contact with absent staff and pupils
- Arrange support for individual students, groups of students, and parents, if necessary
- Hold support/information meeting for parents/students, if necessary, in order to clarify what has happened
- Give any teacher who feels uncomfortable with involvement in support meetings the choice of opting out
- Arrange, in consultation, with outside agencies, individual or group debriefings or support meetings with parental permission
- Plan for the re-integration of students and staff e.g. absentees, injured, siblings, close relative etc)
- Student Liaison person to liaise with above on their return to school.
- Plan visits to injured
- Family Liaison person + Class Teacher + Principal to visit home/hospital
- Attendance and participation at funeral/memorial service (To be decided)
- Decide this in accordance with parent’s wishes, school management decisions and in consultation with close school friends
- School closure (if appropriate)
- Request a decision on this from school management
LONGER TERM ACTIONS
Monitor students for signs of continuing distress
If over a prolonged period of time, a student continues to display the following, he/she may need assistance from the Health Board. Constant communication with family is essential.
- Uncharacteristic behaviour
- Deterioration in academic performance
- Physical symptoms — e.g. weight loss/gain, lack of attention to appearance, tiredness, restlessness
- Inappropriate emotional reactions
- Increased absenteeism
Evaluate response to incident and amend Critical Incident Management Plan appropriately
- What went well?
- Where were the gaps?
- What was most/least helpful?
- Have all necessary onward referrals to support services been made?
- Is there any unfinished business?
Formalise the Critical Incident Plan for the future
- Consult with NEPS Psychologist
- Inform new staff/new school pupils affected by Critical Incidents where appropriate
- Ensure that new staffs are aware of the school policy and procedures in this area
- Ensure they are aware of which pupils were affected in any recent incident and in what way
- When individual pupils or a class of pupils affected by an incident are transferring to a new school, the Principal should brief the Principal of the new school
Decide on appropriate ways to deal with anniversaries (Be sensitive to special days and events)
- Class teachers will endeavour to pass information from year to year to each other.
- Anniversaries may trigger emotional responses in students/staff and they may need additional support at this time.
- Acknowledge the anniversary with the family
- Need to be sensitive to significant days like Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day
- Plan a school memorial service
- Care of deceased person’s possessions. What are the parent’s wishes?
- Update and amend school records
Drawn up by the Board of Management of St. Patrick’s Girls National School on 7th November 2016 and initially ratified on 12th December 2016. Reviewed by Board of Management on 15th October 2018. Resultant from the COVID 19 school, this Policy was revised and updated and was reviewed by the Board of Management in ____ April 2020
Signed : _________________________________
Chairperson of the Board of Management
Appendix A:
Critical Incident Management Team/Roles
| Role | Name | Telephone Number
(home and mobile) |
| Team Leader
|
Principal |
Eileen Kelly |
| Garda Liaison
|
Principal |
Eileen Kelly |
| Staff Liaison
|
Deputy Principal
ISM Team Members |
Yvonne Crosse
Geraldine Finn Margaret Browne
|
| Child Liaison
|
Principal
Deputy Principal Relevant Class Teacher |
|
| Parent Liaison
|
HSCL |
Lizanne McCartain |
| Community Liaison
|
Chairperson
|
Denis O’ Sullivan
|
| Agency Liaison
|
Resource Teacher | SEN TEAM |
| Media Liaison
|
Principal |
Eileen Kelly |
| Administrator
|
School Secretary |
Siobhán Nagle
|
Appendix B
Emergency Contact List
| Agency | Contact Numbers
|
| Garda
|
Angelsea Street (021) 452 2000 |
| Hospital-Cork University Hospital A & E
|
(021) 492 2000
|
| Fire Brigade | 999 |
| National Poisons Unit | 018092166 |
| Eircode | T23 VAD9 |
| HSE/Community Care Team/Child & Family Centre/CAMHS
|
CAMHS
DEPARTMENT OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY CAMHS Team A, City General Hospital, Infirmary Road, Cork T: 021 4927822 |
| The Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology Service in HSE, Blackpool | 0214927140 |
| School Inspector-Elaine Hyland
|
(01) 889 6553 |
| NEPS Psychologist | Brendan O’ Connor – 0761 108450
|
| Barnardos Regional Office | (021) 431 0591 |
| Pieta House | 1800247247 |
| Rainbows Ireland (Bereavement) | www.rainbowsireland.ie/where-is-rainbows/ |
| INTO | 1850 708 708 |
| The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network | 016793188 |
| Jigsaw Cork | 021 2452500 |
| Samaritans | 1850609090 |
| CPSMA | Diocese of Cork and Ross, Cork and Ross Offices, Redemption Road, Cork, Ireland
T: +353 (0)21 4301717 |
| Parish Priest/Clergy
|
Fr Myles McSweeney
Eddie O Mahony (Sacristan) 0879598505 |
| Chairperson
|
Denis O’Sullivan |
| Employee Assistance Service
|
1800 411 057 |
Appendix C
CIMT Action Plan
Short-term Actions – Day 1
| Task
|
Name |
| Gather accurate information
|
Principal, Relevant Class Teacher, HSCL (Home School Community Liaison Officer) |
| Who, what, when, where?
|
|
| Convene a CIMT meeting – specify time and place clearly
|
|
| Contact external agencies
|
|
| Arrange supervision for students
|
|
| Hold staff meeting | All staff
|
| Agree schedule for the day
|
|
| Inform students (close friends and students with learning difficulties may need to be told separately)
|
|
| Compile a list of vulnerable students
|
|
| Contact/visit the bereaved family
|
|
| Prepare and agree media statement and deal with media
|
|
| Inform parents
|
|
| Hold end of day staff briefing
|
Medium-term Actions- Day 2 and Subsequent Days
| Convene a CIMT meeting to review the events of day 1
|
Team leader |
| Meet external agencies
|
|
| Meet whole staff
|
|
| Arrange support for students, staff, parents
|
|
| Visit the injured
|
|
| Liaise with bereaved family regarding funeral arrangements
|
|
| Agree on attendance and participation at funeral service | |
| Make decisions about school closures | B.O.M. |
Follow-up-beyond 72 hours
| Monitor students for signs of continuing distress
|
Class teachers
|
| Liaise with agencies regarding referrals
|
|
| Plan for return of bereaved student(s)
|
|
| Plan for giving of ‘memory box’ to bereaved family
|
|
| Decide on memorials and anniversaries
|
BoM/staff, parents and students |
| Review response to incident and amend plan
|
Staff/BoM |