Critical Incident Updates - Red Book Information 2024-2025

The new Red Book 2024 - 2025, Critical Incident and Trauma Management in schools, academies and other settings, is now downloadable from 'My School' under Support Information (login required). It will be accessible to all LA schools, as well as to academies and independent schools that have bought into the Critical Incident Service and who will have received their copy via email.

We would like to draw your attention to the last page - a new page with guidance for governors/trustees. This was written following recent feedback and we hope you find it useful. We will also be offering a training session for governors/trustees this term - see below. We have recently designed a poster giving a brief overview of what support and advice we can offer, this can be shared via email or displayed in the office and staff room.

In addition to support in a critical incident and training, the Critical Incident Subscription includes free advice, consultation and support in relation to bereavement and trauma. Please do make your SENCO/pastoral team aware that they can access this for any children when advice would be welcomed, for example when a bereavement or recent trauma is a significant factor for any difficulties they are experiencing.

The best contact for non-urgent support is via email: cs.criticalincidentservice@norfolk.gov.uk which can be picked up by either Dr Bianca Finger-Berry or by Cherie Pointon. As usual, please call 07632 912974 for any urgent support in a critical incident, hours of operation are 8 am to 6 pm Mondays to Fridays although you can leave a message at any time. At other times please contact NCC emergency duty on 0344 8008020 (there may be a wait).

Our regular training events such as 'Managing critical incidents, bereavement and trauma in school communities', 'Supporting bereaved children in school communities' (for any member of staff) and a new Governor and Trustee training session are published in Training & Events on Norfolk Services for Schools - there is no additional charge to attend these. You may also be aware that in the last year we set up termly peer group supervision sessions for staff on the theme of bereavement, with the aim of sharing good practice and supporting staff. Please forward this to any staff who may be interested in this, and they should email us at:cs.criticalincidentservice@norfolk.gov.uk to express their interest.

If you have recently had a change of headteacher, please ensure that you update your details on the 'Emergency Contacts & Keyholders' section on the My School website (login required).

In addition, our latest termly newsletter is now available on our EPSS website.