If the incident is a major one the Local Authority Major Incident Plan, headed up by a Chief Officer of the Council would be implemented.

The information below relates to critical incidents, below this level.

The definition of a Critical Incident is:

below the level of a major one but still of significance.  Examples would include the death of a pupil, or significant fire within a school.  Yule and Gold (1993) define a critical incident as "a sudden and unforeseen incident which has a significant and negative impact upon the emotional well-being of pupils and/or adults of a school and/or upon the effective funding of a school." 

Wigan Council has an Emergency Plan that, depending on the scale and nature of the incident, may be activated:  

• Dr Simon Jenner - s.jenner@wiganmbc.gov.uk 01942 705422
  
  
• Mrs Susan Elliott - s.elliott@wiganmbc.gov.uk   01942 488467
  
  

• Jeff Cunliffe, Development Manager, Development & Premises
  J.Cunliffe@wigan.gov.uk  01942 486017
  
  
• Brian Roberts, Capital Projects Officer,Development & Premises
  brian.roberts@wigan.gov.uk 01942 486018
  
  
• Andrew Dunne, Capital Projects Officer, Development & Premises
  andrew.dunne@wigan.gov.uk 01942 486019
  
  
• David Clegg, Capital Projects Officer, Development & Premises
  david.clegg@wigan.gov.uk 01942 486026

Psychological Support Procedures and Support materials
(examples of when to use are; a death, threat to life, trauma)

Critical Incident Information for Schools and Educational Settings (MSWord Document 354Kb)
This booklet gives information about the Wigan CYPS support process if a critical incident occurs, strategies for settings, useful links and other resources.

Critical Incidents - Handbook for Staff. (MSWord Document 231Kb)
This outlines the Support process from Wigan CYPS, the standards for the support and what can be offered

Wigan CYPS Managing School Emergencies (Premises) Procedures (PDF Document 109Kb)

Incidents – checklists

What should we do as a setting? (MSWord Document 43Kb)

Handling Critical Incidents in Schools

A draft school emergency management plan (MSWord Document 165Kb)

Emergency Planning Training 17-11-08 (PowerPoint Presentation 251Kb)

N.B  Re the emergency services 999 number.  If calls are made via a switchboard then the number dialled to connect to an outside line also needs to be included e.g. to call via the council switchboard is 9 for outside line followed by 999 (4 nines).

Numbers for schools to insert in own records

National

• DCSF have an excellent set of materials on Teachernet www.teachernet.gov.uk/emergencies/resources/index.html including planning, flu pandemic, school security, evacuation, counselling, media handling, talk to parents.
  
  
• Winston’s Wish provide excellent bereavement materials and help – www.winstonswish.org.uk.  Telephone 0845 203 0405
  
  
• Cruse provide bereavement support/counselling – www.cruse.org.uk (young persons site www.rd4u.org.uk).  Telephone 0808 808 1677 or locally 0161 236 8103
  
  
• Victim Support have local counselling where a crime is involved 01942 322 033 and a website that is mainly aimed at adults – www.victimsupportsco.co.uk
  
  
• Support after murder/manslaughter is available on 0207 735 3838.  They mainly deal with adults.
  
  
• Childhood Bereavement Network.  Telephone 020 7843 6309 – www.ncb.org.uk/cbn
  
  
• Childline 0800 1111
  
  
• Durham County Council have an excellent website with materials regarding support for crisis/bereavement – www.durhamlea.org.uk/cb

Local

Wigan Council CYPS Educational Trips and Visits Policy (PDF Document 166Kb)

Wigan Transfer Letter (MSWord Document 79Kb)

End User Letter - Testing Fire Alarms (MSWord Document 33Kb)

Training materials from Behaviour Support Team (Telephone 01942 201914); Educational Psychology Service (Telephone 01942 705422) and PSHE+C Team (01942 488465)

Family Support Team,

Counselling Service 01942 828773

Need to be over 11 and receiving support from Social Services

Wigan Family Welfare

StuartParsons@WiganFamilyWelfare.fsnet.co.uk

Support for bereaved Young People (8-18 years), parents/caregivers, schools/teachers, other professionals within Wigan

Little London, 46 Bridgeman Terrace, 01942 776767

PCMHT for longer term support for young people up to Y6

Some schools have staff trained in Psychological Support