The
Official Policy of the Support Unit is as follows:
The following guidelines will stipulate the duties and function of the
Emergency Services Chaplaincy (Southern Africa) Support Unit, hereafter only to
be referred to as the Support Unit:
Information will be divided into subheadings -
COMPOSITION OF THE SUPPORT
UNIT.
CONTACT PERSONS & CALL OUT PROCEDURES
The Support unit will consist of a group of members of the ESC (SA) given
a specific task to do and who are trained in special skills, which can be
deployed in a disciplined manner at large, or crisis incidents nationwide, or
even internationally by the Emergency Services Chaplaincy Executive Committee,
who will be the governing body of this unit. The prime task of this unit will be
to provide support to existing chaplains, if they should require additional
chaplaincy support. Be it for serving refreshments, or assisting with general
chaplaincy tasks. We should always remember the objectives of the E.S.C. (S.A.)
as stipulated in our constitution, and make those our only objectives in serving
the people that are in need of our assistance.
COMPOSITION
OF THE SUPPORT UNIT.
The Support Unit will be run by the ESC(SA) executive committee, or a
co-opted member. The Support Unit will be functioning under the supervision of
the ESC(SA) executive committee. The president, vice-president, and CEO will be
the persons with the responsibility of taking command of the unit when they
called to assist in incidents. If
they are not available, the most senior ranking member, appointed for this task
by the executive committee of the E.S.C. (S.A.), will take command, being in
consultation with either the president, vice president, or CEO on operations.
These members going out should always remember that they are only going out to
assist the existing chaplains of that specific area, and will work under the
leadership, and supervision of the area chaplains in the disaster area.
ESC members that wish to join the Support unit will have to complete an
application form. These forms are available from the ESC(SA) executive
committee. This application form needs to be handed in to either the president,
vice-president, CEO, or the secretary of the ESC(SA) executive committee.
All applicants will have to submit with their application form, two (2)
passport photos. Members will also have to sign an indemnity form, personally
indemnifying the E.S.C. (S.A.) and all its members for any loss, or injuries
that they might experience whilst performing their duties in this Unit.
Members that are approved
will attend their first 3 (three) calls with the support unit on a probation
basis. Thereafter, it will be decided if they are capable to handle the
responsibilities given to them in an apt way.
The members of the executive committee will make a decision on this
matter.
The ESC(SA) executive committee will organize training sessions for their
members, helping to equip them for their work on the support unit. An annual
re-evaluation of members will be compulsory. This is to ensure that members do
not suffer from burn-out, or that members become to over-stressed and
traumatised by what they have to deal with in their duties. If a member is found
unfit to serve on the support unit, his or her membership from the support unit
will be terminated, until the person is again found fit for duty by the ESC(SA)
executive committee.
When the support unit are called to a scene, a Co-ordinator (team leader)
with 4-6 people of the support unit will be called to the specific incident.
This team will consist of members that are specifically trained to deal with the
type of incident at hand. Special
skills that will be identified in each member will determine the use of members
of different scenes. Special skills will include skills such as: psychology,
pastoral counselling, debriefing, etc. always keeping the objectives of the
chaplaincy, as stipulated in our constitution in mind.
The support unit will keep in storage most of the equipment that might be
needed for them to effectively function as a professional service.
The support unit also appreciate any donations towards keeping a good
supply of the most needed items. All
sponsorships, for example, financial donations, and vehicles that might be
received by the support unit must be registered in the name of the ESC(SA)
Non-Profit Organisation Number: 006-333NPO , or be made payable to the ESC(SA).
The ESC(SA) will handle the financial affairs of the support unit by putting
their money aside, and doing the audit
of the account of the support Unit. All
vehicle are to be registered in the name of the ESC(SA).
It will however only be for the use of the support unit, for both
insurance purposes, and general control and care taking of the vehicle, only 4
or 5 persons will be allowed to drive this vehicle. This vehicle will only be
used for the work of the support unit, and be used on special occasions to
promote the ESC (S.A.) and give the necessary recognition to our sponsors. Also note that no donations may be excepted by any member,
before clearing the donation with the National executive of the E.S.C. (S.A.)
Uniforms
or Clothing:
Members attending calls with the Support Unit will always wear the E.S.C.
(S.A.) uniform. Both men and woman, as to formal pants and skirts, may wear
navy-blue combat pants as a more practical form of uniform.
Where the situation calls for it, reflective clothing should also be
worn.
The Support unit will offer their assistance in any major incident: e.g.:
national disasters, floods, berg fires, earthquakes, etc., but will only go out
to scenes on direct invitation of the chief chaplain of that area, or the
authorities on scene. They will however not go into any area without consulting
with the chief chaplain for that area, as they may only work under his/her
supervision, and under his/her command.
MANMADE DISASTERS: e.g.: Bomb explosions, building collapses, major fires, riots, bank
robberies and hostage situations.
ACCIDENTS:
e.g.: Train, bus, boat or aircraft.
ON SCENE MANAGEMENT.
Firstly, the support unit will only act as support to existing chaplains,
and will work under the guidance of the local area chaplain, for that chaplain
is the one that will be held responsible by his/her Emergency Services
management for the work done by the chaplaincy. Emotional support for the
families, public, victims, and/or emergency services personnel involved in the
incident, crowd control or evacuation of danger zone, or as needed on scene by
senior officer, emergency service, rest point or control centre support e.g.
Communication. This will only happen if the local area chaplain feels he/she
cannot take care of it on her/his own, or if there are no chaplains in that
area, thus we will only be there to support the local chaplaincy.
If there are no chaplains in that area, the Executive Member of the E.S.C.
(S.A.), or appointed Unit leader will take command of the scene.
POST SCENE MANAGEMENT.
Debriefing of personnel that was involved on the scene, assisting family
or patients at hospital, informing family members and updating of patient’s
condition, only if the local area chaplain cannot take care of it on her/his
own, or if there is no chaplains in that area.
Mass patient & family support on scene, at hospital or mortuary.
Liaison with families/evacuated community and the Emergency Services.
OPERATIONS/ACTIONS ON SCENE
NOT
ONE SCENE IS THE SAME AS THE NEXT!
Unit leader/coordinator should report to the local chief chaplain, or if
there are no chaplains for that area, he/she should report to the most senior
officer on scene or to centralized ops station “JOC”
Identifiable clothing has to be worn on scene.
The team will function under the authority the local area / chief
chaplain who will be under command of the institution on scene, e.g.
Fire/Traffic/Police.
Debriefing/counselling to start as group in strictest confidentiality,
and could develop into individual counselling as needed.
Giving emotional support or e.g. coffee/beverages and food.
Keeping families updated of scene developments, conveying of messages.
Never forget the objectives of the chaplaincy, as stipulated in our
constitution, and try to stick to them.
CONTACT
PERSONS & CALL OUT PROCEDURES:
Only the Emergency Services Chaplaincy Executive Members may call out
members of the support unit. No
member of the support unit may represent the support unit on any incident
without the knowledge of either the President, Vice-President, or CEO.
When a call comes in to either the President, Vice President or CEO, they
will always inform the other members of the National Executive of the ESC of any
incident where assistance is required. Before the support team for the incident
is assembled, the proper authorities, and the local area chief chaplain where
the incident occurred will be contacted to offer our assistance, and we will
only move out to the scene after permission is granted, or if we are asked for
help. After arrival of the support team, the Chief Chaplain of the area will
co-ordinate, supervise, and dispatch the Support Unit in the areas where their
support is needed most.
- Extract form the Emergency Services (S.A.) Constitution – Point 3.
OBJECTIVES OF THE
E.S.C.(S.A.) - As per
our Constitution.