First Aid and Managing medicines (in support of Company s Health & Safety policy)

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1 First Aid and Managing medicines (in support of Company s Health & Safety policy) 'Five Rivers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment' Policy Owner Headteacher Authoriser Education Advisor to the Board Date of Original Issue 01/09/2018 Date of Next Review 30/09/2019 Version V1 Five Rivers Child Care Limited [01/09/2018], All Rights Reserved. The content of this policy is protected by the copyright laws of England and Wales and by international laws and conventions. No content from this policy may be copied, reproduced or revised without the prior written consent of Five Rivers Child Care Limited. Copies of content may be saved and/or printed for use in relation to the business and affairs of the Company only.

2 First Aid The purpose of first aid is to reduce the effect of injury or illness suffered at work and first aid provision must be adequate and appropriate in the circumstances to ensure compliance with the requirement of the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations This means that sufficient First Aid personnel and facilities should be available:- To give immediate assistance to casualties with both common injuries or illness and those likely to arise from specific hazards at work; and To summon an ambulance or other professional help Arrangements Each of our schools will have an appointed First Aider on site. All of our staff have First Aid training within their induction programme. All First Aiders and Appointed Persons will hold a valid certificate and arrange to attend the refresher course before the expiry date which is currently 3 years. A diary system/reminder will be maintained by the School to ensure this is implemented. First Aiders or Appointed persons should not provide first aid treatment for which they have not been trained. First aid is only intended to provide an element of protection of an injury or to reduce discomfort. Signs stating the names of the First Aiders/Appointed Persons and the locations of the First Aid Boxes will be displayed on the Notice Board. The First Aiders/Appointed Persons are responsible for ensuring that the contents of the First Aid Boxes are checked regularly and are up to date. A Needs Assessment should be undertaken to ascertain what contents are most suited for the area concerned. (See Appendices for suggested First Aid Box Checklist) There is a British Standard BS 8599 for first aid kits, it is not a regulatory requirement under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 to purchase kits that comply with this standard. Instead the contents of a first aid box is dependent on an employers first aid needs assessment. This means for employers following a needs assessment the options are: 1. Within your workplace you have access to a first aid kit whose contents complies with BS 8599 and matches your needs assessment; or 2. Within your workplace you have access to a first aid kit whose contents matches your needs assessment but does not comply with the requirements of BS (taken from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) website) See First Aid Needs Assessment Form in appendices (Company Health & Safety Policy) First Aid Box Headteachers and Service Managers have ultimate responsibility to ensure that provision of a First Aid box is available in their service area. This responsibility may be delegated to a member of staff who should be suitably trained to undertake this. A First Aid Needs

3 Assessment should be carried out to determine the contents of the First Aid Box. A suggested First Aid Box contents for may contain: Guidance note in First aid and a reference number on the lid 40 sterile adhesive dressings (plasters) 4 eye pads, 1 eye wash 4 sterile triangular bandages 12 safety pins 8 sterile medium (no 8) dressings 4 sterile large (no 9) dressings 4 sterile extra large (no 3) dressings 1 tube antiseptic cream 1 pair of disposable gloves 6 sterile wipes All injuries, however minor, should be recorded in the Accident Book and by completing the Five Rivers Accident and Injuries Form, unless the premises has access to the Clear Care system in which case the injury should be recorded on the system with no requirement for an Accident Book Record. Medicines Medicines are a powerful compound that control disease, ease discomfort, and prolong life. Unfortunately no medicine is without side effects and some are worse than others. Side effects are not the only potential problem, some people take them when they do not need them, or use them in the wrong way, or take medicines meant for someone else. Consequences from this are often mild, however sometimes the consequences can be severe, or even life threatening. Five Rivers staff are responsible for looking after the young people, which includes the safe care, control and administering of medication. It is important to follow safe principles, as prescribed in Five Rivers policy and procedures manual. 1 Further information including legislative requirements, good practice and guidance can be found in the following documents:- 1. National Minimum Care Standards Standard Children s Homes Regulations Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations Management of Health and Safety At Work Regulations The Administering and Control of Medicines in Care Homes and Children s Services 2003 and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Guidance 6. Health and Safety in Care Homes; HSE, 2001

4 Managing medicines No child under 16 should be given prescription or non-prescription medicines without written consent from parents We will set out the circumstances in which non-prescription medicines may be administered A child under 16 should never be given medicine containing aspirin unless prescribed by a doctor We will only accept prescribed medicines if these are in-date, labelled, provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist, and include instructions for administration, dosage and storage We will keep a record of all medicines administered to individual children Staff responsibilities Any member of school staff may be asked to provide support to pupils with medical conditions, including the administering of medicines, although they cannot be required to do so. Although administering medicines is not part of teachers professional duties, we will take into account the needs of pupils with medical conditions that we teach. Delegated staff will have medication training before taking on responsibility for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The training will be based on the individual needs of the child. Parental responsibilities Parents/carers are required to provide up-to-date information on their child s medical needs to the school. Pupil responsibilities Pupils who are competent may be encouraged to take responsibility for managing their own medicines. If a pupil refuses to take medicine or carry out a necessary procedure, staff will not force them to do so. Parents/carers will be informed so that alternative options can be considered. Storing medicines Our students will know where their medicines are at all times and be able to access them immediately. Where relevant, will should know who holds the key to the storage facility. Medicines and devices such as asthma inhalers, blood glucose testing meters and adrenaline pens will always be readily available to children and not locked away.

5 School trips Non-prescription medicines will only be given to a pupil on a trip if: Specific prior written consent has been received from the pupil s parents/carers It is in accordance with the school policy Staff have checked, and received parental confirmation, that the medicine has previously been used by the pupil without any negative effect If a non-prescribed medicine is used, staff will: Make a record for each child explaining what medicine has been administered and when Inform the pupil s parents/carers Any medicine will be provided by parents/carers in its original container and labelled with clear instructions on when and how it should be taken. Parents/carers will complete a written consent form giving permission for their child to take the medicine. Before agreeing to administer any medicine, we will confirm that the pupil has taken it before and did not have any adverse reactions to it.

6 Administering medicines in school The table below contains advice that members of staff can refer to when administering medicines to pupils in school. It is based on the Department for Education s statutory guidance on supporting pupils at school with medical conditions. Do Do not Remember that any member of school staff may be asked to provide support to pupils with medical conditions, but they are not obliged to do so Check the maximum dosage and when the previous dosage was taken before administering medicine Keep a record of all medicines administered. The record should state the type of medicine, the dosage, how and when it was administered, and the member of staff who administered it Inform parents if their child has received medicine or been unwell at school Store medicine safely Ensure that the child knows where his or her medicine is kept, and can access it immediately Give prescription medicines or undertake healthcare procedures without appropriate training Accept medicines unless they are in-date, labelled, in the original container and accompanied by instructions Give prescription or nonprescription medicine to a child under 16 without written parental consent, unless in exceptional circumstances Give medicine containing aspirin to a child under 16 unless it has been prescribed by a doctor Lock away emergency medicine or devices such as adrenaline pens or asthma inhalers Force a child to take their medicine. If the child refuses to take it, follow the procedure in the individual healthcare plan and inform their parents