Purpose
To provide policy, procedure and best practice for the function of a Branch Duty Officer system.
Policy
All Branches are required to have an emergency response system of which a Duty Officer component is fundamental.
Procedure
Duty Officer – Definition
Lifesaving personnel that within a local system provides operational command, coordination and external liaison for regular patrolling and emergency incidents.
Duty Officers are to be Branch appointed volunteers.
Scope of Operations – Coverage
A Duty Officer system shall function in 2 capacities:
- Rostered on-duty shifts (normally during the regular patrol season)
- Emergency Response/Callout (24/7/365 days)
Regular Patrol Season Days/Times
At least one (1) dedicated Branch Duty Officer shall be on active rostered duty at any one time during normal patrol hours, during the lifesaving patrol season. This Duty Officer does not need to be at a beach for the whole period (however this is preferred) but must be 100% contactable and able to respond during that rostered time.
Consideration shall be given to geographical positioning of Branch Duty Officers to ensure adequate coverage for the branch.
Emergency Response/Callouts (after-hours/out-of-season)
After hours/outside season a rostered on-call Branch Duty Officer system is highly recommended. Using a branch-level mobile phone divert protocol will ensure that any request for assistance through 13SURF is immediately answered.
Information Management
All Branches should maintain a specific Branch Duty Officer Manual (updated regularly) and available in soft and hard copy. and provided to all current duty officers and lifeguard supervisors.
All active Branch Duty Officers shall be updated annually in SurfGuard and details provided to SLSNSW. All new/prospective Duty Officers shall complete the ‘Support Operations Member Appointment Procedure’.
Personnel and contact detail changes should be regularly checked and updated within the Branch resources, on SurfGuard and communicated to SLSNSW.
The Branch shall ensure all club/service callout team information is updated annually on SurfGuard and details provided to each Duty Officer.
Training/Exercises
- Branches should conduct a pre-season briefing for all Duty Officers.
- Branches should conduct an in-depth induction with all new Duty Officers.
- Branches should conduct at least one (1) exercise involving all Duty Officers and club/service callout teams annually.
- Branches should facilitate club/service callout team briefings/induction exercises annually.
Key Duties
- Liaises with and Provides support and guidance to Patrol Captains/SurfCom Operators.
- Liaise with emergency services.
- Act as forward commander of lifesaving response to a reported emergency at unpatrolled locations or after-hours/out-of-season.
- Liaise with lifeguards/ lifeguard supervisors.
- Act as Forward Commander or other role as delegated to by Patrol Captain at patrolled locations.
- Co-ordinate lifesaving services at unpatrolled locations.
- Co-ordinate post incident debriefing and facilitate counselling for personnel.
- On-site media liaison (directs media to the appropriate Branch/State personnel).