Informing parents following an incident
Wherever possible, the parents of all the other children at the school
should be informed that the school has experienced an incident and that
their child may be upset (and may want counselling).
It is difficult to give specific advice because of the many different
ways an incident may occur, but there are some general pointers that
will ensure
information is passed on effectively and sensitively:
- Select several staff members who will be good at coping with a difficult
and emotionally draining task.
- Get the calls done quickly: misinformation will spread informally
among parents very quickly. Remember to keep to hand a hard copy of
parents' contact details in case you are unable to access your PCs
or electronic database for any reason (and think about keeping a second
set at an alternative location in case you cannot enter your office).
- Brief those who are selected to make contact, perhaps by writing
a framework script and rehearsing the message first.
- Start with a clear list of who needs to be called and who does not.
Keep records of who has been contacted successfully.
- Give parents clear information and advice about what they should
do (e.g. whether they are to follow their normal collection routine
or collect their child immediately, or whether the school will be
closed for a time).
- Warn parents if there seems to be a lot of media interest: journalists
may try to get interviews with parents or pupils. Advise them to contact
the school if they are approached (though it will obviously be up
to individuals to decide whether they co-operate).
- Offer help with the arrangement of transport, if necessary and
feasible.
- Check that the parents or children are not left alone in distress,
perhaps suggesting that the person seeks support from relatives or
neighbours.
- Offer useful phone numbers for support or for more information (e.g.
the emergency helpline number or the hospital number).
