Making contact
Schools may telephone 028 37512515 or email cirt@selb.org
The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) can also provide advice and/or support to the school in the aftermath of a critical incident and includes a range of personnel from SELB Support Services and WELFARE SERVICE.
How we respond …
Immediate response following contact from school
We will provide advice to Senior Management Team in relation to the immediate management of the situation.
Initial support
Support to members of the school community which may result in work with small or large groups of pupils, individual pupils and school staff. Leaflets for parents and pupils of both primary and post primary schools are available which provide information on common reactions to a traumatic event and helpful coping strategies.
Follow up support
Where longer term needs are identified, the Critical Incident Response Team will provide advice and/or support. This may include referral to other Board services and/or external agencies.
Critical Incident Management Plan
Key actions
No two incidents are alike. Always assess needs first.
Use the guidelines flexibly and in relation to the information available/
Step 1:
Assess the danger, gather factual information and take appropriate action
- Initiate agreed school evacuation procedures if necessary, arrange for first aid
- Establish a ‘command’ centre, identify who is in charge and set regular briefing times
- Notify the emergency services/other relevant authorities
- Maintain structures and routines where possible
- Liaise with Chairperson of Board of Governors /SELB/CCMS
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Step 2:
Co-ordinate school’s response, meet with staff
- Liaise and delegate, discuss intervention plan, agree how and what other pupils will be told
- Collect, record, verify and update details (time, place, those involved etc)
- Lliaise with Chairperson of Board of Governors/SELB/CCMS
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Step 3:
Organise contact with pupils and parents
- Give the facts of the critical incident, keeping in mind legal implications and respecting aspects of privacy
- Inform parents by ‘phone or in person if their child is involved, as soon as the initial information is confirmed. NB the media and/or children with mobile phones may have reached them first with inaccurate information.
- Continue to liaise with Chairperson of Board of Governors/SELB/CCMS
- Ensure a correct and consistent message is given
- Provide sources of help for pupils and families and encourage communication between parents and school
- Suggest possible reaction of students
- Confirm the school's response plans
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Step 4:
Restore the school to regular routine as soon as practicable
- Plan visits to injured and bereaved
- Continue to liaise with Chairperson of Board of Governors/SELB/CCMS
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Step 5:
Obtain updated factual information
- Continue to inform staff, students and parents
- Principal consults with the families affected to determine their wishes concerning public announcements and information for school staff and students.
- Continue to liaise with Chairperson of Board of Governors /SELB/CCMS
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Step 6:
Continue to monitor well-being of students and staff
- Organise assistance, such as transport home, for staff or students who are distressed. Try to ensure that they are not alone on the evening after such an incident
- Identify at risk pupils, staff, arrange for follow-up support, involvement with other professionals, referrals as necessary
- Assess the need for debriefing of staff and pupils with expert help
- Arrange for support of Critical Incident Response Team
- Continue to liaise with Chairperson of Board of Governors/ SELB/CCM
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