1 general conditions of employment - Department of Education and ...

2 STAFF WELFARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES2.3 GUIDELINES FOR STAFF SUPPORT FOLLOWING SERIOUS INCIDENTS2.3.1 INTRODUCTIONThe Department is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of staff and students affected by aserious incident. This includes the provision of support and counselling, immediately and in thelonger term.These guidelines will assist schools in providing the appropriate support when a serious incidentoccurs. These procedures should be read in conjunction with Guidelines for Schools and TAFENSW Colleges and Campuses, Management of Serious Incidents which were issued in 2000.The provision of counselling is a key aspect in the successful management of serious incidents.The degree of understanding and support within the period following a serious incident influencesthe long-term impact of incidents. Access to appropriately qualified counselling personnel is part ofthe support needed. These personnel can be either internal or external providers. EAP providersmay be used to provide counselling for staff individually or in groups.Some individuals may require ongoing counselling after initial assistance. Individual traumacounselling provides the opportunity to work through the normal grief processes on a one-to-onebasis. District superintendents and staff welfare officers can provide advice about access to traumacounselling services. A list of support services is provided in Chapter 10, Appendices.2.3.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF SERIOUS INCIDENT COMMITTEEAppropriate planning for the prevention and management of serious incidents at a school and atschool activities which are conducted at non school locations is a key means of ensuring the safetyand welfare of staff and students. Schools should establish a Serious Incident Committee to assistthe principal in this role. The responsibilities of the committee include:ΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧΧdeveloping an effective Serious Incident Management Plan;advising staff and students of planned procedures such as emergency evacuation procedures;assessing situations which may require emergency action;analysing requirements to address these situations;liaising with all relevant emergency services;organising practice drills to test the Serious Incident Management Plan;assisting the workplace manager with all aspects of the implementation of the Serious IncidentManagement Plan;arranging relevant training and development activities for staff, where necessary; andregularly evaluating the Serious Incident Management Plan.Guidelines for Schools and TAFE Colleges and Campuses, Management of Serious Incidentscontains further information for Serious Incident Committees.Handbook for non teaching staff in schools Page 2 - 4