Critical Incident Policy

Introduction

In St. Damian's 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 staff representative, Louise Ryan, the staff and the Parent 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. This policy was guided by “When Tragedy Strikes” – guidelines for Critical Incident management in schools (INTO 2000).

 

What is a Critical Incident?

St Damian's NS recognises a critical incident to be an incident or sequence of events that overwhelms the normal coping mechanism of the school and disrupts the running of the school.  Critical Incidents may involve one or more pupils, staff, the school, or our local community. Types of incidents might include:

  • The death of a member of the school community through sudden death, accident, terminal illness or suicide.
  • An intrusion into the school which has an adverse impact on school community.
  • An accident/tragedy in the wider school community.
  • Serious damage to the school building through fire, flood, vandalism etc.
  • The disappearance of a member of the school community.
  • An accident involving members of the school community.
  • A physical attack on staff member(s) or student(s).
  • An accident or tragedy outside the school community which impacts on school community.

 


Critical Incidents Management Team (CIM):

Leadership Role: Mr.Aodh O'Connor (Principal)

Communication Role : Ms Fidelma Wise (Deputy Principal)

Student Liaison/ Counselling Role: Ms Eilís Feehan

Chaplaincy Role : Fr.John Deasy

Deputy Leadership/Family Liaison Role: Fidelma O'Reilly

Parents Association Rep : Dearbhla Walsh

B.O.M. Rep :Ms Fiona Gannon

Administrator: Ms Audrey Rogers

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 person.

Emergency Contact List

Role 

Name

Contact Number School Version Only

Emergency Services

Garda or Fire Service 

HSE Family Resource

See  TUSLA @HSE

St Andrews Family Resource Centre

Pearse St., Dublin 2.

Child & Family Agency

See TUSLA @ HSE

Block D Parkgate Business Centre, Parkgate St

Dublin 8.

Social Worker HSE

Duty Social Worker, Carnegie Centre 21-25 Lord Edward St; Dublin 2

Medical Services

Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, 

School Inspector

Barbara Collins

SENO / 

Ophelia Farrell

School Psychologist

Patricia McTague

Local G.P.

Dr Michael Rowan, St Agnes Road, Crumlin

School Community

Aladdin Digital Contact System

School Welfare Officer

Child Welfare, Lord Edward St, Dublin 2

School Electrician

Declan Higgins 

School Plumber

Barry Smith

School Chaplain

Fr John Deasy

Local Media

Tallaght/South Dublin ECHO

 

Roles and Responsibilities

Leadership Role: 

Intervention

  • Confirm the event 
  • Activate the Critical Incident response team 
  • Liaise with the Gardai
  • Leads briefing meetings for staff on the facts as known, gives 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 
  • Liaise with relevant outside support agencies  

Postvention

  • Review and evaluate effectiveness of communication response  

 

Student Liaison/ Counselling Role: 

Intervention

Advises the staff on the procedures for identification of vulnerable pupils

  • Outline specific services available in school 
  • Alerts staff to vulnerable pupils
  • Put in [place clear referral procedures 
  • Address immediate needs of staff 
  • Provide materials for staff(from critical incident folder)
  • Provide information 
  • Provide counseling 

 

Postvention

  • Provide ongoing support to vulnerable students 
  • Monitor class most affected 
  • Refer on, 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

  • Coordinate 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 family in-school liturgies/memorial services. 
  • Offer to link family with community support groups 
  • Review and evaluate plan.  

 

Action plan

SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (Day 1)

  • Maintain a calm atmosphere and clear leadership.
  • 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. 
  • Rooms made available as follows:
  • Staff Room:Teachers. Hall: Students. Principal's Office: Parents.

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. 

1. What happened, where and when?

2. What are the extent of the injuries?

3. How many are involved and what are their names?

4. Is there a risk of further injury?

5. What agencies have been contacted already?

  • Contact appropriate agencies 

1. Emergency services

2. Medical services

3. H.S.E. Psychology Departments/Community Care Services

4. NEPS

5. BOM

6. DES/Schools Inspector.

  • Convene a meeting with Key Staff/Critical Management Team 

1. Organize a staff meeting, if appropriate. 

2. Ensure any absent staff members are kept informed. 

3. Organize timetable/routine for the day. (Adhering to the normal school routine is important, if this is possible).

4. Class teachers to take note of any absentees who might need to be contacted, list of friends etc, or any other relevant information and give to the Student Liaison person.

5. Arrange supervision of students

  • Liaise with the family regarding funeral arrangements/memorial service. 

1. 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.

2. Arrange a home visit by two staff representatives within 24 hours, if appropriate. (Student Liaison person + Class teacher)

3. Have regard for different religious traditions and faiths.


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 

1. Reconvene Key Staff/Critical Incident Management Team. 

2. Decide arrangements for support meetings for parents/students/staff.

3. Decide on mechanism for feedback from teachers on vulnerable students.

4. Have review of Critical Incident Management Team meeting. 

5. Establish contact with absent staff and pupils.

· Arrange support for individual students, groups of students, and parents, if necessary.

1. Hold support/information meeting for parents/students, if necessary, in order to clarify what has happened.

2. Give any teacher who feels uncomfortable with involvement in support meetings the choice of opting out.

3. Arrange, in consultation, with outside agencies, individual or group debriefings or support meetings with parental permission. 

4. Plan for the re-integration of students and staff e.g. absentees, injured, siblings, close relative etc)

5. 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 parents' wishes and 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.

1. Uncharacteristic behaviour

2. Deterioration in academic performance

3. Physical symptoms — e.g. weight loss/gain, lack of attention to appearance, tiredness, restlessness

4. Inappropriate emotional reactions

5. Increased absenteeism.

· Evaluate response to incident and amend Critical Incident Management Plan appropriately.

1. What went well?

2. Where were the gaps?

3. What was most/least helpful?

4. Have all necessary onward referrals to support services been made?

5. Is there any unfinished business?

· Formalise the Critical Incident Plan for the future

1. Consult with NEPS Psychologist

· Inform new staff/new school pupils affected by Critical Incidents where appropriate

1. Ensure that new staff are aware of the school policy and procedures in this area.

2. Ensure they are aware of which pupils were affected in any recent incident and in what way.

3. 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)

1. Anniversaries may trigger emotional responses in students/staff and they may need additional support at this time.

2. Acknowledge the anniversary with the family

3. 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.