List what you will do in the event of a critical incident in your community (using the five guiding principles) to help your children and young people feel
- Safe
- Calm
- Connected
- In control
- Hopeful
Preparation
Outline the preparation undertaken in developing and preparing for a critical incident. Include whole staff training, drafting and disseminating the policy, as well as the time frame for review.
Immediate response – the first days
Outline the steps you will take in the immediate aftermath of a critical incident to help your educational community feel safe, calm, connected, in control and hopeful.
This will include your initial responses to the staff, children, young people and parents/carers, any immediate changes needed and your process for identifying particular at risk or vulnerable individuals or groups.
Medium term response – the first weeks
Outline the steps you will take in your medium-term response to a critical incident to help your community feel safe, calm, connected, in control and hopeful.
This will include how you will continue to support staff, children and young people to embed the principles in your educational community and develop ongoing support for those most affected by the event.
Describe any monitoring you will do to enable you to identify staff, children and young people who remain vulnerable to the impact of the event and may need referring on for additional support.
Ongoing response – months and years
Outline how in your ongoing response to a critical incident you will support your educational community to feel safe, calm, connected, in control and hopeful.
This will include your plans for the longer term including seeking feedback and identifying lessons learned about the way your community managed the event.
You may also consider your continued support for any children or young people who are struggling. Monitoring may have identified those who need a referral for additional support.
Recognise the importance of marking anniversaries, remembering those impacted by the critical incident and the possibility of legacy planning.