Promoting
health and hygiene
Administering
medicines
Policy
statement
While it is not our policy to care for sick
children, who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the
setting, we will agree to administer medication as part of maintaining their
health and well-being or when they are recovering from an illness.
In many cases, it is
possible for children’s GP’s to prescribe medicine that can be taken at home in
the morning, evening and between sessions. As far as possible, administering
medicines will only be done where it would be detrimental to the child’s health
if not given in the setting. If a child has not had a medication before it is
advised that the parent keeps the child at home for the first 48 hours to
ensure no adverse effect as well as to give time for the medication to take
effect.
These procedures are written
in line with current guidance in ‘Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years
Settings; the manager is responsible for ensuring all staff understand and
follow these procedures.
The key person is
responsible for the correct administration of medication to children for whom
they are the key person. This includes ensuring that parent consent forms have
been completed, that medicines are stored correctly and that records are kept
according to procedures. In the absence of the key person, the manager is
responsible for the overseeing of administering medication.
EYFS
key themes and commitments
|
1.4 Health and
well-being |
2.2 Parents as partners 2.4 Key person |
3.2 Supporting every child |
|
Procedures
·
Children taking prescribed medication must be
well enough to attend the setting.
·
Prescribed medication may be administered. It
must be in-date and prescribed for the current condition.
·
Children’s paracetamol
(un-prescribed) may be administered only under exceptional circumstances with
the correct written consent procedures and with consent of the setting manager. It will only be given from sealed sachet
packaging provided by the parent. The
setting does not store any such medicines on site.
·
Children's prescribed medicines must be
stored in their original containers, are clearly labelled and are inaccessible
to the children.
·
Parents give prior written permission for the
administration of medication. The staff receiving the medication must ask the
parent to sign a consent form stating the following information. No medication
may be given without these details being provided:
·
The
administration is recorded accurately each time it is given and is signed by
staff. Parents sign the record sheet to acknowledge the administration of a
medicine. The medication record sheet records:
·
name of child;
·
name and strength of medication;
·
the date and time of dose;
·
dose given and method; and is
·
signed by
key person/manager; and is verified by parent signature at the end of the day.
Storage of medicines
§ All
medication is stored safely in a cupboard in the kitchen or refrigerated. Where
the cupboard or refrigerator is not used solely for storing medicines, they are
kept in a marked plastic box.
§ The
child’s key person is responsible for ensuring medicine is handed back at the
end of the day to the parent.
§ For
some conditions, medication may be kept in the setting. Key persons check that
any medication held to administer on an as and when required basis,
or on a regular basis, is in date and returns any out-of-date medication back
to the parent.
·
If the administration of prescribed
medication requires medical knowledge, individual training is provided for the
relevant member of staff by a health professional.
§ If
rectal diazepam is given another member of staff must be present and co-signs
the record sheet.
§ No child
may self-administer. Where children are capable of understanding when they need
medication, for example with asthma, they should be encouraged to tell their
key person or another staff member what they need. However, this does not
replace staff vigilance in knowing and responding when a child requires
medication.
Children
who have long term medical conditions and who may require on ongoing medication
§ A
risk assessment is carried out for each child with long term medical conditions
that require ongoing medication. This is the responsibility of the manager
alongside the key person. Other medical or social care personnel may need to be
involved in the risk assessment.
§
Parents will also contribute to a risk assessment.
They should be shown around the setting, understand the routines and activities
and point out anything which they think may be a risk factor for their child.
§
For some medical conditions key staff will need to
have training in a basic understanding of the condition as well as how the
medication is to be administered correctly. The training needs for staff is part of the risk assessment.
§
The risk assessment includes vigorous activities
and any other nursery activity that may give cause for concern regarding an
individual child’s health needs.
§
The risk assessment includes arrangements for
taking medicines on outings and the child’s GP’s advice is sought if necessary
where there are concerns.
§
A health care plan for the child is drawn up with
the parent; outlining the key person’s role and what information must be shared
with other staff who care for the child.
§
The health care plan should include the measures to
be taken in an emergency.
§
The health care plan is reviewed every six months
or more if necessary. This includes reviewing the medication, e.g. changes to
the medication or the dosage, any side effects noted etc.
§ Parents
receive a copy of the health care plan and each contributor, including the
parent, signs it.
Managing
medicines on trips and outings
§ If
children are going on outings, staff accompanying the children must include the
key person for the child with a risk assessment, or another member of staff who
is fully informed about the child’s needs and/or medication.
§ Medication
for a child is taken in a sealed plastic box clearly labelled with the child’s name, name of the medication, Inside the box is a copy of
the consent form to record when it has been given, with the details as given above.
§ If a
child on medication has to be taken to hospital, the child’s medication is
taken in a sealed plastic box clearly labelled with the child’s name, name of
the medication. Inside the box is a copy of the consent form signed by the
parent.
§ As a
precaution, children should not eat when travelling in vehicles
§ This
procedure is read alongside the outings procedure.
Legal
framework
§ Medicines
Act (1968)
Further
guidance
§ Managing
Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings (DfES
2005)
http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/1448-2005PDF-EN-02.pdf
Useful Pre-school Learning Alliance
publications
§ Medication
Record (2006)
§ Register and Outings Record (2006)