The Akidamy Knowledge Platform

    Unexpected Death of a Child at the School Policy

    POLICY CONTENT

    The unexpected death of a child at a School is a traumatic event and the impact on educators, children and families can cause emotional turmoil, which can overwhelm usual coping skills. A policy providing comprehensive procedures is therefore crucial to ensure a coordinated response and ensure the mandatory reporting requirements to the regulatory authorities are followed.

    As a result of the suddenness of such an event, well-trained and experienced staff can experience strong emotions and traumatic stress responses. The role of our School is to help restore a sense of safety for all children, educators, and families as soon as possible following a traumatic event.

    NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

    QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety
    2.2.2Incident and emergency managementPlans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultaion with relevant authorities, practiced and implemented. 

    QUALITY AREA 7: Governance and Leadership
    7.2LeadershipEffective leadership builds and promotes a positive organisational culture and professional learning community

    PURPOSE

    Our School will ensure that Management and Educators follow the procedures and principles within this policy and that immediate and appropriate action is taken to notify relevant authorities in the event of the death of a child whilst at the School. There are a number of legal requirements to adhere to in the tragic event of the death of a child at a School as outlined below.


    SCOPE

    This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, and visitors of the School.


    SERIOUS INCIDENTS

    Regulation 12 defines a serious incident involving the death of a child as:

    • The death of a child:
      • while that child is being educated and cared for by an education and care service, or
      • following an incident occurring while that child was being educated and cared for by an education and care service.

    NOTIFICATION OF A SERIOUS INCIDENT

    Under the National Law and Regulations [Section 174(2) (a) and Regulation 176 (2) (a)], the approved provider must notify the regulatory authorities within 24 hours of any serious incidents. This must be completed by logging into the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA IT System).

    KEEPING CHILDREN’S RECORDS

    In the event of the death of a child whilst being cared for at the School, records must be kept for seven years from the date of the child’s death. [Regulation 183 (c)]

    INITIAL ACTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY

    Management and educators will ensure that immediate and appropriate action is taken in the event of the death of a child whilst at the School by following and implementing the following procedures:

    1. assess the situation as per school and First Aid procedures for any immediate danger to other children and/or staff
    2. provide immediate First Aid and/or CPR in accordance with current First Aid training
    3. call emergency services immediately and request an ambulance
    4. management/Responsible person will call the parents/guardian of the child and arrange to meet at the hospital (cooperate with emergency services and adhere to their protocols)
    5. the School must not advise parents of the death of their child: medical staff/emergency services will advise families of the situation
    6. notify Regulatory Authorities including Police
    7. notify the Approved Provider (if not at the school)
    8. the Responsible person will complete in detail the School’s Incident, injury, trauma and illness form (in addition to notifying ACECQA via the NQA IT System)
    9. The Approved provider will log the incident on the NQA IT System, attaching incident form and evidence acecqa.gov.au/resources/national-quality-ag...
    10. notify SafeWork within the first hour of the incident/fatality occurring
    11. secure the area around where the fatality occurred to prevent further incident or injury and to adhere to any non-disturbance requirements for notification of a notifiable incident under Work Health and Safety Act 2011
    12. Management/Approved provider will contact the insurance company.

    Management and Nominated Supervisor will:

    • follow directions/protocols provided by the Regulatory Authority/ SafeWork. Request support for protocols when notifying families and children; sharing information with a coordinated and effective response and assistance to manage social media adhering to privacy and confidentiality laws
    • ensure parents, families, children and educators receive adequate and appropriate post-incident support
    • demonstrate sensitivity, open mindedness and a balanced approach
    • recognise and support cultural needs
    • ensure all evidence is preserved
    • maintain accurate and detailed record keeping
    • contact their legal representative for support and direction
    • establish protocols for staff and educators to discuss the traumatic event
    • advise staff of social media protocol for the event
    • provide professional and sensitive communication with families of the School
    • engage the services of health care professionals (counselling and support for staff)
    • cooperate on an ongoing basis with inter-agencies involved in the investigation.

    CARING FOR THE WELLBEING OF EDUCATORS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

    Our School will engage health professionals who may include child and family counsellors and psychologists to support our educators during this profoundly difficult time. Health professionals will assist educators to be sensitive and mindful of the impact such an event has had on all stakeholders. With professional guidance and support, we will encourage children to express their emotions and feelings and implement strategies to assist and guide children’s process of grieving and re-engage children in learning.

    Educators will support children’s understanding of grief and loss by:
    • answering questions simply and honestly
    • allowing children to express their emotions and feelings
    • provide appropriate comfort
    • implement a range of learning experiences to express their thoughts- drawing, movement, play
    • create a safe space for time alone when needed

    Our School will seek advice and support from health professionals to provide appropriate materials to send home to families to assist in understanding the effects of trauma on children and possible changes in behaviour following the unexpected death of a child in our School.

    SUPPORT SERVICES

    Beyou1300 224 636beyou.edu.au
    Beyond Blue1300 224 636beyondblue.org.au
    Headspace1800 650 890headspace.org.au
    Lifeline13 11 14lifeline.org.au
    Kid’s Help Line 1800 551 800kidshelpline.com.au
    Compassionate Friends of Victoria1300 064 068compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/
    National Centre for Childhood Grief1300 654 556childhoodgrief.org.au/contact-us/
    Rainbows03 9798 7005https://    rainbows.org.au/


    SOURCE

    Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement: grief.org.au
    Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network: earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au/files/ACATLGN_grief_and_loss....
    Education and Care Services National Amendment Regulations. (2017).
    Education and Care National Regulations. (2011).
    Guide to the National Quality Standard. (2017).
    Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
    What Do We Tell the Children When Someone Dies? adac.org.au/siteF/resources/l_children_gt...
    Work Health and Safety Act 2011.