Public Health
Incident Leadership
MODULE 3: ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES
AND EXPECTATIONS
August 2015
Objectives
 Review Incident Command System positions and
responsibilities
 Identify responsibilities of Incident Commander
 Increase understanding of the expectations of the
Incident Management Team
ICS in Public Health
 Not business as usual
 Challenging model
 Decisions based on incomplete information
 Need for timely decision making
Why ICS?
 Effective and efficient response to incidents with
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public health implications
Establishes common processes for planning and
management of resources
Provides a common operating structure
Respond with partners in a seamless, coordinated
fashion
Provides common language when working with
partners
ICS Structure
Incident Commander
 Know agency policy and lines of authority
 Responsible for all ICS management functions until
delegated
 Ensure incident safety
 Overall responsibility for managing the incident by
establishing objectives, planning strategies, and
implementing tactics
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Establish immediate priorities
Determine incident objectives and strategies
Establish type of organization needed and monitor functioning
and effectiveness of organization in managing the incident
Approve the Incident Action Plan (IAP)
Incident Commander
 Manage Planning Meetings as required
 Coordinate activity of Command and General Staff
 Approve requests for additional resources or for the
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release of resources
Authorizes release of information to the news media
Orders demobilization of the incident when
appropriate
Ensure incident after-action reports are complete
Display command presence
Deputy Incident Commander
A Deputy Incident Commander may be designated to:
 Perform specific tasks as requested by the Incident
Commander
 Perform the incident command function in a relief
capacity
 Represent an assisting agency that shares jurisdiction
Command Staff
Roles and Expectations
 Implementing effective ICS teams is more than
knowing the roles
 Effective teams both understand and manage
expectations
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Command and general staff are aware of what is expected of
them by the Incident Commander
Incident Commander is aware of what is expected of him or
her by the incident management team
Group Activity
For your assigned ICS position:
1. List 3-4 key responsibilities
2. List what support you as Incident Commander
expect from this position
5 Minutes
Public Information Officer (PIO)
• Advises the Incident Commander on information
dissemination and media relations
• IC approves media releases
• Monitors and forwards media information that
may be useful to incident planning
• Develops information for use in media briefings
• Conducts periodic media briefings
• Arranges for tours and other interviews or briefings
that may be required
• Maintains current information summaries and/or
displays on the incident
• Makes information about the incident available to
incident personnel
• Participates in the Planning Meeting
Expectations: Public Information Officer
Incident Commander Expectations of Public Information Officer
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Keep personnel up-to-date on major current affairs
Coordinate with Liaison Officer in relations with stakeholders
Identify and keep IC informed of emerging issues
Coordinate and represent the IC in off-site PIO activities
Promote a positive impression of all information
Public Information Officer Expectations of Incident Commander
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Approve press releases in a timely manner
Cooperate with media requests and public information meetings
Provide direction on his/her media expectations
Safety Officer
• Advises the Incident Commander on issues regarding
incident safety
• Identifies and mitigates hazardous situations
• Ensures safety of all incident personnel
• Works with Operations to ensure safety of field
personnel
• Has authority to stop unsafe acts outside the scope of
• the IAP
• Develops safety procedures and safety plan
• Reviews IAP for safety implications and documents on
215A
• Reviews and approves Medical Plan
• Initiates preliminary investigation of accidents within
incident
• Participates in Planning Meetings
• Ensures safety messages and briefing are completed
Expectations: Safety Officer
Incident Commander Expectations of Safety Officer
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Identify, manage, instruct and mitigate all hazards on the
incident
Keep IC informed on trends/causes of accidents and illnesses
Promote attitude of 100% compliance with safety rules
Provide relevant and effective safety message in each IAP
Safety Officer Expectations of Incident Commander
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Emphasize safety in all communications and actions
Support recommendations for changes in tactics for safety
reasons
Liaison Officer
• Assists the Incident Commander by serving as a point of
contact for representatives from other response
organizations and entities
• Maintains list of assisting and cooperating agencies and
agency representatives
• Assists in setting up and coordinating interagency
contacts
• Provides briefings to and answers questions from
supporting organizations
• Monitors incident operations to identify current or
potential inter-organizational problems
• Participates in Planning Meetings
• Provides current resource status, including capabilities
and limitations of partner agency resources
• Provides partner agency specific demobilization
information and requirements
Expectations: Liaison Officer
Incident Commander Expectations of Liaison Officer
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Address stakeholder concerns and issues in a positive manner
Identify and coordinate with all involved agencies and organizations
Provide a positive impression of incident to other
agencies/stakeholders
Coordinate with Public Information Officer in relations with
stakeholders
Keep other IMT members aware of issues with assisting agencies
Liaison Officer Expectations of Incident Commander
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Advise and counsel on issues presented by assisting agencies
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Provide overall mission and direction
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Show willingness to engage with stakeholders when necessary
General Staff
Operations Section Chief
 Manages tactical operations
 Responsible for the operations portion of the Incident
Action Plan (IAP)
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Supervises the execution of the incident’s operations
Requests additional resources to support tactical
operations
 Maintains close contact with subordinate positions
 Makes or approves changes to operations portion of the
IAP
 Approves release of resources from assignments to the
incident
 Maintains close contact with the Incident Commander
Expectations: Operations Section Chief
Incident Commander Expectations of Operations Chief
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Recommend strategies to reach objectives
Keep IMT informed of planned tactics to ensure timely input and
support
Order resources within fiscal and environmental boundaries
Report unusual events and activities; provide daily updates
Insist all known safety procedures are followed
Maintain effective communication with all cooperating agencies
Operations Chief Expectations of Incident Commander
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Supply objectives
Point out any constraints on strategies or tactics. (environmental,
political or financial)
Planning Section Chief
 Collects and manages all incident-relevant operational data
 Prepares the Incident Action Plan (IAP)
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Provides input to the Incident Commander and Operations
Chief
 Conducts and facilitates Planning Meetings
 Establishes information requirements and reporting
schedules
 Reassigns existing personnel to ICS organizational
positions as appropriate
 Develops plans for demobilization
Planning Section Units
Expectations: Planning Section Chief
Incident Commander Expectations of Planning Chief
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Exercise effective leadership and organization of all incident
meetings and briefings.
Ensure established planning process is followed, timely and
accurate.
Maintain overview of all incident activities
Planning Chief Expectations of Incident Commander
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Provide incident objectives
Provide Planning Meeting schedules/operational periods
Provide deadlines for Incident Action Plan
Review and approve Incident Action Plan
Logistics Section Chief
 Manages all incident logistics
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Orders, obtains, maintains and accounts for essential
personnel, equipment and supplies
 Provides logistics input to the Incident Action Plan
 Identifies anticipated and known incident service and
support requirements
 Requests additional resources as needed
 Develops the communications, medical and traffic plans as
needed
 Oversees demobilization of the Logistics Section
Expectations: Logistics Section Chief
Incident Commander Expectations of Logistics Chief
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Managing the ordering process to meet all incident needs
Anticipate and maintain supplies ahead of the need whenever
possible
Work closely with Operations to provide logistical support and
coordination
Coordinate with the supporting EOC to ensure effective relations
Logistics Chief Expectations of Incident Commander
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Provide priorities for ordering personnel, supplies and
equipment
Provide support for logistics activities
Keep in the loop for planned direction of the incident
Finance/Administration Section Chief
 Manages all financial aspects of an incident
 Provides financial and cost analysis information as
requested
 Ensures compensation and claims functions relative to the
incident are being addressed
 Develops an operating plan for the Finance/Administration
Section
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Fills section supply and support needs
 Ensures all personnel time records are accurately
completed
 Ensures all obligation documents are properly prepared
and completed
Expectations: Finance Section Chief
Incident Commander Expectations of Finance Chief
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Advise all command and general staff about fiscal, contract and other
administrative matters
Provide cost analysis if requested
Possess good knowledge and ability to operate Finance Section
effectively
Coordinate with all staff and responsible agencies to meet
administrative requirements
Finance Chief Expectations of Incident Commander
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Provide general advice and counsel
Provide financial and political constraints
Provide feedback on performance and evaluation
Approval of excess staff time
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
You are asked for a map of the incident area.
Who would you go to?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
You received the following notice:
The National Weather Service has just
announced that the Winter Storm Warning for
the Metro and South Central Minnesota is being
changed to a Blizzard Warning.
What do you do with this information?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
A mass vaccination site calls to tell you that
they are running out of vaccine.
Who would you go to ?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
You received a call that one of the trucks
dispatched to collect personal protective
equipment (PPE) from a large business
supplier has broken down after picking up the
PPE supplies.
Who would you go to?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
The receptionist tells you that she can’t keep
up with the phone calls coming in about an
infectious disease.
Who would you go to?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
Re-elections are right around the corner. An
elected official wants to attend the health
department planning meetings.
Who would you go to?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
A long-term care facility has lost main power
due to a storm. The facility has limited backup generator capacity. They have 60 residents
and do not want to evacuate in these
conditions.
Who would you go to?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
Media are requesting messages on the health
dangers of the smoke from the forest fires to
those with respiratory problems.
Who would you go to?
Exercise: Delegation of Tasks
Your office is experiencing intermittent power
and phone outages.
Who would you go to?
Framework for Public Health Incident Leadership
Skills
Behaviors
“Do”
Performance
Skills
Leadership
Knowledge
Cognitions
“Think”
Situation
Monitoring
Communication
Mutual
Support
Knowledge
Attitudes
Affect “Feel”
Attitudes