Supporting Pupils with medical conditions in School –

Based on LCC Guidance

Ratified by Governors / November 2016
Date for next review / November 2018
Signed – Chair of Governors / Gill Carter
Signed - Headteacher / Philippa Campbell

This document is produced in conjunction with the Leicestershire Partnership Trusts. We would like to acknowledge input from professional bodies and services with Leicestershire County, City and Rutland. We would also draw your attention to the appendices listed on the Schools EIS for access and information relating to Individual Care Plans and specific medical needs/conditions. This document is revised in line with the current Department for Education ‘Supporting pupils at School with medical conditions’ 2014, which replaces the previous Managing medicines in Schools and early year’s settings 2005.

November 2016 Page 1

MEDICATION POLICY

The Board of Governors and staff of Sketchley Hill Primary School wish to ensure that pupils with medication needs receive appropriate care and support at School. The Principal will accept responsibility for members of the school staff giving or supervising pupils taking prescribed medication during the School day. Where possible, pupils should be encouraged to self-administer under supervision. It must be stressed that where prescription drugs are administered it shall be by those members of staff that have volunteered unless medically trained staff are employed at site. It should not automatically be assumed that a qualified First Aider will fulfil this role.

·  Staff will not give a prescribed/non prescribed medicine or care unless there is specific written consent from parents.

·  An individual care plan should be drawn up for the pupil.

·  A secondary check must be made prior to medication being taken / given.

·  The School will not accept items of medication in unlabelled containers.

PROCEDURES

·  In the first instance, the Head Teacher should be informed of an individual’s diagnosis and prescription medication.

·  An appropriate/volunteer or carer will meet and discuss the issues with the parents/guardian of the pupil.

·  The member of staff volunteering will be offered professional training and support in relation to the needs of the individual by a suitably competent person. (this maybe by a qualified trained nurse)

·  There will be regular review meetings scheduled to monitor the support required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents/Guardian Responsibility

·  A comprehensive information guide specifically relating to the pupils condition and medication must be recorded.

·  Only reasonable quantities of medication should be supplied to the School (eg, maximum 4 weeks at any one time).

·  Notification of changes in prescription drug issued by GP must be directly given to School by Parent/Guardian.

·  Parent/Guardian to collect and restock medication from School at the end and start of every term in a secure labelled container as originally dispensed.

·  Parent/Guardian to ensure the medication is in date for the duration of the term.

School Responsibility

·  Medication will be kept in a known safe secure place (not necessarily locked away) and some drugs may require refrigeration.

·  Where asthma inhalers are prescribed these must remain with the pupil at all times. Emergency medication such as Epipens are kept in the school office.

·  Maintain and record dosage prescribed/administered.

·  Identify if additional training needs are required for staff. Source and arrange training.

·  Locate and record care plan for individual identifying supporting staff.

·  If a medical emergency develops activate the relevant procedures and call 999

·  Each term a nominated member in school to check emergency medicines are in date and note the expiry date to avoid expired medication during the term.

·  There needs to be a clear audit trail of this.

·  The school should encourage parent / guardian to make a note of expiry dates of medication.

G.P/Consultant/Medical Professional Responsibility

Prescriptive labelled drugs must contain:

·  Pupils name

·  Name of medication

·  Dosage

·  Frequency of administration

·  Date of dispensing

·  Storage requirements (if important) ie, refrigeration

·  Expiry Date

Consent Form.

See appendix A

No child under 16 should be given prescription or non-prescription medicines without their parent’s written consent – except in exceptional circumstances where the medicine has been prescribed to the child without the knowledge of the parents. In such cases, every effort should be made to encourage the child or young person to involve their parents while respecting their right to confidentiality. Schools should 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 medical professional.

Individual Care Plan.

See appendix B

At Sketchley Hill Primary School the Governing Body have agreed that –

·  Staff who agree to administer or supervise medicines within School do so voluntarily.

·  No member of staff will be forced to administer medicines against their will, regardless of their role at School.

·  Staff will not be held criminally responsible unless they act in a reckless or indifferent manner.

·  Staff will not administer any medicine without the written consent of the child’s parent or carer, except in exceptional circumstances or an emergency situation (when verbal parental consent will be accepted and recorded).

·  All medicines must be clearly labelled by the parent/carer, with the child’s full name, date of birth, the prescribed dosage and times of administration clearly identified. Photographs are provided for children on the emergency 999 list.

·  Staff will not administer non-prescribed medication, except in exceptional circumstances, with approval from the Headteacher or member of SLT.

·  All medicines will be kept securely in the School Office.

·  A member of school staff will act as the Administrator of Medicines and associated medical records.

·  When necessary – Individual Care Plans (ICP) will be drawn up/obtained from the medical practitioners via parents/carers (see Appendix B).

Asthma & Inhalers -

See attached document –DFE Guidance on the use of emergency salbutamol inhalers in school.

From 1st October 2014 the Human Medicines (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2014 will allow schools to keep a salbutamol inhaler for use in emergencies, (if the school so wishes).

The emergency inhaler must only be used by children for whom written consent for use of the emergency inhaler has been obtained, who has been diagnosed with asthma and has been prescribed their own inhaler/reliever.

This school will hold a spare inhaler for emergency use in order to prevent a pupil suffering unnecessarily from a potential hazard to life.

Children are expected to have their inhaler in school every day, but it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their child carries his/her own inhaler on a daily basis and is confident in using the equipment when under stress.

School will hold a register of children who have been diagnosed with Asthma and for whom an inhaler/spacer is required in school.

Written parental consent will be collected from all children requiring an inhaler, and a record maintained. (Refer to the Asthma Policy.)

Asthma is the most common chronic condition, affecting one in eleven children. School will seek to support all pupils with medical conditions and will engage with helping them to learn how best to manage their condition.

School will keep an emergency inhaler kit in the school office.

·  This will contain a spare inhaler.

·  The box will state recommended dosages and show expiry date.

·  A register will be maintained of any incident when the spare inhaler is used.

·  The inhaler will be disposed of after use and new one made available.

·  Parents will be informed immediately after the inhaler has been used.

·  If the child remains unwell, or if the inhaler does not appear to have had any effect, the school will call 999 and inform the parents/carers.

·  Trained First Aiders will attend the child.

Salbutamol is a relatively safe medicine, particularly if inhaled. However it is recognised that all medicines can have adverse effects if administered incorrectly or inappropriately. An inhaler must NOT be used by a child who is not registered as asthmatic with school, even if they are presenting with breathless symptoms.

School’s registered First Aiders are trained in the recognition and treatment of Asthma.

Diabetes medication –

See Appendix E – Guidance for settings on the management of Diabetes (Mellitus).

The Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) requires reasonable adjustments to be made to prevent the less favourable treatment of disabled pupils. Diabetes is a disability with the definition of the Act.

The Disability Equality Duties (Disability Discrimination Act 2005) requires schools to promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons, promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons and take steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities even where that involves treating disabled people more favourably than their non-disabled peers. Schools have a duty to put in place effective systems to support individual children with medical needs, including diabetes.

The management of Insulin Dependent Diabetic Mellitus (IDDM) in children includes provision for the testing of their blood glucose levels, recording test results, interpreting the results and the administration of insulin injections.

All children who suffer from this condition will have an Individual Care Plan (ICP) provided by their medical practitioner, and supported by specialist Diabetic nursing staff.

School staff who support pupils with this medical condition will be offered appropriate training to ensure they are confident with supporting the pupil and recognising problems/concerns as they arise.

Most diabetic pupils will have been taught to administer their own injections by their medical practitioners, training the child is not the school’s responsibility. However Primary School age children may require additional support as detailed in their care plan.

The parent/carer will be responsible for providing the school with all equipment necessary for the testing, treatment and general management of a diabetic child whilst at school, which will include providing a ‘sharps bins’ and appropriate snacks/drinks to treat hypoglycaemic or hyperglycaemic attacks.

All equipment and medication provided must be clearly labelled with the child’s full name, date of birth, dosage, medication details and supported by a passport sized photograph of the child.

Any member of staff agreeing to support a child with diabetes will be recorded as an authorised volunteer.

A record will be made of all treatment administered whilst the pupil is in school, including any emergency treatment, and parents will be informed.

In the event of an emergency parents/carers will be contacted immediately.

If a child becomes very unwell and a parent/carer cannot be contacted a 999 call will be made.

Trained First Aiders will be asked to attend a child who is experiencing difficulties with their treatment/insulin levels.

EPIPEN medication for Anaphylaxis –

See Appendix D – Emergency Action for Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a life threatening condition and must be treated immediately and appropriately. Epipen/Jext pens are used for the emergency treatment of a child suffering from an anaphylactic shock following an allergic reaction.

Volunteer staff will be trained in the use of EPIPEN/Jext medication. A record of trained volunteers will be kept by the School Office.

An Individual Care Plan (ICP) will be provided by a medical practitioner and parent/carer for any child requiring an EPIPEN/Jext pen in school.

Epipens/Jext pens are provided by parents and will be clearly labelled with details of the child’s full name, date of birth, allergic condition and medication required to alleviate the reaction.

A register will be made of all pupils requiring EPIPEN/Jext medication in school and records maintained of any deployment of the emergency medication. Parents will be informed immediately of the need to use an Epipen. If the child remains unwell or unresponsive a 999 ambulance call will be made.

Trained First Aiders will be asked to attend a child who is experiencing anaphylaxis.

School administration records –

·  A copy of this document will be made available on the school website.

·  A copy of this document and the appendices will be available for all staff on the staffshare server.

·  The School will appoint an Administrator to monitor all necessary medication and supporting paperwork and to liaise with parents in the collection of consent documentation.

·  All prescribed medication will be securely stored.

·  Parents will be asked to complete appropriate written paperwork before school assumes responsibility for any medication to be used by pupils in school.

·  School will maintain records of all volunteer staff who have agreed to and have been trained to administer any of the above medication.

·  School will retain a record of all medication administered by staff whilst the pupil is in school.

·  School has two named First Aid at Work/Paediatric First Aid trained personnel and 16 trained Paediatric First Aiders.

·  A register of First Aiders and all medical training is maintained by the School Office.

·  Details of a child’s medical conditions will be shared with Class teachers and appropriate personnel.

·  Photographs of pupils with complex medical needs will be available to trained personnel in the School Office, the First Aid Room and on prescribed medication labels.

·  Medical records will be treated as confidential by all school staff.

The Staff and Governors of Sketchley Hill Primary School will review this document on an annual basis.

Appendix A

CONSENT FORM

General Care Plan/ Parent/Guardian/Carer

To: Headteacher of Sketchley Hill Primary School

From: Parent/Guardian of……………………………………………………………….…Full Name of Child

DOB: ……………………… Class: ……………………………………………

My child has been diagnosed as having:

…………………………………………………………………………..………………… (Name of condition)

He/She has been considered fit for school but requires the following prescribed medicine to be administered during school hours:

………………………………………………………………………………..…………. (Name of medication)

I consent/do not consent for my child to carry out self administration (delete as appropriate)

Could you please therefore administer the medication as indicated above -