CRITICAL INCIDENT RECOVERY POLICY AND PLAN. 1.1 Chatham Primary School may become directly or indirectly involved in a tragic or traumatic event.

Transcription

1 Chatham Primary Schl N PURPOSE: CRITICAL INCIDENT RECOVERY POLICY AND PLAN 1.1 Chatham Primary Schl may becme directly r indirectly invlved in a tragic r traumatic event. 1.2 The incident may invlve lss f life, serius injury r emtinal disturbance. The incident may ccur in the schl envirnment r utside. It may invlve staff, students r thse clse t them. The netwrk f thse invlved in a traumatic event can be wide, especially if it directly invlves the schl. Feelings f grief and lss can cntinue ver lng perids f time. 1.3 Cunselling shuld be prvided fr all thse wh need it. This may include many wh d nt seem t be clsely cnnected t the event r the individuals invlved. The schl may be in a psitin t help grieving families at difficult times, e.g. thrugh the schl s participatin in the funeral service. 1.4 While schl shuld perate as nrmally as pssible, sme degree f flexibility shuld exist. 1.5 It is essential that peple be given clear, accurate infrmatin at all times. It is essential that a Critical Incident Recvery Team be frmed t manage the shrt and lng term effects. 2.0 GUIDELINES FOR ACTION: 2.1 Incidents vary in cmplexity. These guidelines prvide a framewrk fr actin and wuld nt necessarily be fllwed in all cases. 2.2 Hwever, the fllwing 4 principles must be fllwed: prvide clear, accurate infrmatin describe the actins t be fllwed prvide help fr all affected maintain a nrmal schl prgram as clse as pssible 2.3 Obtain accurate infrmatin. Deal nly with substantiated facts. 2.4 As sn as pssible infrm staff, especially thse mst directly invlved. Infrm clse friends and family individually. Allw questins and discussin as they arise. Dispel rumurs. 2.5 Appint a skilled Critical Incident Recvery Team t assist in the management f the incident. The team may include staff members, psychlgists, cunsellrs, external DET persnnel, supprt agencies etc. The size and cmpsitin f the team will be related t the nature f the incident. Distribute names f the Critical Incident Recvery Team members t DET, and infrm thers f the rle f the team. 2.6 As sn as pssible prvide infrmatin t the cmmunity as t what has happened, and what is being dne. 2.7 Appint a skilled Critical Incident Recvery Team member t respnd t media enquires. A written press release may be useful. If necessary, prtect thers frm cntact with the media. Advice regarding this may be btained frm the DET Emergency Cmmunicatins Centre and the DET Media Unit. 2.8 Establish an pen line f cntact with the family r families directly invlved.

2 2.9 Prvide ut f schl hurs cntact if necessary. This culd be as simple as circulating the Principal s r Assistant Principal telephne number. In mre cmplex situatins it may mean maintaining telephne cntact at the schl Cntinue cntact with the family t identify their expectatins f the schl, e.g. student participatin in funeral r memrial service Try t identify thse mst likely t need help, e.g. classmates, teacher, special friends. Sme students nt directly affected may becme distressed Ensure that cunselling help is available. Cntact the Reginal Office and/r DET if necessary. All emergency r criminal activity, in which the safety r well-being f staff r students is at risk, r where there is a threat t prperty, must be reprted immediately t the Department s 24 hur Emergency and Security Management Branch n (03) Cntinue t keep staff, students and parents infrmed especially abut what has happened and what the schl is ding abut it As sn as pssible call students tgether and prvide infrmatin abut what has happened and what the schl is ding abut it. A fllw up letter hme may be imprtant Prvide cunselling services fr all. Ensure that there are suitable places in which this can take place. Be prepared t mdify the timetable and ther arrangements s that peple are free t make use f available help The class teacher may be the persn t whm students first turn t fr help s they need t be fully briefed and prvided with apprpriate strategies t deal with questins and upset students Student wishing t attend funerals shuld d s in the cmpany f their parents. Prvide meaningful participatin fr thse nt actually attending the service Cntinue nrmal rutines at schl but acknwledge the effect f tragedy n the schl cmmunity. Be flexible with thse in need f help. Be aware that many peple may be deeply affected, e.g. an event may cause a persn t recall sme traumatic event invlving them in the past. The anniversary may als be a difficult time Maintain links with the family. The schl and family may wish t develp a memrial garden, erect a memrial plaque, r display a pht in a prminent psitin in the schl Be sensitive t staff and student s needs ver a perid f time. 3.0 EVALUATION Evaluatin f the Plans will fllw any critical incident at the schl. LINKS AND APPENDICES (including prcesses related t this plicy) Links which are cnnected with this plicy are: DET Emergency Management Planning Emergency and Critical Incident Appendices which are cnnected with this plicy are: Appendix A: Critical Incident Recvery Plan (CIRP) Appendix B: Critical r Traumatic Incident Plan First 24 hur Shrt Term Tasks Appendix C: Emergency Message Recrd Frm Template

3 Appendix A Critical Incident Recvery Plan (CIRP) Respnsibilities and Prcedures 1. PLAN STATEMENT This Plan is an integral part f the Emergency Management prcesses f the schl. 2. IMPLEMENTATION 2.1 The Recvery Team will be respnsible fr crdinating and implementing the Plan (refer t 4.3 fr the cmpsitin f the team). It will need t cnsider: establishing the facts as sn as pssible develping an actin plan f shrt, medium and lng term tasks cntact with the Department f Educatin and Early Childhd Develpment (DET) liaising with external bdies including the media cmmunicating with the whle staff as sn as pssible meeting with staff bth as a whle and with individuals r grups fr debriefing cmmunicating with the student bdy meeting with students in grups r individually fr debriefing cntacting schl parents/guardians shrt term and lng term cunselling requirements fr grups r individuals The relevance f each f the abve will depend n factrs such as the nature and magnitude f the incident, the intensity f the impact n the Schl cmmunity and the number f peple affected. 3. DEBRIEFING Critical Incident Stress Debriefing has three cmpnents: 1. initial discussin abut feelings and an assessment f the intensity f the stress respnses 2. detailed discussin f signs and symptms f stress respnses 3. clsing stage - prvides verview and infrmatin with referral t an utside agency if required 3.1 The Recvery Team will assist the Principal r the Assistant Principal t facilitate the recvery f staff and students and thse f the Schl cmmunity affected by the critical incident The debriefing meeting f the Recvery Team shuld include a mental health prfessinal and ne peer wh were nt invlved in the incident The Recvery Team will decide the structure and cmpsitin f debriefing meetings; such meetings shuld be held within eight hurs f the critical incident. These meetings will review the impressins and reactins f the persns invlved during r fllwing the incident. 3.3 Cunselling supprt and referrals fr students and their families will be prvided initially by the Principal r their nminee and a Reginal Guidance Officer.

4 4. REVIEW 4.1 The Recvery Team will meet t review the implementatin f the Critical Incident Recvery Plan within seventy tw (72) hurs f the critical incident. 4.2 As part f the Critical Incident Recvery Plan, the Principal will set up a Recvery Team at the beginning f each year. 4.3 Fllwing a critical incident, the Principal will cnvene the Recvery Team as sn as pssible. The cmpsitin f the Recvery Team will be: the Principal the Assistant Principal a member f the teaching staff a member f the Educatinal Supprt staff (first aid trained) ther supprt staff as apprpriate as necessary, psychlgists, cunsellrs and DET persnnel. 4.4 The Principal will cnvene the Recvery Team nce each semester t review planning and strategies fr the Critical Incident Recvery Plan. 5. EVALUATION Evaluatin f the Plans will fllw any critical incident at the schl.

5 Appendix B Critical r Traumatic Incident Plan First 24 hur Shrt Term Tasks Respnsibilities and Prcedures 1. Emergency Recrd Recrd Infrmatin Verify all Details nature f the incident lcatin f the incident, number and names f persns invlved name f the persn reprting the incident time incident reprted cntact telephne number if away frm schl cnfirm that the infrmatin given abut the event is accurate Recrd the Incident ntify principal wrkplace crdinatr ensure emergency services have been called ntify the Department s 24 hur Emergency Cmmunicatins Centre n (03) Ensure students and staff are safe frm harm r injury Student managers and Level Learning Leaders crdn ff any crisis area and keep students away frm there manage the grunds while staff are briefed and ensure media d nt intrude check crridrs, tilets etc fr stray students - try t prevent students leaving n their wn particularly if distressed send all very stressed students t the nminated Recvery area such as the Library ensure that students d nt make hysterical calls ut f schl ensure the schl cntinues as nrmally as pssible 3. Establish Critical Incident Recvery Team The cmpsitin f the Recvery Team will be: the Principal the Assistant Principal a member f the teaching staff a member f the Educatinal Supprt staff (first aid trained) ther supprt staff as apprpriate as necessary, psychlgists, cunsellrs and DET persnnel 4. Allcate respnsibilities emergency message register emergency cntact list evacuatin and assembly f staff and students crdn ff area f crisis establish a Supprt Team and Cmmunicatins Centre t:

6 manage infrmatin and phne calls crdinate media requests fr infrmatin prvide infrmatin t parents arriving at schl crdinate rutine schl activities maintain where practical ntify students, staff and ancillary abut the emergency ntify parents first, and then siblings in the schl establish a recvery rm and supervisr fr affected students establish a waiting rm fr parents infrm students infrm Schl Cuncil infrm Schl Cmmunity via newsletter/ mnitr Schl Cmmunity s reactins liaise with utside agencies and emergency services brief key persnnel and review respnses 4.1 Recvery Rm(s) Set Up Recvery Rm set up Library, and if necessary the Staffrm empty adjining rms if pssible and relcate t ther rms screen windws have available pens, paper, envelpes, tissues Appint Recvery Rm Supervisrs First Aid staff Recvery Rm Supervisrs Respnsibilities keep calm mnitr students fr shck reactins, prvide first aid if necessary encurage students t gather in small friendship grups rather than bigger nes keep a list f students attending the recvery rm give the students a task t undertake such as making a card r writing a letter cntact parents f students wh remain in the recvery rm and alert them t pssible cncerns 5. Infrming Staff prvide teachers and ancillary staff with a brief utline f the incident restate the utline t ensure that staff understand utline recvery management arrangements discuss prcedures t be fllwed by staff during the day discuss the general prcedures that Critical Incident Team will be fllwing discuss guidelines fr infrming students and ways f answering questins frm them give staff time t discuss this amng themselves prvide a brief factual utline t thers in the cmmunity n a need t knw basis infrm staff as sn as pssible abut a serius emergency invlving death r injury which ccurs after hurs, n the weekend r during the schl hlidays infrm staff as sn as pssible abut arrangements fr hlding a brief meeting befre infrming students at the start f the next schl day review with staff afterwards any issues and needs prvide staff with cntact numbers fr cunselling r supprt services fr themselves 6. Infrming Students

7 Principal r senir staff Teachers cntact the bereaved family r plice t ascertain what infrmatin may be released within the schl prepare a written factual statement, withut graphic detail, fr use as a reference by teachers when discussing the incident with students determine whether t tell students abut the incident at a whle schl assembly, by year levels r individual classes, depending n the nature f the incident discuss with teachers wh feel uncmfrtable raising the event with students and arrange fr supprt frm anther teacher r a member f the recvery team identify staff wh may be t distraught t take classes and arrange replacements infrm students sn after briefing staff ask teachers t mark a rll t identify wh has been infrmed and wh has nt prvide a factual accunt f the incident at the beginning f the first pssibility after the incident in a way that ensures all students hear the same infrmatin limit speculatin and rumurs infrm students abut arrangements fr cunselling and recvery rms infrm students abut arrangements fr services, and apprpriate ways t express cndlences utline the arrangements fr the day f the incident Ntifying clse friends 7. Cmmunicatin Centre ntify clse friends prir t making an annuncement t ther students and cnsider cntacting their parents take these students aside when they arrive at schl and infrm them privately prir t the start f the day ensure individual attentin is given t intimate friends wh are likely t have special needs beynd thse f ther students Organise the fllwing t be n hand: telephne a call frwarding system in place in case f jamming by incming calls telephne message if necessary message recrds phne lists rlls excursin list timetable maps cmputer and printer phtcpier display instructins 8. Media Cverage nminate a media crdinatr, prepare the Schl Cuncil President and Principal (r Assistant Principal if the Principal is nt available) t prvide n camera interviews. cntact DET Media Unit n r prepare a three paragraph reprt: briefly utline the facts utline what the schl has dne t assist thse affected

8 utline supprt and recvery arrangements include a name and cntact number fr the schl media crdinatr liaise with the family abut any statements t be made t media exclude discussin f plicy matters, limit cmment t the emergency and the schl respnse set rules fr persistent media keep a recrd f media enquiries ffer scheduled interviews in return fr media cmmitment nt t seek uninvited access t staff, students, parents negtiate accepted areas fr filming e.g. schl bundary and nt within check that infrmatin prvided des nt cnflict with curt requirements r plice prceedings anticipate renewed interest arising frm anniversaries, curt prceedings 9. Lng Term Actins mnitr and supprt members f the schl cmmunity, particularly n significant dates such as anniversaries cnsider lnger term interventin activities such as cunselling r specialist supprt cnsider establishing an area within the schl as a place f remembrance recnvene key peple at regular intervals t review the schl respnse and effectiveness f planning arrangements review the schl emergency management plan in light f experience gained cnsider a ritual f marking significant dates prepare fr legal prceedings if necessary remve students name frm the rll if deceased cnsider article in schl newsletter 10. Reference DET s Managing Schl Emergencies - Minimising the impact f trauma n staff and students Managing Schl Emergencies Bklet.

9 Appendix C Emergency Recrd Frm Template Date: / / Time f ntificatin: : am/pm Name f persn taking the call Psitin: Name f persn reprting the incident Cntact telephne number Details Describe: Where everyne is nw What actin is being taken t help? Wh: When: Where: Hw: Nature and extent f injury:

10 Immediate Actins Required Principal ntified? Yes Time: : am/pm Date: / / Other schl staff? Yes Time: : am/pm Date: / / Emergency Services ntified? Yes Time: : am/pm Date: / / Emergency & Security Management ntified? Yes Time: : am/pm Date: / / (03) Emergency Cntact Telephne Numbers POLICE 000 AMBULANCE 000 FIRE BRIGADE 000 STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES (SES) LOCAL HOSPITAL PRIVATE: Epwrth -Richmnd (03) PUBLIC: Bx Hill Hspital (03) ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR (03) EMERGENCY SECURITY MANAGEMENT (03)

11 Emergency Message Recrd Frm Time: : am/pm Message frm Actin required? Yes N If YES, please detail: Cmpleted Message taken by Emergency Message Recrd Time: : am/pm Message frm Actin required? Yes N If YES, please detail: Cmpleted Message taken by