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A Critical IncidentThroughout this website the word "emergency" is used to encompass a range of events which could otherwise be described as incidents, accidents, catastrophes, disasters or crises. An "emergency" therefore embraces the range of terms frequently used to describe a hazardous event which threatens the safety of people or property.
Adapted from Emergency Disaster Planning for Principals, Commonwealth of Australia 1992.
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MANAGING CRISESThe aim of emergency planning is to ensure that the safety of staff and students if maintained, as far as
possible, during an emergency or a disaster. Planning for emergencies provides a sense of predictability
to the school community about how it will respond if they occur.
This document is designed to support site leaders in their responsibilities in relation to the management
of crises: prevention, preparation, response and recovery. For the purpose of this document, crisis,
critical event and emergency are used interchangeably.
What is a critical incident
A critical incident (or crisis) is any situation which causes a person to experience unusually
strong emotional reactions which have the potential to interfere with their ability to function
either at the scene or later. Jeffrey Mitchell
A critical incident may be defined as any event which causes disruption to an organization,
creates significant danger or risk and which creates a situation where staff, students and
parents feel unsafe, vulnerable and under stress. Catholic Education
Some examples of crisis or critical events include:
natural disasters e.g. fires, floods, and people-made emergencies e.g. chemical
spills, industrial accidents
accidents at the worksite or on excursions
serious illness or death of students, staff, family or community members
threats, assaults, violent incidents, abduction
violent event in the community, world events
other incidents or emergencies which produce strong reaction.
A crisis situation can derive from sudden, unexpected events (or series of events), or chronic
or accumulative (perhaps one or more longer term stressful event/s). Critical incidents can
impact on a few students and/or staff or they can significantly affect the whole community.
Characteristics of critical events.
Critical events may:
be extremely dangerous or distressing
be sudden and unexpected
be disruptive to one’s sense of control of events around them
be disruptive to one’s beliefs and assumptions about the world, people and work
challenge the belief that events can be understood
include elements of physical or emotional loss or risk of loss
Framework – Policy and Practice
Critical IncidentsThis web page links to emergency procedures for emergency response or critical incidents. Click on Emergency Procedures in the blue navigation bar.
The Manager of SchoolCare should be notified of all critical incidents immediately. The Critical Incident Report must follow as soon as possible.
To plan and prepare for critical events, click on the content group in the yellow bar above.
Important Contacts
District Directors: Map Search
Health Services: TBA
PSSB Security: 8226 0888
Workplace Services: 1800 777 209
Emergency Services: 000
Police: 131444
School Care: 8463 5977
Emergency Response ProceduresDownload the flowchart by clicking the download link. Bomb Threat DownloadBomb Threat Telephone Record DownloadChild Protection DownloadClean Up After Fumes DownloadDisappearance Or Removal Of Student DownloadDiscovery of suspicious mail item eg White Powder DownloadEarth Quake DownloadFire in school building DownloadFlash Flood DownloadImpact By Equipment DownloadMajor Toxic Emission Spill DownloadSiege, Hostage & Fire Arms DownloadSerious Assault Of An Adult DownloadWorld Events Download
For further information including INVACUATION, see Secure Ed CD.
Flowcharts have been printed
Reporting procedures:
Notifiable injury/incidents and dangerous occurrences: If an employee suffers a work related injury which is defined as immediately notifiable, the
manager must notify the Workplace Services Inspectorate by telephone as soon as
possible. Tel: 1800 777 209
In the event of a notifiable dangerous occurrence the manager must notify Workplace
Services Inspectorate as soon as practicable after it occurs by telephone and also in
writing within 24 hours of the occurrence. Complete a Notification of Dangerous
Occurrences Form available from the Workplace Services website and fax a copy to the
appropriate office listed on the form (Adelaide Office Fax No.8303 0211) The original
copy of the form should be retained for local records.
It may be necessary to secure the site of the incident/dangerous occurrence as further
investigation may be required. Work must not commence after an incident/dangerous
occurrence until sanctioned by the investigating officers.
In the event of an electrical or gas incident, the manager must immediately notify the
Office of Energy Policy. Tel: Electrical 8226 5527 Tel: Gas 8226 5746
For further information managers should contact their district’s OHS Adviser. Tel.
82261440.
Accident Incident Report (ED155) DownloadAccident Investigation Report (ED165) DownloadCritical Incident Report DownloadIncident/Injury Investigation Reporting Procedure Download
PREVENTION Prevention is the identification of risks that can arise in the school community and the
development of policies and procedures which can contribute to reducing the risk of critical
events occurring and/or minimising the effects.
There are two kinds of administrators;
those who have faced a crisis and those who are about to ..... Johnson pvii
Policies and Procedures
DECS policies and procedures are available on the DECS website. Click Here for policies and procedures.
Occupational Health Safety and Welfare policies and procedures are also available on the DECS website. Click Here for policies and procedures.
Downloads are attached.
OHS&W and Injury Management Procedure
Tool for managing complaints and challenging situations
Violence and Bullying Management Procedure
Risk Management
The Government recognises that the management of risk is an integral part of sound management practice.
Risk management is the systematic identification of opportunities and threats to resources and the development of strategies which maximise opportunities and minimise adverse effects.
Risk Management is underpinned by the following principles:-
local decision making within a supportive framework
protecting staff, students, information, property and reputation
cost-effective risk management
community partnerships
accountability
innovation.
Downloads are inserted in printed copy.
Risk Management Framework (PDF) DownloadRisk Management Template (PDF) DownloadRisk Management Template (Word) Download
PREVENTION
Environmental Factors section is being constructed.
Student Welfare Policies and ProceduresChildren and young people's learning is affected by the way they feel about themselves, how
they get along with other people and by their physical health.
Research shows us that children and young people who feel that they are treated fairly, cared
about and who have a sense of belonging to their home, family and school, tend to be more
successful in their learning.
Preschools and schools together with families, have an important role in supporting children
and young people's emotional, social and physical health. They do this by providing safe and
supportive teaching and learning environments, identifying any emotional, social or physical
needs early and working to support children and young people with these issues in
partnership with families and support services.
Health Promoting Schools FrameworkStrengthening prevention and health promotion efforts are key goals for communities and
governments, nationally and internationally. Promoting children’s health through the school
setting can be an effective way of reaching large numbers of children and influencing the
social and physical environments that impact on health. Schools are also important
community institutions that can play a leadership role in shaping health attitudes and
behaviours.
Downloads are in printed copy.
Health Promoting Schools information download
Health Support Planning PolicyHealth support planning policy provides the framework for all worksites to plan for for routine
and emergency student health support.
It encompasses:
first aid
infection and infestation control
supervision for safety related to individual physical and psychological health care needs
personal care ie support with daily living skills.
Further information is available from the DECS website www.schools.sa.gov.au/schlparents >
click on student well-being > health support. This site also contains information about current
programs related to whole of school approaches to support student health and well-being.
Further information is available from: [email protected].
Managing complaints and challenging situations.Tool for managing complaints and challenging situations Download
Bullying and HarassmentEffective anti-bullying and harassment policies and strategies contribute to the well being of students and staff. Addressing and reducing bullying in schools requires Prevention, Intervention and Post-Intervention strategies.
Prevention strategies include:
using the curriculum to teach all girls and boys about respectful relationships, including
safe ways of using power
teaching all staff, students and parents about effective and positive ways to reduce
bullying including how to be an effective bystander
collaborating with government and non-government agencies to develop programmes, eg
violence prevention, conflict resolution
Intervention strategies include:
using the Method of Shared Concern or No Blame Approach
providing counselling for students who are being victimised
providing counselling for students who engage in bullying behaviours
putting consequences in place for those who engage in bullying behaviours
informing and working with parents/caregivers when incidents of bullying occur
Post-intervention strategies include:
monitoring the situation between students to ensure that their safety and well-being is
maintained
reviewing yard duty practices, procedures to make sure they are effective
dealing with hot spots in the yard and school
reviewing and evaluating behaviour codes and policies
using Action Research as a monitoring tool
DECS Initiatives
Further information about DECS initiatives can be obtained from http://www.schools.sa.gov.au/schlparents/pages/65/3603/
Child ProtectionThe Department of Education and Children's Services recognises the significant role
education and care programs play in child protection and abuse prevention.
Information can be obtained from http://www.schools.sa.gov.au/schlstaff/ >click on Training
and Development > Mandatory Notification.
(Downloads printed.)
Child Protection DownloadMandatory Notification DownloadProtective Behaviours Download
Child Protection Officers
Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Group: phone 8226 4393
Learning Improvement and Support Services: phone 8226 0921
Grief and LossChildren are deeply affected by the death of someone they love or care about. Even the
youngest children are able to sense loss and experience grief. They may express their
reactions and emotions directly or they may outwardly appear unconcerned about the event.
In either case they will be trying to make sense out of what has happened and there are ways
adults can be of help. Children, like adults, have their own individual ways of grieving,
depending on their age and development stage, and it is important that they are not “left out”
when a death occurs.
(Download printed)
Grief Reactions Associated with Children Download
PREPAREDNESSPreparedness is the planning and preparation of processes to be undertaken when a critical
incident occurs. This includes training and development and links with relevant agencies and
personnel.
All DECS worksites are required to have emergency procedures which describe actions to be
taken during and following an emergency to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors.
Duty of care obligations require personnel to take all reasonable steps to protect site users
from risks likely to cause personal injury that could reasonably have been foreseen.
Governing councils, managers and staff are responsible for ensuring site related activities are
planned for, and are conducted in accordance with Department of Education and Children’s
Services procedures to ensure the safety of all involved.
The obligation to undertake a risk assessment and plan for the safe conduct of activities
extends to emergencies that may arise in the course of normal worksite activities.
Pre-incident planning can: pre-empt or interrupt the development of a critical incident
make a life-saving difference in an emergency
prepare staff strategically and psychologically for a critical incident
develop a shared understanding, ownership and skill-base, increase confidence in responding to
events
provide an opportunity for families and school to clarify what processes will be used when an event
occurs
minimise the risk of acute and/or chronic psychological impact on staff and students, reduce risk of
additional trauma (Nader 1990)
reduce risk of managerial liability
minimise interruption to the learning environment
reduce risk of adverse publicity
minimise risk of reduced productivity, absenteeism, diminished staff morale, damaged community
reputation.
Pre-incident planning will: undertake assessment of potential hazards and situations (risk assessment)
analyse potential impact and requirements to pre-empt or minimise
identify relevant services and establish liaison
develop a management plan and negotiate endorsement throughout worksite community
clarify statutory and legal requirements
identify secure areas, mobile phone policy, siren policy etc
identify tasks and roles which will be required, and nominate position-responsibility
identify protocols to avoid escalating risk
develop resources in anticipation, e.g. phone numbers / phone-tree maps
identify communication strategy during emergency and with staff, students, families, state office,
support services
identify training requirements
review plan regularly
A Management Plan will include: formation of crisis response team
identification of range of emergencies covered by the plan
assessment of risks and hazards (potential and actual)
procedures to secure safety of individuals and groups
procedures for evacuation and invacuation
site maps, floor plans, identification of alternative assembly areas
tasks and roles to be fulfilled, and the nominated position (rather than person) to be
responsible
how information will be gathered about any local threats (e.g. toxic fumes in event of
fire)
identification of individuals with particular needs (e.g. asthma medication) to be
accommodated
contact details for emergency, medical and other support personnel, relief staff etc
contact details for parents
rehearsal of emergency practices
identification of administrative supports, e.g. proforma for student movement
communication strategy: information to students, staff, families and state office
being prepared for interest by media
Emergency Kit (phones, keys, batteries, torches, etc)
measures to prevent or reduce the effects of crises
identification of recovery processes, including review of plan
Support Personnel & Agencies
Role and availability of social workers Download
LINK BROKEN.
RESPONSEResponse is the action undertaken to address the operational and psychological needs of the
site community to stabilize the situation. It is the activity which is carried out immediately an
emergency occurs and lasts until the risk to personal safety and/or property has been
removed. The emergency services have the legal responsibility for coordinating and
controlling the response to most types of emergencies. The workplace maintains an ongoing
responsibility for the safety and well-being of staff and students for the duration of the
emergency.
At ImpactAt Impact Physical safety and psychological protection are the immediate priorities.
Take steps to end the danger and limit further physical and/or psychological injury.
Follow site management plan on invacuation, evacuation, calling emergency services,
screening areas off from view etc.
Try to keep calm, issue clear instructions, send for back-up.
The principal or delegate will provide the leadership for the response and recovery. "The
impact of a crisis is influenced by the degree to which organisational systems promote or
hinder both the individual attempts to cope with the experience and the management of
the organisation’s response.
A key aspect of traumatic incident planning is ensuring that the systems which are put in
place to deal with such events are both supportive and effective". (quote Dr Douglas Paton)
Take a few moments to stop and think
Appearing calm will help to give a sense of control
Scan the site procedures to remind yourself what needs to be done
Send for a member of the administration team
Convene the crisis management team
Assess the situation
Ensure the situation is stabilised
Collect information from reliable sources and ensure you are kept up to date
Meet with crisis response team. Have crisis management plan in hand
What support and emergency personnel are required. Is there a need for additional teaching
support
Who is likely to be affected and how
What needs to be communicated, to whom, by whom
How will the situation be monitored
What tasks need to be undertaken and by whom
Possible personnel / agencies to consult Police, Emergency Services
Medical services, Assessment and Crisis Intervention (for mental disorder)
Colleague Principal
Legislation and Legal Services
Media Liaison
District Director, Social Worker, Guidance Officer, Personnel Counsellor Facilities
Operational Issues Set up command centre or space, and communication strategy
Determine practical aids needed: whiteboard for information update, management plan
etc
Allocate of roles and responsibilities as per crisis management plan
Identify particular tasks e.g. visit family, attend to deceased person’s locker etc
Identify process for parent and Support personnel visit to site, and student movements
Inform the district superintendent.
Contact as appropriate school council chairperson, securities section, facilities, social
workers, guidance officers, personnel counsellors etc.
Determine front office support to deal with extra (and distressing) calls
Identify gathering areas, parent meeting space, students/ staff recovery etc as required
Identify recording processes to assist in keeping track of personnel/student needs,
subsequent interventions, decisions made and actions taken
Identify area for flowers, cards etc
Timetable adjustment
Relocation of work areas, e.g. in the case of fire-damage
Consider how students/ staff can be linked with significant others to re-establish a sense
of personal control
End of first day checklist Worksite community members have information on the event and site response plan.
People have support contacts and/or helpful information on managing stress and emotional
reactions.
Emergency Management team has regrouped and debriefed the day, modified ongoing plan
Recording processes reviewed
Response Checklist Download
Consider Psychological Well-being Consider the emotional well-being of the worksite community. Consider (with support from social
worker, guidance officer or personnel counsellor as appropriate) the nature of the event, the
potential impact and how to provide information and a supportive environment.
Provide information about (personnel counsellor) support needs to be routinely available as it is not
possible to identify who will or who will not need additional support at the time or subsequently.
There may be other (previous or simultaneous) events which can impact on a person’s ability to
handle this situation. Some people will just need time to integrate the event, others will require
specific support/interventions available from within the site or from external services.
Consider modification of each day’s program, consider relief staff and supportive gestures (special
morning tea etc). Staff may not want to be perceived as not coping and may force themselves to
work. To assist recovery it can be more helpful in the long term to have temporary flexible working
arrangements.
Provide, wherever possible, an environment where staff and students can safely express their
thoughts and feelings. Recovery room/s may be necessary.
Ensure monitoring of individuals/ groups.
"An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour." (quote Victor Frankl)
Communication Strategy Ensure you have information from a direct, reliable source (Note: Only police are able to release
information about fatalities)
When emergency services personnel are involved establish clear communication lines. Clarify the
location of communications centre and nominate a staff member to be the communication liaison.
The decision to cease emergency procedures rests with the emergency services personnel, in
consultation with worksite managers and health and safety representatives
Identify the communication links that need to occur for information co-ordination and dissemination
Decide when and how staff, families and students are to be informed, and the content of the
information
Speak with one voice. Direct communication through nominated person/s
Communication: Staff
Provide facts regarding the incident, if possible at a staff meeting. Where certain details are not
available or are to be withheld, it is important that this is stated and why.
Outline the proposed management plan including the roles of support personnel and how to
access. Arrange for this information to be available for personnel who are not currently present.
Modify / update the plan as the situation unfolds. The provision of key information to
relevant worksite community members about the incident and the planned response is an important
component in assisting individuals to clarify the situation, and help in re-establishing normal
functioning.
Provide opportunities and options for staff to consider how they will provide information / support to
students. DECS social workers and guidance officers can provide information on possible physical
and emotional reactions. Early information can help to allay fears and assist in understanding the
normality of responses that students and adults may be experiencing.
Provide information about Personnel Counsellors for staff support.
Provide opportunities for staff to inform management on issues requiring attention as they arise.
Allocate time/opportunity for staff conversation regarding any concerns they have and
identify worksite practices and resources that will assist in supporting the emotional well-being of
the worksite community.
Communication: Students
Consider how students are to be informed, and by whom. Options include assembly, classroom,
groups and/or individually. Where certain details are not available or are to be withheld, it is
important that this is stated and why.
Provide facts regarding the incident.
Consider the ripple effect, and that students can be affected by an event even if they do not know
the people directly involved. Young children are influenced by the reactions of the adults around
them; older students may be more influenced by the reactions of other students.
Plan for student response to a critical event according to a range of circumstances including their
age, developmental stage, personality and disposition, experiences and perceptions of the event,
the supportive environment, and when and how the information is delivered.
Assist students to identify what will help them to deal with the situation.
Provide information to students on processes for accessing support, using familiar and existing
avenues wherever possible.
Communication: Parents
Determine the nature and content of communication with families: e.g. telephone or visit parents of
any students directly affected.
Provide the facts of the incident (as appropriate) via a parent newsletter and continue to update
parents about the worksite's ongoing management plan by newsletter or meeting as appropriate.
Provide information to LAP parents and other school volunteers who may have a connection to the
event or people impacted by the event.
Indicate reactions students may experience to assist their understanding of what are normal
reactions and how best to respond.
Provide information on sources of help for families available through the worksite and within the
surrounding community.
Consider need to convene a meeting with parents/caregivers to provide an opportunity to address
any needs and concerns about their children’s welfare. This meeting can be an opportunity for
families and staff to build on their work in relation to student well-being.
Communication: Media
Identify a site media contact person who may also need to liaise with the district director.
Develop a strategy to respond to media requests for information.
Decide how, whether and what information to provide to the media to strengthen the worksite's
capacity for successfully addressing community concerns. The media should not have information
that is different to that provided to worksite community.
Ensure the contact person has clear guidelines on media contact with staff or students. Refer to the
Education Information Service Unit Resource paper “Dealing with the Media.”
Sample letter to Caregivers (Word) Download
Information to Parents and CaregiversAfter a crisis event (death of a teacher/student, fire, accident) parents and caregivers often
ask:
What can be regarded as 'normal' reactions for children and adolescents?
How should we respond to our children in the period after the crisis event?
Who should we answer the questions that arise?
Information for parents and caregivers Download
Grief and LossChildren are deeply affected by the death of someone they love or care about. Even the
youngest children are able to sense loss and experience grief. They may express their
reactions and emotions directly or they may outwardly appear unconcerned about the event.
In either case they will be trying to make sense out of what has happened and there are ways
adults can be of help. Children, like adults, have their own individual ways of grieving,
depending on their age and development stage, and it is important that they are not “left out”
when a death occurs.
Grief Reactions Download
The Grieving Student in the ClassroomResponding to the needs of a grieving child means, “being there”. Each person must let go of
his/her own expectations and try to understand those of the child. For more information
download Guidelines and Suggestions for Teachers.
(broken link below)
The Grieving Student in the Classroom Download
RECOVERYThe monitoring of recovery processes facilitates the return to routine.
Recovery includes reviewing policy and processes.
Recovery management is most effective when there is recognition of the complex, dynamic
and sometimes protracted nature of recovery processes and the changing needs of affected
individuals and groups within the community. Leaders need to consider their own well-being,
and seek support and debriefing, as appropriate.
Effectiveness of Recovery
The effectiveness of the recovery environment depends on:
factual information provided about the event and its effects
the nature of reactions and availability of support
the extent to which the site provides a supportive environment
whether the significance of the event is confirmed by others
the extent to which specialist intervention and support is available
Restoring worksite to a regular routine: maintain regular updated information to all staff. Staff will be better equipped to handle
students if they are well informed and have had opportunities to raise concerns and
questions
some flexibility may be required as some staff and students may be unable to return to
full/normal duties/routines. Monitor those situations
assist staff to create a safe, ordered environment as this will help to reassure students.
maintain a supportive environment. Perception of supportive structures has the potential
to act as a safety net and an expression of concern for well being of the community.
Funerals and Memorials Leadership will need to consider staff attendance at funeral. Student attendance is usually a family
decision.
Rituals, ceremonies or memorials can be appropriate ways to honour the event /life of a person/s
and are usually significant in comforting those distressed. The worksite may choose to have a
memorial service, a plaque, the dedication of a book, trophy etc or a contribution to the site's
grounds/ garden etc. In choosing, the worksite needs to consider the longer term implications of
their decision, e.g. a single tree in a prominent place may not survive a holiday break potentially
raising further implications for children and in some situations a memorial can be a constant
reminder of a traumatic event (Dr Kathy Nader, School Disaster: Planning and Initial Interventions,
1993)
If appropriate, engage in structured discussions with students and staff to decide on a suitable
memorial. Preface these discussions with the information that the decision has to reflect the needs
of the whole community and that individual wishes may not be possible.
Consider informing and/or involving the parents / caregivers in the process.
Anniversaries, inquests and legal procedings. Special support for those affected may be needed again at the anniversary (or other significant
reminder) of the event. Emotions and memories may be re-experienced. For some people these
times are more stressful than the original event
Provide information about support personnel
Seek legal advice if site staff are required to give evidence in legal proceedings. If a Coroner’s
inquiry is to occur, a social worker at the Coroner’s court can prepare people for what they may
encounter.
Promoting organisational learning Consider the need for an operational debrief. This needs to be done as part of the learning process
and not to apportion blame.
A range of issues may surface as a result of the critical incident.
These may be issues relating to:
- operational e.g. a revision of crisis management policy and procedures
- curriculum e.g. developing student understanding of grief and loss, developing resiliency,
optimism, emotional intelligence
- strengthening partnerships with families, departmental support services or agencies
- staff professional development, e.g. proactive responses to managing stress etc
Subsequence Critical Incidents A subsequent crisis may have a stronger than normal impact on the worksite and individuals. It is
important to recognise the potential for cumulative stress
Where a staff member has been strongly affected by a crisis situation (e.g. where they have lost
their resources in a fire, or the death of a student in their care), a subsequent significant emotional
event (e.g. missing out on a job or AST level, another fire or death) may cause the person to re-
experience strong emotional reactions, particularly if the issues were not resolved at the time. In
some cases post-trauma reactions will not diminish with time, and require professional help.
Personnel Counsellors can provide support for any staff experiencing any degree of distress.
Many worksites have shown that successful management of crises can result in positive change for
a worksite's community by:
- enhancing cooperative team development and functioning
- using the experience as a teachable moment will contribute to the development of self mastery
- ability of adults to manage difficult situations effectively
- increasing the participation and shared responsibility across worksite and home
Other resources/material/professional development available from Support Services
Material for educators on grief, loss, trauma, crisis
Strategies for promoting psychological well being for students
Critical Incident Pre-incident learning conversations and training
Emotional Intelligence, Developing Resilience and Optimism
Understanding, resolving and managing conflict
Mediation services
Useful Websiteswww.ausienet.com/factsheets/index/php
Health Promotion SA www.headroom.net.au
South Australian Department of Human Services. Promoting positive mental health through information and resources www.nasponline.org/index2
Child and Youth Health http://www.cyh.com.au/
Helpful information for families re age-specific symptoms, strategies to respond etc
Helping Children / Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters http://wwwnimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.ctm
Information about trauma, how it impacts, and responses Children and Trauma www.fenichel.com/hope.shtml
Current topics in psychology. Dr Michale Fenichel’s Teaching Tools. Information based on children’s experiences of trauma, disasters and violence. Links to other sites and resources
Tips for Kids www.goalmaker.com/kidtips.asp Strategies to help children after trauma
Crisis Counselling Guide http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/crisis/cmsiscounselling3.html
Information about age-specific responses. Reactions and strategies to respond www.grieflink.asn.au