KENSINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL SUPPORTING PUPILS WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS POLICY In accordance with: Children and Families Act 2014 Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions Guidance 2014
1. Aims a. Kensington Primary School has a responsibility to make the school welcoming and supportive to pupils with medical conditions, both who currently attend, and to those who may enrol in the future. b. Kensington Primary School aims to provide all children with all medical conditions the same opportunities as others at this school. We will help to ensure they can: be healthy stay safe enjoy and achieve make a positive contribution achieve economic well-being c. Pupils with medical conditions are encouraged to take control of their condition, as far as possible. Pupils feel confident in the support they receive from the school to help them to do this. d. The school aims to include all pupils with medical conditions in all school activities. e. Parents/Carer of the pupil with medical conditions feel secure in the care their children receive at this school. f. The school ensures all staff understand their duty of care to children and young people in the event of an emergency. g. All staff feel confident in knowing what to do in an emergency. h. The school understands that certain medical conditions are serious and can be potentially life-threatening, particularly if ill managed or misunderstood. i. All staff understand the common medical conditions that affect children at Kensington Primary School Staff receive training on the impact this can have on pupils. j. The medical conditions policy is understood and supported by the whole school and local health community. 2. Stakeholders a. Kensington Primary School has consulted on the development of this medical condition policy with a wide-range of key stakeholders within the school and health settings. These key stakeholders include: Pupils with medical conditions Parents/Carers School Nurse Headteacher Teachers Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator Members of staff trained in first aid All other staff 2
3. Communication School Governors a. Pupils are informed and regularly reminded about the medical conditions policy: in the school newsletter at several intervals in the school year in personal, social and health education (PSHE) subject b. Parents are informed and regularly reminded about the medical conditions policy: by including the policy statement in the school s prospectus at the start of the school year when communication is sent out about Individual Healthcare Plans in the school newsletter at several intervals in the school year when your child is enrolled as a new pupil via the school website, where it is available all year round c. School staff are informed and regularly reminded about the medical conditions policy: through copies handed out at the first staff meeting of the school year and before Individual Healthcare Plan are distributed to parents at medical conditions training through the key principles of the policy being displayed in several prominent staff areas at the school all supply and temporary staff are informed of the policy and their responsibilities d. Relevant local health staff are informed and regularly reminded about the school s medical conditions policy: via primary care trust (PCT) links and the school nurse 4. Procedures a. When the school is notified that a child has a medical condition, the SENCO will be made aware and a meeting set up as soon as possible between a member of the SEN team and the parents. b. The School Nurse will be contacted and invited to the meeting c. An Individual Healthcare Plan will be drawn up if needed d. All necessary members of staff will be made aware of the procedures for the each child. 5. Individual Healthcare Plans a. We will assess child who has a long-term medical condition that will affect their time at school and decide whether they need an Individual Healthcare Plan. b. If necessary, this plan will be drawn up in consultation with the SENCO, the School Nurse where possible and the child s parents. See Appendix 1. 3
c. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure all information given during this meeting is correct and sign the plan accordingly. d. Any staff training needs are identified and training put in place as soon as possible. We will endeavour to do this within two weeks of the initial meeting. e. Individual Healthcare Plans will be kept in a designated file in their classroom and in a central file in a secure office. f. The Individual Healthcare Plan will be reviewed annually, with any necessary changes communicated to the school immediately. 6. Roles and Responsibilities a. It is the responsibility of the Inclusion Leader and SENCO to maintain and update Individual healthcare Plans and ensure relevant staff are aware of the child s needs. 7. Common Serious Medical Conditions a. All staff at Kensington Primary School are aware of the most common serious medical conditions at our school. b. Staff at our school understand their duty of care to pupils in the event of an emergency. In an emergency situation school staff are required under common law duty of care to act like any reasonable parent. This may include administering of medication. c. All staff who work with groups of pupils at our school receive training and know what to do in an emergency for the pupils in their care with medical conditions, d. Training is refreshed for all staff at least once a year. e. Action for staff to take in an emergency for the common serious conditions at our school is displayed in prominent locations for all staff including classrooms, kitchens and the staff room. f. Our school uses Individual Healthcare Plans to inform the appropriate staff (including supply teachers and support staff) of pupils in their care who may need emergency assistance. g. Our school has procedures in place so that a copy of the pupils Healthcare Plan is sent to the emergency care setting with the pupil. 8. Emergency Procedures a. All staff know what action to take in the event of a medical emergency. This includes: how to contact emergency services and what information to give (see appendix 6) who to contact within the school 4
b. Training is refreshed for all staff at least once a year c. Action to take in a general medical emergency is displayed in prominent locations for staff. These include classrooms, the staff room, and food preparation areas and sporting facilities. d. If a pupil needs to be a taken to hospital, a member of staff will always accompany them and will stay with them until a parent arrives. Our school tries to ensure that the staff member will be one the pupil knows. e. Generally, staff should not take pupils to hospital in their own car. North Beckton has clear guidance from the local authority on when (and if) this is appropriate. 9. Administration of Medication Administration- emergency medication a. All pupils at our school with medical conditions have access to their emergency medication. b. Pupils who do not carry and administer their own medication know where their medication is stored and how to access it. c. Pupils who do not carry and administer their own medication understand the arrangements for a member of staff (and the reserve member of staff) to assist in helping them take their medication safely. Administration - general a. All use of medication defined as a controlled drug, even if the pupil can administer the medication themselves, is done under the supervision of a named member of staff at the school. b. The school understands the importance of medication being taken as prescribed. c. All staff are aware that there is no legal or contractual duty for any member of staff to administer medication or supervise a pupil taking medication unless they have been specifically contracted to do so. d. Many members of staff are happy to take on the voluntary role of supervising a pupil taking medication. For medication where no specific training is necessary, any member of staff may administer prescribed and non-prescribed medication to pupils under the age of 16, but only with the written consent of the pupil s parent/carer. See Appendix 2. e. Training is given to staff members who agree to administer medication to pupils, where specific training is needed. The local authority provides full indemnity. f. All school staff have been informed through training that they are required, under common law duty care, to act like a reasonable parent/carer in an emergency situation. This may include taking action such as administering medication. g. In some circumstances, medication is only administered by an adult of the same gender as the pupil, and preferably witnessed by a second adult. h. Parents/Carers at the school understand that if their child s medication changed, is discontinued, or the dose or administration method changes, that they should notify the school immediately. 5
i. If a pupil at the school refuses their medication, staff record this and follow procedures. Parents/Carers are informed as soon as possible. j. If a pupil at the school needs supervision or access to medication during home to school transport organised by the local authority, properly trained escorts are provided. All drivers and escorts have the same training as school staff, know what to do in a medical emergency and are aware of any pupil in their care who has specific needs. If they are expected to supervise or administer emergency medication they are properly trained and have access to the relevant Individual Healthcare Plan. k. All staff attending off-site visits are aware of any pupils with medical conditions on the visit. They receive the information about the type of condition, what to do in an emergency and any additional support necessary, including any additional medication or equipment needed as well as the Individual Healthcare Plan. l. If a trained member of staff, who is usually responsible for administering medication, is not available, the school makes alternative arrangements to provide the service. This is always addressed in the risk assessment for the off-site activities. m. If a pupil misuses medication, their own or another pupil s, their parents are informed as soon as possible. These pupils are subject to the school s usual disciplinary procedures. 10. Storage of Medication a. Emergency medication is readily available to pupils who require it at all times during the school day or at off-site activities. If the emergency medication is a controlled drug and needs to be locked up, the keys are available and not held personally by members of staff. b. All non-emergency medication is kept in a secure lockable cupboard in a cool dry place. Pupils with medical conditions know where their medication is stored and how to access it. c. Staff ensure that medication is only accessible to those for whom it is prescribed. d. There is an identified member of staff who ensures the correct storage of medication at school. e. All controlled drugs are kept in a locked cupboard and only named staff have access, even if pupils normally administer the medication themselves. f. Three times a year the identified member of staff checks the expiry dates for all medication stored at school. g. The identified member of staff, along with the parents of pupils with medical conditions, ensure that all emergency and non-emergency medication brought into school is clearly labelled with the pupil s name, the name and dose of the medication. h. All medication is supplied and stored, in its original container, with the original dispensing label from the pharmacy or hospital. April 2015 6
Appendix 1: Individual healthcare plan Name of school Child s name Class of birth Child s address Medical diagnosis or condition Review date Kensington Primary School Family Contact Information Name Relationship to child Phone no. (work) (home) (mobile) Name Relationship to child Phone no. (work) (home) (mobile) Clinic/Hospital Contact Name Phone no. G.P. Name Phone no. Who is responsible for providing support in school 7
Describe medical needs and give details of child s symptoms, triggers, signs, treatments, facilities, equipment or devices, environmental issues etc. Name of medication, dose, method of administration, when to be taken, side effects, contra-indications, administered by/self-administered with/without supervision Daily care requirements Specific support for the pupil s educational, social and emotional needs Arrangements for school visits/trips etc. Other information Describe what constitutes an emergency, and the action to take if this occurs 8
Who is responsible in an emergency (state if different for off-site activities) Plan developed with Staff training needed/undertaken who, what, when Form copied to SENCO - Class Teacher Head of Key Stage - Parents - 9
Appendix 2: Parental agreement for Kensington Primary School to administer medicine The school will not give your child medicine unless you complete and sign this form. for review to be initiated by Name of school Name of child of birth Class Medical condition or illness Medicine Name/type of medicine (as described on the container) Expiry date Dosage and method Timing Special precautions/other instructions Are there any side effects that the school needs to know about? Self-administration y/n Procedures to take in an emergency Kensington Primary School NB: Medicines must be in the original container as dispensed by the pharmacy Contact Details Name Daytime telephone no. Relationship to child Address I understand that I must deliver the medicine personally to The above information is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate at the time of writing and I give consent to school staff administering medicine in accordance with the schools policy. I will inform the school immediately, in writing, if there is any change in dosage or frequency of the medication or if the medicine is stopped. Signature(s) 10
Appendix 3: Record of medicine administered to an individual child Name of school Name of child medicine provided by parent Class Quantity received Name and strength of medicine Dose and frequency of medicine Expiry Quantity returned Kensington Primary School Staff signature Signature of parent Time given Dose given Name of member of staff Staff initials Time given Dose given Name of member of staff Staff initials 11
Time given Dose given Name of member of staff Staff initials Time given Dose given Name of member of staff Staff initials Time given Dose given Name of member of staff Staff initials Time given Dose given Name of member of staff Staff initials
Appendix 4: Record of medicine administered to all children Name of school Kensington Primary School Child s name Time Name of Dose given Any reactions Signature Print name medicine of staff
Appendix 5: Staff training record administration of medicines Name of school Name Type of training received of training completed Training provided by Profession and title Kensington Primary School I confirm that has received the training detailed above and is competent to carry out any necessary treatment. I recommend that the training is updated. Trainer s signature I confirm that I have received the training detailed above. Staff signature Suggested review date 14
Appendix 6: Contacting emergency services Request an ambulance - dial 999, ask for an ambulance and be ready with the information below. Speak clearly and slowly and be ready to repeat information if asked. 1. your telephone number 0208 470 2339 your name 2. your location as follows Kensington Primary school, Kensington avenue, manor park 3. state what the postcode is E12 6NN 4. provide the exact location of the patient within the school setting 5. provide the name of the child and a brief description of their symptoms 6. inform Ambulance Control of the best entrance to use and state that the crew will be met and taken to the patient Staff car park inform them that they need to press the buzzer, but that someone will be ready to let them in. 15