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St. Molaga’s N.S.

Critical Incident Policy

Introduction:

In St. Molaga’s N.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 ethos statement.

The Board of Management 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 develop and implement 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 (Foot & Mouth)
	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

Critical Incidents Management Team:

Leadership Role: Ms Pauline Costello (Principal) /Mr Falvey

Communication Role: Mr Noel Falvey (Deputy Principal)/Ms Shaw

Student Liaison/ Counselling Role: Mrs Mary Hassett/Rainbows Team

Chaplaincy Role: Fr. Aloysius Zuribo/Ms Niamh Morris

Family Liaison Role: Mrs M. Cogan/Mr James O’ Mahony

Parents Association Rep: Ms Sharon Maher, Ms Maureen Keeling

B.O.M. Rep: Mr Willie Lawlor

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

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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)
	Provide information
	Provide counselling

Postvention

	Provide ongoing support to vulnerable students
	Monitor class most affected
	Refer as appropriate
	Review and evaluate Plan

4. 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 school team.
	Work in partnership with Critical Incident team
	Review and Evaluate Plan

4. 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

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

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?

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
	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
	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

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)

	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 Staff, Parents’ Association and Board of Management of St. Molaga’s N.S. on 8^th March 2010

Signed _Mrs Caitríona O’Reilly