4.3 CRITICAL INCIDENT PLAN

DATED: January 2006

SOURCED: Chris Legg (2001) “When Things Go Wrong: Managing Critical Incidents in Children’s Services” Research in Practice Series, Vol 8, No 3, Australian Early Childhood Series.

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Immediate Actions

• Ensure the safety of children and Carers and/or staff

Those to be notified of a critical incident in a Care Providers home:

Ø Emergency services if applicable

Ø Parents if applicable

Ø Manager as soon as possible

Ø Manager to inform CCI President of Critical Incident

Ø Manager to immediately notify the licensing body; and the police in the case of a death of a child in care

Ø Manager to notify Workplace Health & Safety

Safety preparation

• Evacuation Plans must be accessible and followed in an emergency
• Children to be familiar with evacuation plans
• All Carers and staff to hold current first aid certification

Children

• Ensure the children are safe/administer first aid/account for all of the children
• Calm the children
• Give children the facts:
1. Give accurate information to children about what happened
2. How it happened (if known)
3. How it will effect them
4. What will happen next
5. When things will be back to normal

• If emergency services are required, explain what they are doing to help the situation

Staff

• All staff to remain calm and work together as a team
• Evacuate if necessary
• Account for all children
• Allocate someone to make telephone calls to emergency services
• Telephone the Manager who will notify the licensee, the licensing body, police & Workplace Health & Safety where appropriate
• Deal with emergency services personnel – give clear and accurate information
• Where possible, staff or Carer will accompany any child to hospital and meet the parent/s there
• When parents arrive:

1. Address concerns of parents for the safety of their children

2. Deal with parents feelings

3. Provide accurate information

4. Do not admit liability

5. Let parents know what you need them to do

6. Tell them how we will manage the incident

7. When things will be back to normal

8. Allow time for parents to ask questions

9. Arrange for an interpreter service where required

• Provide support for the staff (defusing and debriefing)
• Arrange for follow-up procedures

Care Providers

• Evacuate
• Account for all children
• Call Emergency Services if necessary
• Administer first aid

• Calm the children’s feelings
• Phone BFDC office
• Phone children’s parents
• Where possible, accompany child to hospital
• When parents arrive:

1. Address concerns of parents for the safety of their children

2. Deal with parents feelings

3. Provide accurate information

4. Do not admit liability

5. Let parents know what you need them to do

6. Tell them how we will manage the incident

7. When things will be back to normal

8. Allow time for parents to ask questions

Subsequent Actions by Coordination Unit

It is now time to move on to medium-term tasks of catering for the emotional consequences of the events through debriefing, and in some cases, professional counselling.

• Follow-up intervention must happen as soon as possible – between 24 hours and six weeks (beyond this time effectiveness is minimal).
• A systematic intervention that provides, as far as possible, the opportunity for all those involved discussing their feelings and reactions. It should provide them with a framework for dealing with future responses.
• Professional counselling may be offered at this point.

Where professional counselling is not utilised, the following strategies need to be implemented where appropriate.

Children

Staff and parents can help children recover from the incident by:

1. Observing their reactions and behaviour – look for any signs of unusual behaviour.
2. Providing opportunities for children to express their feelings – e.g. dramatic play, art, and discussions.
3. Continue familiar routines – separation, eating and sleeping patterns may be disrupted.

Staff

The Manager may:

1. Call a staff meeting and debrief
2. Document the incident as soon as possible, taking into account:

• The current Child Care Legislation
• Duty of Care
• OH&S for staff
• Insurance

The Manager in consultation with staff may:

1. Arrange a Care Provider meeting to debrief and defuse feelings

2. Arrange a parent meeting to address concerns and feelings.

3. Make policy & Procedural changes where necessary

4. Liaise with/notify Government Departments

5. Arrange hospital visits if persons are injured

The Manager may:

1. Provide staff/Carers with professional Counselling – staff/Carers may feel guilt, inadequacy or helplessness. If excessive or prolonged, seek professional help.
2. Provide staff with compassionate leave to attend a funeral if a death has occurred as a result of the incident, and Carers with time off, if required – if Staff or Carers require time off for recovery, it is important to maintain contact with work colleagues to minimise misinformation and rumour.

3. Provide staff/Carers with ongoing support

• Unexpected emotions may surface when things settle down.
• It is important for the staff to keep talking with the Carers, parents, and the broader community if appropriate after the critical incident.
• Maintain communication about possible children’s reactions, planned events or ceremonies, and any changes to existing practice.

4. Evaluate the management of the incident.

Parents

If the incident affects all children, parents need to be given accurate and prompt information about the incident:

1. Produce a short special newsletter – to prevent rumour and provide accurate information that outlines:

· Factual information about the incident – what happened, where, who was involved

· Steps taken by staff

· Reactions of the children

· What the children have been told

· Any further actions or arrangements

2. Arrange a special parent meeting to discuss the incident.

3. Refer parent for counselling, if a parent remains disturbed by the events for a period of time.

Others

1. Emergency personnel: Staff and parents may wish to thank emergency services personnel after the event for their support and assistance.
2. Media: Appoint a person to deal with the media.

Referrals to other professionals:

In most cases, people who have been involved in a critical incident will have some immediate and short-term emotions (and sometimes behavioural or physical) reactions and these usually pass within months.

Whenever a person finds that these reactions persist for months or years, it is often helpful for them to seek additional counselling from professional sources.