Administering Medicine Policy

Transcription

1 Administering Medicine Policy Date Agreed: November 2015 Review Date: November 2016 Hove Junior School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

2 CONTENTS Section No. 1. Short Term Medical Needs 3 2. Long Term Medical Needs 3 3. Self Management 4 4. Offsite Activities and Educational Visits 4 5. Medication Administered in an Emergency 4 6. Recording Administration/Preventing Administration Errors 5 7. Storing Medication 5 8. Disposal of Medicines 6 Appendix A Parental Consent Form Appendix B Health Care Plan Appendix C Record of Medicine Administered to Children 2

3 Administration of Prescribed Medication School Policy 1. Short Term Medical Needs Whenever possible parents should ask their GP to prescribe medication in dose frequencies which enable it to be taken outside school hours. However, if parents wish the school to administer the medication (in loco parentis) they should give the Headteacher a written request (using the appropriate form, see Appendix A) detailing the medication to be given along with the frequency, dosage and any other relevant information (e.g. interaction with other medicines such as paracetamol). Oral information from the pupil or parent will not be acted upon. (A copy of the form required from parents can be obtained from the Office). If required, the parents will be able to visit the establishment during the day to administer medication in person. The parent must supply the medication in a suitable container clearly labelled with: - the child s name - the name of the medicine - the method, dosage and timing of administration - the date of issue - the expiry date Details of possible side effects should also be given. The medicines should be packed and labelled professionally. An up-to-date record of the parent s home and work telephone numbers is kept so that they can be contacted at any time. Medicines are kept in a safe place, separate from the first aid box and a record of the medicines is held in the first aid area. Medications needed in an emergency will be readily accessible. A designated member of staff will be responsible for administering medication. Medicines no longer required will be handed back to the parent. If parents do not collect medicines after a reasonable period of time they will be given to a school nurse for disposal. 2. Long Term Medical Needs It is important for the school to have sufficient background information about the medical condition of a child with long term medical needs. If a child's medical needs are not fully supported, this can negatively affect a child's academic attainments and/or lead to emotional and behavioural problems. The school, therefore, needs to know about any medical needs before a child starts school or when a child develops a medical condition. It is recommended that a health care plan or a protocol involving parents and relevant health professionals is developed. 3

4 This can include: special requirements, e.g. dietary needs; medication and any side effects; what constitutes an emergency; what to do and who to contact in an emergency; what not to do in an emergency; procedures to be followed when transporting the child/young person (e.g. off-site visits or home to school/setting transport); information sharing and record keeping; the role the staff can play. An example of a health care plan is in Appendix B. 3. Self-Management It is good practice to allow a child who can administer their own medication to do this. Staff will then only need to supervise. This decision should be made by the parents in conjunction with the child's healthcare professional and the school. Emergency medicines such as inhalers, epi-pens are stored in the first aid area where they are readily accessible and available in the event of an emergency. A child can access them for self-medication if appropriate. 4. Offsite Activities and Educational Visits We encourage children with medical needs to participate in safely managed visits. The group leader, in liaison with the headteacher considers the reasonable adjustments to be made to enable children with medical needs to participate fully and safely on the activity. It may be decided that further control measures are necessary e.g. an additional adult to accompany an individual child. Arrangements for taking any necessary medication will need to be considered as well as the storage requirements. All staff supervising off-site activities or educational visits should be aware of any medical needs and the relevant emergency procedures. A copy of the individual health care plan should be taken on visits in the event of the information being needed. If staff are concerned about whether they can provide for a child s safety or the safety of other children, they should consult with the parents, relevant healthcare professionals and the Outdoor Education Adviser. 5. Medication Administered in an Emergency It is essential that where children have conditions which may require rapid intervention, all staff are able to recognise the onset of the condition and take appropriate action; Reference to be made to the child s individual health care plan. There may be occasions when individual children have to be excluded from certain activities if appropriate safeguards cannot be guaranteed. 4

5 6. Recording Administration/Preventing Administration Errors Ideally medicines should be brought to school in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist, however, if this is not practical, the smallest practicable dose should be brought to school in individual containers which should be clearly labelled with the child's name and the dosage instructions. It is recommended that a primary school child should never carry medicine to and from school. Medicine must be handed over as soon as the child arrives at school. Medication should only be given to the named child. Pupils must not be given medication that has been prescribed for another pupil. Parents are responsible for ensuring that there is sufficient medication to be used in school and that the medication has not passed its expiry date. Where there is any doubt about the correct dosage to be administered, advice must be obtained from the parent/carer before the medicine is administered. Only one member of staff at any one time should administer medicines (to avoid the risk of double dosing). Arrangements should be made to relieve this member of staff from other duties while preparing or administering doses (to avoid the risk of interruption before the procedure is completed). If more than one person administers drugs, they must check the record form (Appendix C) to avoid the risk of double dosing. When administering medication, staff must complete and sign a record of administration. An example of such a record book/form is in Appendix C. Any member of staff giving medication should check: pupil's name; written instructions provided by parents; prescribed dose; expiry date; that all pupils who are due to receive medication have received their medication 7. Storing Medication Staff only store, supervise and administer medicine that has been prescribed for an individual child and have received a completed a parental consent form. Medicines should always be provided in the original container and include the prescriber s instructions, including the name of the child. If a pupil requires two or more prescribed medicines, each should be in a separate container. Pupils know who to contact if they need their medication. The headteacher is responsible for ensuring that medicines are stored in accordance with the product instructions and safely away from children. All emergency medicines, e.g. asthma inhalers, epi-pens, are held in the first aid area and are easily accessible but secure. 5

6 Some medicines need to be refrigerated; these are kept in the refrigerator in the first aid area, clearly labelled. 8. Disposal of Medicines Parents should collect medicines held at school at the end of each term. Parents are responsible for disposal of date expired medicines. The healthcare professional or school nurse may be able to safely dispose of any medicines that are not collected. 6

7 Appendix A Parental Consent Form Hove Junior School Medicines Form This form must be completed and signed by a parent/carer before prescribed medicines can be kept and/or administered in school either short or long term. Please note: Medicines that are not prescribed cannot under any circumstances be kept in school or administered by school staff. Child's full name Current Class Date of birth Name of medication Dosage (e.g.: 50mg/ 3 Puffs, etc) When/how often to be taken (e.g. when necessary/ lunchtime/ 11am & 2pm, etc) Period of time medication is to be taken / kept in school (please give a start and end date) Any other instructions (e.g. medicine to be kept in fridge) Can child administer own medication? Expiry date of medicine/review date I request that the treatment be given in accordance with the above information by a responsible member of the school staff who has received any necessary training. I understand that it may be necessary for this treatment to be carried out during educational visits and other out of school activities, as well as on the school premises. I undertake to supply the school with the drugs, medicines or foods in properly labelled containers and keep the school informed of any material facts or information which may affect medication being given to the child. I agree to remove the medicine when it has expired or no longer needed. I accept that whilst my child is in the care of the school, the school staff stand in the position of the parent and that the school staff may therefore need to arrange any medical aid considered necessary in an emergency, but I will be told of any such action as soon as possible. Name of parent /carer Signed by parent /carer Signed on behalf of school Date Date Date 7

8 Appendix B HEALTH CARE PLAN Name of Child Date of Birth Medical Condition or Allergy Date Class Review Date* * Any necessary revisions are subject to further discussions between the school and the parents. Contact Information Family Contact 1 Family Contact 2 Name Phone: Work Mobile Home Relationship Name Phone: Work Mobile Home Relationship Describe condition, any known triggers (if appropriate) and give details of pupil s individual symptoms: 8

9 Daily care requirements (eg before sport/at lunchtime): Describe what constitutes an emergency for the pupil and the action to take if this occurs: Follow-up Care: Who is responsible in an emergency: (state if differ on off-site activities): Form kept in medical area and copied to relevant staff: Agreed and signed on behalf of the school: Name: Date: 9

10 Record of Medicine Administered Date Commenced: Date Discontinued: Date Child/s/ young person s Name Name of Medication Strength and Form Frequency Special Instructions Dose Given Time Any Reactions Refused Signature of Staff Print Name Appendix C Record of Medicine Administered to Children 10

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