Critical Incident Manual - Ministry of Education

Guidelines for Developing a Critical Incident Management Plan for a Safe School EnvironmentIncident: Suspected Child AbusePotential OutcomesAggressive and withdrawn individuals.Pre-plan Action• Brief staff on signs of child abuse.• Encourage students to report suspected child abuse.• Post information on support services and hot lines.• Inform parents in appropriate settings that the school is alert to sexual abusepossibilities.• Know the law regarding the State’s rights to take a child into protective custody.• Know the law regarding suspected child abuse, neglect and abandonment.• Have up-to-date contact information on all students.• Be prepared to contact parents or guardians of the child if appropriate.Immediate Action• Assess the situation.• Call the police if necessary.• Have the counsellor on standby.• Contact appropriate children’s services.• Keep the child in a safe place that affords privacy.• Facilitate personnel from the police or children’s services.• Document various contacts made, e.g. with the police, children’s services.Follow-up Action• Ensure that the counsellor follows up, providing counselling or by referring the childfor counselling.• Monitor the situation, get updates from the counsellor, be in touch with other partiesinvolved, e.g. children’s services.• Instruct staff to be on the alert for further signs of abuse.• Meet with the parents or guardians if this is deemed advisable.Ministry of Education 2008 / 87