Step by Step - resources for education professionals

Step by Step - resources for education professionals

Lloyd's Charities Trust

Samaritans' Step By Step service includes resources on dealing with suicide or self-harm for education professionals. Alternatively, you can view these resources for:

These resources have been developed by our partner organisations with expertise on self-harm, suicide and working with young people, their families and schools.


Suicide help resources


 With Samaritans logo1. Dealing with suicide

Author: Samaritans
Audience: young people, parents and families, education professionals

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo 2. Checklist – students at risk: handout for schools R16 – Responding to Critical Incidents: Resource Material for Schools, pp.23-24

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

This checklist may be used by the psychologist or may be offered as an aid to school staff who are concerned about a student. It should be remembered that the checking of a number of items for any one student may point to other problems. Indication of a number of these factors in any one student should always be followed up.

Download this resource

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo3. Critical Incident Policy & Plan – Framework’ – R21, Responding to Critical Incidents: Resource Material for Schools, pp.34-39

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

The first three weeks following an incident is a time of vulnerability for staff and students. This can be a challenging time for the school community and may call on all its resources to deal with the event. This resource offers guidance around planning.

‘Critical Incident Policy & Plan – Framework’ provides a template for schools to plan their Critical Incident Policy.

  • Critical incident team
  • Record keeping
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Confidentiality

Download this resource

 

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo4. Dealing with the media – Responding to Critical Incidents: Guidelines for Schools, pp.43-44

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

Some events draw a great deal of media attention. Media interest can add to the complexity of the situation and it’s therefore very important to agree a procedure for dealing with the media at an early stage in the intervention.

Download this resource

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo

5. Exploring suicide risk: Guidance for schools and NEPS R17’ – Responding to Critical Incidents: Resource Material for Schools, pp.23-24

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

The term ‘risk assessment’ is now used in quite a specific sense and such an assessment needs to be carried out by a trained professional. This note is intended to help those professionals (designated school staff, such as guidance counsellors or chaplains, and psychologists) most immediately available to the student, to make an immediate judgement as to whether a student is at risk. Where there is a serious concern about a student, then a referral should be made immediately.

Download this resource

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo

6. Frequently Asked Questions – R18, R19 & R20 – Responding to Critical Incidents: Resource Material for Schools, pp.26-32.

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

The following is a summary of questions frequently asked by parents/principals/teachers after a critical incident.

Download this resource

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo7. Preparation on and planning’ – Section 3, Responding to Critical Incidents: Guidelines for Schools, pp.15-18

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

The first three weeks following an incident is a time of vulnerability for staff and students. This can be a challenging time for the school community and may call on all its resources to deal with the event. This resource offers guidance around planning.

‘Preparation and Planning’ provides advice on planning. 

  • Creating a plan
  • Key tasks
  • Checklist for review
  • Critical incident team 
  • Communicating the plan

 

Download this resource

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo

8. Reintegration of the bereaved child in school: handout for schools R13’Responding to Critical Incidents: Resource Material for Schools, p.19

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

This resource offers suggestions which may help prepare the school and the bereaved child for their return to school. They will help to ensure that the individual, the other students and the staff feel more conformable and at ease.

Download this resource


 

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo9. Sample announcement to the media: resource for schools R6Responding to Critical Incidents: Resource Material for Schools, p.9.

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland

This can be used as a template by schools to be emailed, faxed or given to the media. It may help to decrease the number of media calls and callers to the school.

Download this resource

National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Republic of Ireland logo10. Warning signs – Responding to Critical Incidents: Guidelines for Schools, pp.34-38

Author: National Educational Psychology Service (NEPS) – Repuplic of Ireland

This resource offers a list of factors which indicate that a person is troubled or distressed.  The list is not exhaustive and there may be other signs which those familiar with a student may notice. There may be an increased likelihood of suicide or suicidal behaviour if a number of these signs are present.

Download this resource


 

 

Self-harm help resources


 With Samaritans logo1. Dealing with self-harm

Author: Samaritans

Related information

Step by Step introduction

Providing local support

Resources for dealing with suicide

Resources for dealing with self-harm

Step by Step background

 

Further Information

For further information please contact Sam Oakley, Development Officer,
on +44 (0)208 394 8286 or email stepbystep@samaritans.org

 

Feedback

Let us know whether you used the Step by Step service and what you thought of it