Critical Incident Management Plan:

St. Rynagh's National School is inclusive Catholic School and as a result we will have to cope with various challenges in any school year.  A critical incident can be defined as “any incident or sequence of events which overwhelms the normal coping mechanisms of the school” (Responding to critical Incidents – Guidelines for Schools).    The staff and management of St. Rynagh’s N.S. recognise a critical incident to be “an incident or sequence of events that overwhelms the normal coping mechanism of the school”.  Critical incidents may involve one or more students or staff members, or members of our local community.

Types of incidents might include:-

• The death of a member of the school community through accident, violence, suicide or suspected suicide or other unexpected death.
• An intrusion into the school.
• An accident involving members of the school community.
• An accident/tragedy in the wider community
• Serious damage to the school building through fire, flood, vandalism etc.
• The disappearance of a member of the school community.

The CMIT have consulted resource documents available to schools on www.education.ie and www.neps.ie – Responding to Critical Incidents Guidelines and Resources for Schools (NEPS 201 6) and Well-Being in Primary Schools, Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion (DES, DOH, HSE 201 5).

Aim:

The aim of our C.I.M.P. is to deal with any Critical Incident in an appropriate manner with as sense of control which should support the school community and achieve a return to normality in the school as soon as possible.

Preventative Measures:

It is hoped that other policies and good practice measure would if not prevent, at least limit the chance and impact of a critical incident.   Policies such as Anti-Bullying, Code of Behaviour, Fire Safety, Health and Safety collection of Pupils, S.P.H.E., Yard Supervision, Child Protection and Administration of Medicines coupled with a caring atmosphere help prevent critical incidents.  We use some of our Croke Park hours to ensure everyone leaves the school safely and in a considerate manner. 

School starts at 9 a.m.   The school gate is open at 8.50 a.m. to allow the pupils enter the yard.  The pupils gather in their own designated class area and line up when the yard bell rings at 9 a.m.

Critical Incident Management Team:

The key roles in our C.I.M.T. are as follows:-

Team Leader               Principal         Fergal McMahon      

(In the absence of the Principal the team leader is the Chairperson of B.O.M. – Cora Stronge Smith)

Garda Liaison:             John Teehan              

Staff Liaison:               Catherine Keenaghan

Student Liaison:         Lorraine Higgins

Parent Liaison:           Lisa Gardiner

Community Liaison:   Fergal McMahon, Principal

Media Liaison:            Principal Fergal McMahon

                                                            or

                                    Chairperson    Cora Stronge Smith

Administrator:           Secretary         Tracy Dolan

Team Leader (Fergal McMahon)

• Alerts the team members to the crisis and convenes a meeting
• Coordinates the tasks of the team
• Liaises with the Board of Management; DES; NEPS; SEC
• Liaises with the bereaved family

Garda Liaison (John Teehan)

• Liaises with the Gardaí
• Ensures that information about deaths or other developments is checked out for accuracy before being shared

Staff Liaison (Catherine Keenaghan)

• Leads briefing meetings for staff on the facts as know, give staff members an opportunity to express their feelings and ask questions, outlines the routine for the day
• Advises staff on the procedures for identification of vulnerable students
• Provides materials for staff (from their critical incident folder)
• Keeps staff updated as the day progresses
• Is alert to vulnerable staff members and makes contact with them individually
• Advises them of the availability of the EAS and gives them the contact number

Student Liaison (Lorraine Higgins)

• Alerts other staff to vulnerable students (appropriately)
• Provides materials for students (from their critical incident folder)
• Maintains student contact records (R1)
• Looks after setting up and supervision of ‘quiet’ room where agreed

Community Liaison (Fergal McMahon)

• Maintains up to date lists of contact numbers of 

• Key parents, such as members of the Parents Council
• Emergency support services and other external contacts and resources

• Liaises with agencies in the community for support and onward referral
• Is alert to the need to check credentials of individuals offering support
• Coordinates the involvement of these agencies
• Remind agency staff to wear name badges
• Updates team members on the involvement of external agencies

Parent Liaison (Lisa Gardiner)

• Visits the bereaved family with the team leader
• Arranges parent meetings, if held
• May facilitate such meetings, and manage ‘questions and answers;
• Manages the ‘consent’ issues in accordance with agreed school policy
• Ensures that sample letters are typed up, on the school’s system and ready for adaptation
• Sets up room for meetings with parents
• Maintains a record of parents seen
• Meets with individual parents
• Provides appropriate materials for parents (from their critical incident folder)

Media Liaison (Fergal McMahon)

• In advance of an incident, will consider issues that may arise and how they might be responded to (e.g. students being interviewed, photographers on the premises etc.)
• In the event of an incident, will liaise where necessary with the SEC; relevant teacher unions etc.
• Will draw up a press statement, give media briefings and interviews (as agreed by school management)

Administrator (Tracy Dolan)

• Maintenance of up to date telephone numbers of

• Parents or guardians
• Teachers
• Emergency Services

• Takes telephone calls and notes those that need to be responded to
• Ensures that templates are on the schools system in advance and ready for adaptation
• Prepares and sends out letters, emails and texts
• Photocopies materials needed
• Maintains records

Record Keeping

Each member of the Critical Incident Management Team, should keep records of their role and work during the management of the Critical Incident.

Confidentiality:

The management and staff of St. Rynagh's Primary School have a responsibility to protect the privacy and good name of the people involved in any incident and will be sensitive to the consequences of any public statements.

In the event of a Critical Incident:

In the event of a Critical Incident the Principal will immediately call a meeting of the Critical Incident Management Team

The C.I.M.T. will use the resources listed in the Reference Section to respond to the situation.

If the critical Incident requires action prior to the possible meeting of the C.I.M.T.
the Principal in consultation with the chairperson will act using the same resources.

Resources:

• Responding to Critical Incidents – Guidelines for Schools and Resource Materials for Schools N.E.P.S. 2007

• Responding to critical Incidents – Resource Materials for Schools, N.E.P.S. 2007
• C.P.S.M.A. Management Board Members Handbook.