Critical Incident Policy

 

St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark

RN: 19259W

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Policy ratified: 6th March 2020

Signed: Arthur Hutchinson

Arthur Hutchinson, Chairperson BOM

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At the time of drawing up this policy, all details and the enclosed information are correct. It is possible that between now and the review date, changes may have to be made to the provisions, policies and procedures of the school. This may be due to external changes required by the Department of Education and Skills, the school patron or other agencies. Mandatory policies will be available on the school website and up to date information will be posted regularly.

 

Introduction:

In St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark 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 and have established a Critical Incident Management Team to steer the development and implementation of the plan.

Depending on the nature of the Critical Incident, the Critical Incident Management Team will follow guidelines/directions from the appropriate Agencies; NEPS, HSE, DES etc.

 

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’ (NEPS/DES 2008).

Critical Incidents may involve one or more pupil, staff, the school or the local community.

Examples include:

• Death of a member of school community through sudden death, accident, terminal illness or suicide

• Major illness/outbreak of disease

• A physical attack on staff member(s) or pupil(s) or staff member(s)

• Disappearance of student from home or school

• Unauthorised removal of student from school or home

• An intrusion into the school

• Serious damage to the school through fire, natural or technological disasters

• Criminal incidents

• Major accidents, serious injury

National/global events may also affect the student and staff body.

 

Critical Incident Management Team:

St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark has established a Critical Incident Management Team and will maintain this team in future. The members of the team were selected on a voluntary basis and will retain their roles for at least one school year. The members of the team will meet once a year to review and update the plan. 

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Key roles have been identified and assigned as follows:

 

1. Leadership Role: Bernadette Gunning (Principal)

2. Communication Role: Bernadette Gunning/Arthur Hutchinson /Suzanne O’Toole (School Secretary)

3. Family Liaison Role: Michaela Marnell (Deputy Principal)

4. Student Liaison/ Counselling Role:

• Infants: Claire McGovern

• 1st/2nd: Ailbhe McNulty

• 3rd/4th: Pauline McCahill

• 5th/6th: Susie Shannon

1. Chaplaincy Role: School Chaplain: Fr Kieran Dunne

2. Parents Association Rep: Chairperson of PA

3. B.O.M. Rep: Siobhan de Fréin

4. NEPS Rep: Ms Agnes Behan, NEPS School Psychologist

 

The first-named person has the responsibility as defined. Any second-named person assists and only assumes responsibility on the absence of the first-named.

Note: The team will consult with relevant support agencies as necessary.

 

 

Roles and Responsibilities

 

Leadership Role: Bernadette Gunning

 

Intervention

• Confirm the event

• Activate the Critical Incident Management 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) as necessary.

 

Postvention

• Ensure provision of ongoing support to staff and students

• Facilitate any appropriate memorial events

• Evaluate and update plan

 

Communication Role: Bernadette Gunning & Arthur Hutchinson along with Suzanne O’Toole (School Secretary)

 

Intervention

• With team, prepare a public statement (if required) in consultation with support agencies including Communications Section in DES

• Prepare an FAQs document (if required)

• Agree how statement if prepared will be disseminated (e.g. press release issued to relevant media and/or on school website and/or via School social media channels) in consultation with  Communications Section in DES

• Organise a designated room, or a room at another location to address media promptly (if required)

• Ensure telephone lines are free for outgoing and important incoming calls

• Designate mobile numbers for contact

• Continue to liaise with relevant outside support agencies

 

Postvention

• Evaluate effectiveness of communication response and update plan

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Family Liaison Role: Michaela Marnell (Deputy Principal)

 

Intervention

• Co-ordinate contact with and families (following first contact by Principal)

• Consult with the 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

• Evaluate and Update the plan.  

 

Student Liaison/ Counselling Role: Claire McGovern, Ailbhe McNulty, Pauline McCahill, Susie Shannon

 

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)

• Provide information

• Provide counselling

 

Postvention

• Provide ongoing support to vulnerable students

• Monitor class most affected

• Refer as appropriate

• Evaluate and update plan

 

Chaplaincy Role: Fr Kieran Dunne

 

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

• Evaluate and update plan

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark is conscious of its responsibility to protect the privacy and good name of people involved in any incident and will be sensitive to the consequences of any public statements.

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APPENDIX A:

Action Plans

 

SHORT-TERM ACTIONS (Day 1)

• Immediate contact with staff/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

 

Contact appropriate agencies

1. Emergency services

2. Medical services

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

4. NEPS

5. BOM

6. DoES/Schools Inspector

 

• Convene a meeting with Key Staff/Critical Incident Management Team

• Organise 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

• Liaise with the family regarding funeral arrangements/memorial service

• 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

 

Prepare a Media Briefing (if appropriate)

 

• Designate a spokesperson (Principal/ Chairperson)

• Gather accurate information

• Prepare a brief statement (team) and disseminate as appropriate

• Consult with Communications Section DoES and other support agencies as necessary

• Protect privacy

 

It is important to obtain accurate information about the incident

1. What happened, where and when?

2. What is 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?

 

• Indicate if and when another statement will be issued and how/where it will be disseminated/made available

• Provide contact details of designated spokesperson

 

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

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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)

• 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

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APPENDIX B:

Useful Contact Numbers

 

Dun Laoghaire Garda Station

(01) 6665000

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Cabinteely Garda station

(01) 6665400

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Community Garda – Garda Gavin Fleet

01 6665500

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Barnardos

01 450355

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The Samaritans

1850 609090

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Childline

1800 666666

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AWARE

01 6766166

1890 303302

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National Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service

www.nsbsn.org

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APPENDIX C:

SUPPORT/ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

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Reference Section

• Responding to Critical Incidents – Guidelines for Schools and Resource Materials for Schools, NEPS, 2007

• Responding to Critical Incidents – Resource Materials for Schools, NEPS, 2007

• When Tragedy strikes - Guidelines for Effective Critical Incident Management in Schools, INTO

• CPSMA Management Board Members’ Handbook, 2019-2023

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Websites

• DoES – NEPS

• www.education.ie

• Health and Safety Authority

• www.hsa.ie/osh

• INTO

• www.into.ie

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APPENDIX D:

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SAMPLE LETTER TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS

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Dear Parents/Guardians

 

The school has experienced (the sudden death/injury) to one of our students/staff. We are deeply saddened by this death/injury (Brief details of the incident, and in the case of death, perhaps some positive remembrances of persons lost)

 

We have support structures in place to help your child cope with this tragedy. (Elaborate)

 

It is possible that your daughter may have some feelings that s/he may like to discuss with you. You can help your daughter by taking time to listen to her and encouraging her to express her feelings. It is important to give truthful information that is appropriate to her age.

 

If you would like any advice or support you may contact the following people at

school (Details)

 

Principal.

 

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Sample letter requesting Consent for Involvement of Outside Professionals.

 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Following the recent (tragedy/ death of x) we have arranged specialist support for students in the school who need particular help. (X) is available to help us with this work. The support will usually consist of talking to girls either in small groups or on a one to one basis, and offering reassurance and advice as appropriate

 

Your daughter has been identified as one of the students who would benefit from meeting with (X). If you would like your daughter to receive this support, please sign the attached permission slip and return it to the school by …..

 

If you would like further information on the above or if you would like to talk to the psychologist, please indicate this on the slip, or contact the school.

 

Principal.

 

I/We consent to having our daughter meet with …………..

 

I understand that my daughter may meet  x  in an individual or group session, depending on the arrangements that are thought most appropriate.

 

Name of Student: ______________________.  Class: _______________

 

Date of Birth: ________________________.

 

Signed: ______________________              (Parents /Guardians)

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