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Critical Incident Policy

INTRODUCTION
This policy has been formulated by the Senior Management team in conjunction with the teacher and parent representatives on the Board of Management of Hollypark Boys N. S. We have adopted the following Neps resource as a term of reference.

“Responding to Critical Incidents” Guidelines and Resource materials for schools. (2016)

– National Educational Psychological Service. Upon adoption, copies of this policy will be available for viewing in the school office, the Principal’s and Deputy Principal’s office and the school website.

DEFINITION:
In this policy the term “Critical Incident” denotes “any incident or sequence of events which overwhelms the normal coping mechanisms of the school and disrupts the running of the school and includes”:

  • Death, major illness/outbreak of disease (Foot & Mouth)
  • Criminal incidents (e.g. Dunblane shooting, Shooting at first communion in Ballymun.)
  • Major accidents, serious injury (e.g. ‘Navan bus crash’)
  • Suicide
  • Civil unrest, war (foreign nationals may be traumatised by events that happened in their country of origin)
  • Fire, natural and technological disaster (e.g. school ceiling collapsing in Cork)
  • Disappearance of student from home or school (e.g. Middleton incident in Cork)
  • 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 e.g. 9/11, tsunami

The term “Suicide” will not be used. The phrases “tragic death” or “sudden death” may be used instead.

KEY ROLES AND TASKS IN THE CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PROCESS

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

The Critical Incident Management Team consists of:

  • Principal and Deputy Principal
  • Chairperson of Board of Management
  • Assistant Principals
  • School Secretary
  • Caretaker

The roles of the Critical Incident Management Team members, the teaching staff and ancillary staff are detailed below. The Critical Incident Management Team will delegate the responsibilities of any member of the team who is unable to fulfil their responsibilities.

The Critical Incident Management Team will normally be responsible for:

  • The care of and communication with staff
  • Organising the supervision of students
  • Liaising with the administrative and ancillary staff
  • Liaising with Parents’ Association if need arises
  • Liaising with the external support agencies, the emergency services, the Board of Management, the Parents’ Association and the Department of Education and Science
  • Drawing up a letter informing all parents of the critical incident and the school’s response
  • Assessing the Health & Safety issues and reporting incidents to the Health and Safety Authority if necessary
  • Communicating with An Garda Síochána, if necessary
  • Communicating with the media

The Teaching Staff will normally be responsible for:

  • Supervising their own and colleagues’ classes
  • Assisting in identifying and supporting students at risk or in distress
  • Maintaining normal procedures

 

Other Non-Teaching Staff will normally be responsible for:

  • Maintaining normal procedures

The members of the Parents’ Association will normally contribute by:

  • Representing parents’ concerns and wishes re school’s response to critical incident

CRITICAL INCIDENT ROOMS:

In the event of a critical incident, the Principal’s office will be the main room used to meet the staff, parents and visitors involved.

CONTACT NUMBERS/EMERGENCY INFORMATION:

The Secretary has responsibility for maintaining an up to date list of contact numbers for students and their parents/guardians. The school Secretary has responsibility for maintaining an up to date list of contact numbers for staff. A list of contact numbers for the emergency support services is displayed in the Staff Room, the Secretary’s Office and the Principal’s Office.

  • An Garda Síochána, Cabinteely 01-6665400
  • Fire Station, Kill Ave 01-2801904/999
  • Area Social Work Manager (Duty Social Worker) 01-2808403/999
  • HSE Area Child Care Manager 01-2843579
  • NEPS 01-8892700 Assigned NEPS Psychologist Maria Marshall
  • Chairperson of B.O.M Brendan McAndrew
  • Chairperson of Parents Association Sarah Walsh
  •  

 

PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF A CRITICAL INCIDENT

Short Term Actions (1st Day)

  • Ensure the safety of the students, staff and visitors
  • Convene a meeting of the Critical Incident Management Team and delegate responsibilities
  • GATHER ACCURATE INFORMATION (Incident report form Appendix 1)
  • Identify high risk students
  • Contact appropriate agencies and organise support
  • Contact the D.E.S., the B. O. M., N. E. P. S. and the Parents’ Association, Representatives on the Board of Management
  • Appoint people to handle phone enquiries and man the office and the front door
  • Arrange the supervision of students
  • Hold a staff meeting and distribute resource material/disseminate information via intercom system or on Microsoft Teams.
  • Organise a timetable for the day
  • Inform students and parents
  • Make contact with the affected/bereaved family
  • Organise reunion of students with their parents
  • Respond to the media (Principal, Deputy Principal and Chairperson of B. O. M. only)
  • Arrange visit to affected/bereaved family
  • Report to the Health and Safety Authority, if necessary
  • Report to An Garda Síochána if necessary

 

As far as possible maintain normal school routine.

Medium Term Actions (24-72 hours)

  • Convene a meeting of the Critical Incident Management Team to review the events of the first 24 hours and to delegate responsibilities
  • Arrange support for students, staff and parents
  • Update staff and students
  • Update the Department of Education and Science, and the relevant external agencies
  • Update the media, if necessary (Principal, Deputy Principal and Chairperson of the Board of Management only)
  • Liaise with the family and clarify the school’s involvement in funeral/memorial services
  • Plan visits to the injured
  • Plan for the reintegration of students and staff
  • Assess the roles of the Board of Management and the Parents’ Association
  • Plan the restoration of normal school routine
  • Consider the legal and financial consequences
  • Record actions taken on the Critical Incident Report Form (Appendix 1)

 

EVACUATION PROCEDURES:

The evacuation procedures are displayed near the doorway of every classroom. The evacuation procedures (Fire Drill) are practised at least twice yearly.

In the event of evacuating further afield, the school will use Foxrock Church Carpark. Parents will be contacted to collect pupils from there if it is deemed necessary.

TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT:

The school will seek opportunities for staff and members of the Board of Management to attend information/training meetings on Health and Safety issues e.g. First Aid. All school personnel are encouraged to participate.

VISITORS:

Visitors, including parents must report to the school’s reception office, identify themselves and state their business in the school. Visitors will not be allowed beyond the school’s reception office except at the invitation of a member of staff.

THE MEDIA:

Members of the media must report to the school’s reception office, identify themselves and state their business in the school. Members of the media will not be allowed beyond the school’s reception office except at the invitation of the Principal or Deputy Principal.

 

Only the Principal, Deputy Principal or Chairperson of the Board of Management will communicate with the media. Students and staff have a responsibility to protect the privacy and good name of the people involved in the incident and need to be sensitive to the consequences of any public statement.

 

THE PRINCIPAL, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL AND CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

WILL PREPARE A BRIEF WRITTEN STATEMENT TO INCLUDE:

  • The sympathy of the school community for the affected/bereaved family
  • Positive information or comments about the deceased/injured person(s)
  • The facts about the incident (following consultation with the affected/bereaved

Families)

  • What has been done
  • What is going to be done

 

Reviewed:   January 2022

Ratified by the Board of Management

Brendan McAndrew

Chairperson, Board of Management 
 

signature

Principal
Date: 24.3'22 

 

                                                                                                           

 

 

 

Review Date:     January 2024

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Critical Incident Report Form

 

Date _____________________________

 

Incident __________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Response and by whom: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Emergency Contact Numbers

 

 

 

 

 

  • An Garda Síochána, Kill O the Grange

01-6665500/999

 

  • Fire Station, Kill Ave 01-2801904/999

 

  • Area Social Work Manager (Duty Social Worker)

             01-2808403/999

 

  • HSE Area Child Care Manager 01-2843579

 

  • School Inspector: Catherine King

 

  • NEPS 01-8892700 Assigned NEPS Psychologist Maria Marshall (087)980729