"The Ambulance Service Critical Incident Stress Management Programme."
The Ambulance Service Critical Incident Stress Management System was established in 1997 as a partnership between the then regional health boards, ambulance service staff representative bodies and the Department of Health & Children.
Funding for the programme came from the Department up to 2004 but is now provided by the Health Services Executive.
The Programme is led by the National Co-ordinating Committee which includes representatives of all the stakeholders.
From the beginning, there have been very close links with the National Ambulance Services College(NASC).
The College has provided the Committee's secretiariat and CISM training has been co-ordinated and delivered through it.
From the start also, there have been close links with the Department of Psychology of the Health Service Executive - Northern Area.
The core components of the CISM Programme are
- A stress awareness training programme which includes a significant component on critical incident stress and information on how to access assistance if effected by it. This programme is delivered locally to all ambulance service personnel and is refreshed at appropriate intervals. It also forms part of new recruit training at NASC.
- Support for ambulance service personnel effected by critical incidents is provided by a corps of specially selected and trained Peer Supporters.
- Peer Supporters have also been trained as Stress Awareness Trainers.
- To be accepted for training as a Peer Supporters, a member of the ambulance service must have at least three years service experience and be nominated by colleagues.
- A 'person spec' for the role has been developed which guides selection. Peer Supporters are volunteers, receive no additional remuneration and undertake to be available to colleagues, if needed, outside rostered hours.
- Ambulance Service personnel who have more complex or enduring problems arising from critical incident stress can be referred to mental health professionals.
- Within each Health Service Executive area there is a designated member of the Ambulance Service staff, accountable to the area's Chief Ambulance Officer, who co-ordinates the delivery of the CISM programme in that area.