Administering medicines

 

Policy Statement

 

  Newtown Soberton Infant School will undertake to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation and guidance in Health Guidance for Schools with regard to procedures for supporting children with medical requirements, including managing medicines.  Responsibility for all administration of medicines at Newtown Soberton Infant School is held by the Headteacher, Miss S Eastwood who is the responsible manager.

 

 

It is our policy to ensure that all medical information will be treated confidentially by the responsible manager and staff.  All administration of medicines is arranged and managed in accordance with the Health Guidance for Schools document.  All staff have a duty of care to follow and co-operate with the requirements of this policy.

 

 

Aims & Objectives

 

 

 Our administration of medicine requirements will be achieved by:

 

•  Establishing principles for safe practice in the management and administration of:

   

­       prescribed medicines

 

­       non-prescribed medicines

 

­       maintenance drugs

 

­       emergency medicine

 

• Providing clear guidance to all staff on the administration of medicines

   

• Ensuring that there are sufficient numbers of appropriately trained staff to manage and administer medicines

   

• Ensuring that there are suitable and sufficient facilities and equipment available to aid the safe management and administration of medicines

   

• Ensuring the above provisions are clear and shared with all who may require them

   

• Ensuring the policy is reviewed periodically or following any significant change which may affect the management or administration of medicines

   

 

Administration

 

 

The administration of medicines is the overall responsibility of the parents.  The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring children are supported with their medical needs whilst on site, and this may include managing medicines where appropriate and agreed with parents.

 

 

Routine Administration

 

 

Prescribed medicines

 

• It is our policy to manage prescribed medicines (eg. antibiotics, inhalers) where appropriate following consultation and agreement with, and written consent from the parents

   

 

Non-prescribed medicines

 

• It is our general policy not to take responsibility for the administration of non-prescribed medicines, (eg. Calpol or cough mixtures provided by the parents) as this responsibility rests with the parents

   

• Responsibility for decision-making about the administration of all non-prescribed medicines will always be at the discretion of the responsible manager who may decide to administer under certain miscellaneous or exceptional circumstances

   

 

Maintenance drugs

 

• It is our policy to manage the administration of maintenance drugs (eg. Insulin) as appropriate following consultation and agreement with, and written consent from the parents.  On such occasions, a health care plan will be written for the child concerned

   

 

Non-Routine Administration

 

 

Emergency medicine

 

• It is our policy (where appropriate) to manage the administration of emergency medicines such as (for example):

   

  • Injections of adrenaline for acute allergic reactions

     

  • Rectal diazepam for major fits

     

  • Injections of Glucagan for diabetic hypoglycaemia 

     

• In all cases, professional training and guidance from a competent source will be received before commitment to such administration is accepted

   

 

Procedure for Administration

 

 

When deciding upon the administration of medicine needs for children we will discuss this with the parents concerned and make reasonable decisions about the level of care required.

 

 

Any child required to have medicines will have an ‘administration of medicines/treatment’ consent form completed by the parent and kept on file. 

 

 

Individual health care plans will be completed for children where required and reviewed periodically in discussion with the parents to ensure their continuous suitability.

 

 

Parents have responsibility for delivering the medicine to school and for collecting it at the end of the school day.  No medicines will administered without a signed consent form.  Consent forms are kept in the school office.

 

 

For any child receiving medicines, a ‘record of prescribed medicines’ sheet will be completed each time the medicine is administered and this is kept in the staff kitchen.

 

 

If a child refuses to take medication the parents will be informed the earliest available opportunity.

 

  

Contacting Emergency Services

 

 

When a medical condition causes the child to become ill and/or requires emergency administration of medicines, then an ambulance will be summoned at the earliest opportunity. 

 

 

Parents have responsibility for delivering the medicine to school and for collecting it at the end of the school day.  No medicines will administered without a signed consent form.

 

 

Medical Accommodation

 

 

The School Office or other rooms as appropriate may be used for medicine administration/treatment purposes.

 

 

Training

 

 

Where staff are required to carry out non-routine or more specialised administration of medicines or emergency treatment to children, appropriate professional training and guidance from a competent source will be sought before commitment to such administration is accepted.   

 

 

A ‘staff training record’ sheet will be completed to document the level of training undertaken. 

 

 

Such training will form part of the overall training plan and refresher training will be scheduled at appropriate intervals.

 

 

Storage

 

 

 

The storage of medicines is the overall responsibility of the Headteacher who will ensure that arrangements are in place to store medicines safely. 

 

 

The storage of medicines will be undertaken in accordance with product instructions and in the original container in which the medicine was dispensed. 

 

 

It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that the received medicine container is clearly labelled with the name of the child, the name and dose of the medicine and the frequency of administration. 

 

 

It is the responsibility of the parents to provide medicine that is in date.  This should be agreed with the parents at the time of acceptance of on-site administration responsibilities.

 

 

Disposal

 

 

It is not Newtown Soberton Infant Schools responsibility to dispose of medicines.  It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that all medicines no longer required including those which have date-expired are returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

 

 

‘Sharps boxes’ will always be used for the disposal of needles.  Collection and disposal of the boxes will be locally arranged as appropriate.

 

 

 

 

Signed ………………………….. Headteacher                  Chair of Governors ……………………………..

 

 

 

 

Date of Policy Issue: Autumn 08

 

Date of Review:         Autumn  09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administration of Medicines & Treatment Consent Form

 

Name of School	NEWTOWN SOBERTON INFANT SCHOOL
Name of Child
Address of Child

 

Parents’ Home Telephone No.
Parents’ Mobile Telephone No.

 

Name of GP
GP’s Telephone No.

 

Please tick the appropriate box

 

  

My child will be responsible for the self-administration of medicines as directed below
I agree to members of staff administering medicines/providing treatment to my child as directed below or in the case of emergency, as staff may consider necessary
I recognise that school staff are not medically trained

 

Signature of parent or carer
Date of signature

 

Name of Medicine	Required Dose	Frequency	Course Finish	Medicine Expiry

  

Special Instructions

 

Allergies

 

Other Prescribed Medicines