CRITICAL INCIDENT PLAN What is a Critical Incident? A critical incident is any situation faced by members of the School community causing them to experience unusually strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with their ability to function either at the time the situation arises or later. Some examples of such situations are: Serious injury or death (including suicide and murder) of a student, staff member or other member of the School community Destruction of part or whole of the School (eg, fire) Loss of a group of students on camp/excursion Students witnessing serious injury or death Unusual or unfavourable media attention Allegation (which has become public) of sexual assault involving a member of the School community Natural or other major disaster in the community Critical Incident Management In the event of a critical incident at Shore, any response by the School will be managed and coordinated by the Critical Incident Manager (CIM). This will usually be the Headmaster. When the Headmaster is unavailable or incapacitated as a result of the incident, the Deputy Headmaster (or in his absence the Director of Pastoral Care) will assume the role of Critical Incident Manager. The Critical Incident Manager will then manage the School response to the incident, with the assistance of a Critical Incident Team convened for the specific incident. The Critical Incident plan is designed to provide guidelines for the School community in the management of a critical incident. However, it does not replace the need for flexibility, initiative and individual response at the time of a crisis. (1) NSW Department of School Education (1992) Responding to Critical Incidents in Schools Immediate Action Ensure Immediate Safety In the event of an emergency or life threatening event, the staff members present should take whatever immediate action is required to ensure the immediate physical and emotional safety of boys and others involved or at risk (eg, administer first aid, call an ambulance, move boys to safety).
Fire/Emergency/Evacuation Procedures Evacuation procedures in the event of a fire or other emergency are outlined in the Emergency Procedures document in the Critical Policies section of the Staff Handbook on Lampada. Notify Critical Incident Manager The Critical Incident Manager (usually the Headmaster) should be notified immediately/as soon as possible, and should be given all available information about the nature of the event. Important information will include: The time and nature and location of the event, and its consequences The names of boys/staff/others directly involved What response has already taken place Urgent needs that have not been addressed Assemble Critical Incident Team The Critical Incident Manager will assemble a Critical Incident Team as relevant to the specific event. The Critical Incident Manager and the Critical Incident Team will then establish the ongoing management plan: What are the current needs? What must be done to address the needs? Which people will do what jobs? The Team make up is dependent upon the nature of the critical incident. It may involve senior administrative staff, those involved in pastoral care and specialist consultants. Inform Immediately Affected Others The Critical Incident Manager (or delegate) will inform the parents/families of those boys/staff directly affected by the incident, including their known status and action the School is taking. Other important people to contact quickly after the event include: Chairman of Council Bursar (insurers) Sergeants-Major Receptionist Preparatory School leadership if a Senior School incident and vice versa Immediate pastoral carers of any boys involved/affected This may involve the Housemaster, Tutor, Class Teachers and all Housemasters so that they are able to disseminate accurate information to parents and students. Boarding Community including Housemasters and potentially Boarders to prevent the spreading of incorrect or inaccurate information about an incident (for overseas students this may also include agents, appointed guardians, consular staff, embassies)
Action within the first 24 48 hours Inform Staff CIM (or team delegate) to call a meeting of all available/relevant staff. Inform staff of what has happened including Support Staff and Teaching Staff Inform staff of the management plan, with specific reference to role of teachers Inform staff of change in daily/weekly routine Inform staff of counselling/debriefing arrangements for staff through Employee Assistance Provider Prayer for those involved Deal with staff questions as appropriate Inform Boys Call assembly of whole School or relevant School group Inform boys of what has happened and what the School is doing Inform boys of counselling/debriefing arrangement Prayer for those involved Inform boys of changes in daily/weekly routine Inform Parents Ongoing telephone contact as required with parents of boys directly involved. There is 24 hr access to contact details for all students and their families (for situations involving overseas students there is 24 hour access to contact details of consular staff, embassies and interpreting services if necessary) Inform parents of any changes in routine such as a cancellation of an activity or sport Send letter to parents (for overseas parents interpreting services available if necessary) of all boys outlining what has happened; how the School is managing the event (eg, counselling available); who to call for additional information; and common reactions to trauma/grief Media Headmaster/Critical Incident Manager to issue media statement (if appropriate) Counselling/Time Out Head of Counselling Services or delegate to organise and coordinate additional counselling services from other AIS schools as required School Counsellors and other pastoral staff to identify main boys involved and affected by event for individual counselling and monitoring Time Out rooms to be organised and staffed by the Pastoral care team (Housemasters) and Counsellors. This may include the Chapel for the larger group and/or classrooms or a venue close to the Counselling offices for a more targeted group. A staffing roster (usually two staff are required to supervise each space) to be established by the Director of Pastoral Care, or delegate, on a daily basis following a critical incident. The pastoral care team determine the need for Time Out spaces and communicate venue and staffing arrangements accordingly.
Chapel Service Chaplain to organise special Chapel service/prayer support as appropriate/if required Regular Chapel services, if scheduled that week, to have messages and prayers adjusted appropriately Cover Arrangements Staff Services Coordinator to organise staff replacements and room changes as required Changes of Daily timetable Change of routine/timetable to be disseminated to Staff and boys (and parents as required) Consider the effect on examinations, assessments and other events Action within the first week Ongoing Direct Management Critical Incident Manager and Critical Incident Team to continue to direct management if the event is ongoing Return School to Normal Routine Critical Incident Team to provide structure to help boys and staff return to normal routine and functioning Ongoing Counselling for Boys School Counsellors to coordinate ongoing counselling for boys, including setting up a recovery room or rooms Individual counselling for those most affected Ongoing Monitoring of Boys Teachers/Tutors to monitor reactions of boys in their classes/groups and give concern of feedback to Housemaster, Tutor or School Counsellors. Ongoing Information Sharing Critical Incident Manager and Team to keep boys, staff and parents up to date about the event and the School s management Staff Counselling/Debriefing Ongoing staff debriefing and counselling made available as required Chapel Service Chaplain to organise memorial service/prayer support as appropriate EAP provider to be informed of the critical incident and asked to prioritise staff who make contact
Media Management Headmaster/CIM to manage any ongoing media needs Parent Information Provision of public parent meetings - coping with a crisis Action within the first month Memorial Chapel Service Chaplain to organise memorial chapel service (if appropriate and not already done) Ongoing Counselling for Boys School Counsellors to ensure that boys with ongoing counselling needs are referred to counsellors in the community Ongoing Monitoring of Boys Reactions Teachers/Tutors/Housemasters to continue to monitor reactions of boys in their classes/groups and give concern of feedback to Tutor, Housemaster or School Counsellor. Ongoing Monitoring of Staff Reactions Senior staff to monitor staff for reactions and take action as appropriate Parent Meeting On-going parent support meetings as required Action over the longer term Ongoing Monitoring of Boys Reactions All staff to continue to monitor student reactions of boys, and inform Tutor, House Master or School Counsellors if concerned All staff to be aware of likelihood of future events triggering further emotional reactions eg, anniversaries, inquest and legal proceedings, similar events elsewhere Ongoing Monitoring of Staff Reactions Senior staff to continue to monitor staff reactions, and intervene if concerns arise Review Critical Incident Response Critical Incident Manager and Team to review whole School response to the critical incident and review the Critical Incident Plan
HOME CONTACT NUMBERS FOR POTENTIAL CRITICAL INCIDENT Important: These are private numbers and must not be given out to parents, boys, media etc. Title Name After Hours Contact Home suburb Headmaster Dr Timothy Wright 9929 6762 North Sydney Deputy Headmaster Rod Morrison 0414361272 Northbridge Bursar Kathy Dickson 0413484303 North Sydney Director of Studies David Whitehouse 0420289597 Neutral Bay Director of Pastoral Care Stuart Ryan 0400140060 Normanhurst Sportsmaster Mark Ticehurst 0427990761 Northbridge Director of Activities Andrew Quinane 0408492921 North Sydney Director of Boarding Anthony Benn 0425219594 North Sydney Director of Inclusion Cate Fryda 0405754504 Wollstonecraft School Counsellor John Burns 0401456583 St. Ives School Counsellor Mary Woods 0418215645 Birchgrove School Counsellor Amy Hannelly 0414980310 Willoughby School Counsellor Joelle Kinsella 0404 485 995 Waverley Chaplain Paul Dudley 0437470571 North Sydney Community Chaplain Nick Foord 0418614522 Northbridge Head of Preparatory Nick Saunders 0407449439 Wahroonga Deputy of Preparatory Adam Larby 0403335885 Roseberry Deputy of Preparatory Natasha Mitchell 0409742765 Coogee Director ELC Kimberley Colthup 0400524248 St Leonards Staff Services Coordinator John Palmer 0438210920 Chatswood Housemaster, Robson Sam Walker 9956 1156 North Sydney Housemaster, Barry Brendan Morris 9956 1159 North Sydney Housemaster, Hodges Warren Dobes 9956 1162 North Sydney Housemaster, School Huw Blood 99561168 North Sydney School Nurse Liz & Raellen 0439971133 North Sydney Housemasters: Anderson House Tim Scouller 0403102794 Killarney Heights Burns House Andrew Lees 0468515020 Lane Cove Burrell House Jessica Wickenden 0412864375 Camperdown Colebrook House Richard Stobo 0438673669 Willoughby Dixon House Gareth Inches 0424602512 North Balgowlah Eldershaw House Nigel Sackar 0423821921 Rose Bay Emery House Kelly Papworth 0417494261 Epping Gillespie House Phil Cameron 0400556678 Riverview Gilmour House Rob Gulson 0423336707 Lane Cove West Mathers House Sharan King 0409243055 Mosman Pascoe House Chris Cook 0413183805 Gladesville Sawkins House Chris Tyson 0411054304 Beecroft Tiley House Anna Mellar 0414159102 Stanmore Whight House John McClelland 0414495828 Newport
Emergency Contact List Name Telephone Number Other Information North Sydney Police Station 9956 3199 273 Pacific Highway (or 000 in emergency) North Sydney State Emergency Services 9987 3000 Assistance with natural disaster, Sydney Northern Region (24 hour service) storm damage, building collapse etc. 24 hour Psychiatric Emergency 9926 7111 Call main reception at Royal North Royal North Shore Hospital Shore and ask for Psychiatry Emergency team Association of Independent Schools 9299 2845 In the absence/unavailability of the Counsellors Co-ordinator School Counsellor, the AIS Counsellor Co-ordinator can organise Counsellors to assist. MAINTENANCE EMERGENCIES after hours and at weekends Fire Ambulance Police If there is danger of injury to persons damage to property, ring : Facilities Manager For life-threatening incident Mr Tim Oyston Emergency number 0438 513 242 000 Capital Works Manager Mr Glen Johnson 0418 626 499 Operations Manager Mr Carson MacDougal 0429 777 215 If none of the above are available, the should be reported as an emergency to appropriate emergency service (below), Facilities Manager advised as soon as or at the latest when the office is next Electricity Energy Australia 13 13 88 Water & Drainage Sydney Water 13 20 90 Gas AGL 13 19 09 As a last resort contact the following : Lifts Benefactors Otis 1800 626 847 or 02 8338 2700 Travers Otis 1800 626 847 or 02 8338 2700 DHK Old Mate Elevators 0413 030 071 or 02 9576 5999 Centenary Electra Lift Co 02 9667 4826 Prep School Old Mate Elevators 0413 030 071 or 02 9576 5999 Hawker Stand Old Mate Elevators 0413 030 071 or 02 9576 5999 Security MGT Security on-site guard 0409 762 100