> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://signalschools.co.uk/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Recording & Managing Staff Incidents

> Step-by-step guide to creating, viewing, editing, and commenting on staff incidents in Signal.

<Note>
  Creating and managing staff incidents requires the **Owner**, **DSL**, or **Deputy DSL** role.
</Note>

This guide walks you through the full process of recording a staff incident — from creating the initial record through to adding comments and managing the incident over time.

## Creating a staff incident

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new staff incident">
    Click **Add Staff Incident** from the quick action in the sidebar, or navigate to **Staff Incidents** and select the **Add Staff Incident** button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select main staff member(s)">
    Choose the primary staff member or members the concern is about. At least one main staff member is required.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add linked staff (optional)">
    If other staff members are connected to the concern but are not the primary subject, add them as linked staff.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add linked students (optional)">
    If any students are connected to the concern, link them to the incident.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the date and time">
    Enter the date and time the concern arose. This may differ from the date you are recording the incident.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write the description">
    Describe the concern in the rich text editor. You can use **@mentions** to tag relevant colleagues — staff who are named in the incident are automatically excluded from the mention list to protect confidentiality.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select alert recipients">
    Choose who should be notified about this incident. Only staff with the Owner, DSL, or Deputy DSL role will appear as options.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach documents (optional)">
    Upload any supporting files — photos, letters, reports, or other evidence.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit for analysis">
    Click **Next**. Signal's AI analyses the description and suggests appropriate categories.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select categories and location">
    Review the AI-suggested categories and select the ones that apply. Choose the location where the incident occurred.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the incident">
    Click **Save** to create the completed incident record.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/signalschools-02f5aab3/sppl4yon0J8yThcC/staff-incidents/staff-incident-form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=sppl4yon0J8yThcC&q=85&s=66cfc9ea369e98d32e3a37df14aa1ac8" alt="The Create Staff Incident form with a main staff member selected, an incident date, and a description" width="668" height="900" data-path="staff-incidents/staff-incident-form.png" />
</Frame>

<Tip>
  When writing the description, include as much factual detail as possible — what was observed or reported, when, where, and by whom. Avoid speculation or opinion. This creates a clear, professional record.
</Tip>

## Viewing and filtering staff incidents

The staff incidents list shows all incidents you have access to. Remember that any incidents naming you are automatically hidden due to [self-exclusion](/docs/staff-incidents/overview).

You can filter the list by:

* **Date range** — focus on a specific time period
* **Categories** — show only incidents of a particular type
* **Locations** — filter by where the incident occurred
* **Staff members** — find incidents involving a specific person

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/signalschools-02f5aab3/sppl4yon0J8yThcC/staff-incidents/staff-incidents-filters.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=sppl4yon0J8yThcC&q=85&s=e9daa43aca1b92c48ad77652ee6e56c3" alt="The Staff Incidents list with the filter panel open, showing search, staff member, location, category, and date-range filters" width="1440" height="900" data-path="staff-incidents/staff-incidents-filters.png" />
</Frame>

<Info>
  Filters can be combined. For example, you can view all "Allegations" incidents from the last term that occurred on the school premises.
</Info>

## Editing a staff incident

You can edit a staff incident after it has been created to add information, correct details, or update categories.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the incident">
    Click an incident in the staff incidents list to open it. Staff incidents open in a side sheet titled "Incident Details" rather than a full page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start editing">
    On desktop, click the pencil icon (its tooltip reads "Edit Incident"). On mobile, open the menu and choose **Edit**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your changes">
    Update any fields as needed — description, categories, location, linked staff, or linked students.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save** to apply your changes.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  All changes to staff incidents are recorded in the audit log. This ensures accountability and provides a clear trail of who changed what and when.
</Warning>

## Comments and collaboration

Comments allow Owners, DSLs, and Deputy DSLs to share updates, discuss next steps, and build a documented trail of actions taken on a staff incident.

### Adding a comment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the incident">
    Navigate to the staff incident you want to comment on.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the comments section">
    Comments are in a collapsible section within the incident side sheet. Use the **Show** / **Hide** / **Add** toggle to expand it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write your comment">
    Type your comment in the text field. You can @mention other Owners, DSLs, or Deputy DSLs to bring the incident to their attention.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send">
    Click **Send** to post your comment.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Deleting a comment

You can delete a comment if you are the person who created it, or if you hold a privileged role (DSL, Deputy DSL, or Owner).

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/signalschools-02f5aab3/sppl4yon0J8yThcC/staff-incidents/staff-incident-detail.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=sppl4yon0J8yThcC&q=85&s=b054cbc67a1ba0718348ebfdb3a9c623" alt="A staff incident detail panel showing the description and a Comments section with two comments and a reply box" width="668" height="800" data-path="staff-incidents/staff-incident-detail.png" />
</Frame>

## Key differences from student incidents

Staff incidents work similarly to student incidents in many ways, but there are some important differences:

<Accordion title="No agencies field">
  Staff incidents do not include an agencies field. External organisations involved in staff matters are typically referenced in the description or comments instead.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="No AI recommendations panel">
  Unlike student incidents, staff incidents do not display an AI recommendations panel. AI is used to suggest categories during creation, but ongoing recommendations are not shown.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Restricted visibility">
  Student incidents are visible to staff with the Contributor role and above. Staff incidents are visible only to Owners, DSLs, and Deputy DSLs, and self-exclusion applies.
</Accordion>
