13/01/2010
ModelSchool Policy and guidelines
This model policy can be modified and adapted to suit your school. Remove or alter clauses etc that may not be applicable to clarify the arrangements and procedures in place at your school. Remember whilst you may not have any children with serious medical needs now, children can join your school in the future and can develop medical problems after illness etc.
Insert the Name of your school where it says 'Name of School'
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
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1.Name of school is an inclusive community that aims to support and welcome children and young people with medical conditions.
1.1 Name of school understands that it has a responsibility to welcome and support children and young people with medical conditions who currently attend or receive our services now or in the future.
1.2 Name of school aims to provide all children with medical conditions the same opportunities as others. We will help to ensure as part of the ‘Every Child Matters Agenda’ that they can:
+ be healthy
+ stay safe
+ enjoy and achieve
+ make a positive contribution
+ achieve economic well-being.
1.3 Children and Young People with medical conditions are encouraged to take control of their condition subject to their age and understanding andwhere responsible enough to do so. They feel confident in the
1.4 Name of school aims to include all children and young persons with medical conditions in all activities as far as reasonably practicable.
1.5 Parents* of children and young persons with medical conditions feel secure in the care their children receive.
1.6 Name of school ensures all staff understand their duty of care to children and young people in the event of an emergency.
1.7 All staff feel confident in knowing what to do in an emergency.
1.8 Name of school understands that certain medical conditions are serious and can be potentially life-threatening, particularly if ill managed or misunderstood.
1.9 All staff understand the common medical conditions that affect children and understand the importance of protecting the dignity of children and young people. Staff receive training on the impact this can have on pupils.
1.10 The medical conditions policy is understood and supported by Name of school and the local health community.
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
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Support theyreceive from our school to help
them do this.
2. This medical conditions policy has been drawn up in consultation with a wide range of local key stakeholders within both Children and Young Peoples Services and health settings
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
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2.1 Name of school has consulted on the development of this medical condition policy with a wide-range of key stakeholders within both Children and Young peoples Services and health settings. These key stakeholders include: (delete or add as required to the list below)
+ Pupils with medical conditions
+ Parents
+ School/community nurse
+ Head teacher
+ Teachers
+ Special educational needs coordinator
+ Pastoral care/welfare officer
+ Members of staff trained in first aid
+ All other staff
+ Local healthcare professionals
+ School employer
+ School governors.
+ Catering provider
+ Transport provider
(Include clause below if appropriate)
2.2 The views of children and young people with various medical conditions were actively sought and considered central to the consultation process.
2.3 All key stakeholders were consulted
in two phases:
+ initial consultation during development of
the policy
+ comments on a draft policy before
publication.
2.4 Name of school recognises the importance of providing feedback to those involved in the development process and is committed to acknowledging input and providing follow-up to suggestions put forward.
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
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3. The medical conditions policy is supported by a clearcommunication plan for staff, parents and other key stakeholders to ensure its full implementation
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
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3.1 Children and young people 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) classes
- through school-wide communication about results of the monitoring and evaluation of the policy.
+ add in or delete others appropriate
3.2 Parents are informed and regularly reminded about the medical conditions policy:
- by including the policy statement in the school prospectus/Information pack and signposting access to the policy
at the start of the school year/enrolment/provision of service when communication is sent out about Healthcare Plans
- in the school newsletter at several intervals in the school year
- when your child is enrolled at a school
- via the school’s/ChYPs website, where it is available all year round
- through school communication about results of the monitoring and evaluation of the policy.
3.3 School staff are informed and regularly reminded about the medical conditions policy:
- through copies handed out at induction training
- at scheduled medical conditions training
- through the key principles of the policy being displayed in several prominent staff areas
- through school communication about results of the monitoring and evaluation of the policy
- all supply and temporary staff (and volunteers where appropriate) are informed of the policy and their responsibilities.
3.4 Relevant local health staff are informed and regularly reminded about the school medical conditions policy:
- by letter accompanied with a printed copy of the policy at the start of the school year
- +via primary care trust (PCT) links and the school/community nurse
- through communication about results of the monitoring and evaluation of the policy.
3.5 All key external stakeholders are informed and reminded about the medical conditions policy:
- by letter accompanied with a printed copy of the policy summary at the start of the school year
- through communication about results of the monitoring and evaluation of the policy. (where appropriate)
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
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4. All staff understand and are trained in what to do in an emergency for the most common serious medical conditions at this school
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
13/01/2010
4.1 All staff are aware of the most common serious medical conditions.
4.2 Staff understand their duty of care to pupils in the event of an emergency. In an emergency situation staff are required under common law duty of care to act like any reasonably prudent parent. This may include administering medication.
4.3 All staff who work with groups of children and young people receive training and know what to do in an emergency for the children and young people in their care with medical conditions.
4.4 Training is refreshed for all staff at least once a year. In addition more specific training
is provided to staff where they are required to meet the specific needs of a child eg using an epipen or responding to achild who is having an epileptic fit.
4.5 Action for staff to take in an emergency for the common serious conditions is displayed in prominent locations for all staffincluding write in here where it can be found e.g. office, staff rooms
4.6 This school uses Healthcare Plans to inform the appropriate staff (including temporary staff and support staff) of children and young people in their care who may need emergency help.
4.7 This school has procedures in place so that should an emergency occur a copy of the child's Healthcare Plan is sent to the emergency care setting with the child. On occasions when this is not possible, the plan is sent (or the information on it is communicated) to the emergency staff as soon as possible.
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
13/01/2010
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
13/01/2010
5. All staff understand and are trained in general emergency procedures
5.1 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
- who to contact within the school.
5.2 Training is refreshed for all staff at least once a year.
5.3 Action to take in a general medical emergency is displayed in prominent locations for staff. These includeput in herewhere it can be found e.g. office, staff rooms
5.4 If a child needs to be taken to hospital, a member of staff will always accompany them and will stay with them until a parent arrives. Every effort will be made to send a member of staff whom the child is familiar with
5.5 Generally, staff should not take pupils to hospital in their own car. This school has clear guidance from the local authority on when (and if) this is appropriate.
6. The school has clear guidance on the administration of medication
Administration – emergency medication
6.1 All children and young people with medical conditions and staff who administer it have easy access to their emergency medication.
6.2 All children are encouraged to carry and administer their own emergency medication, when their parents and health specialists determine they are able to start taking responsibility for their condition. All children carry their emergency medication with them at all times, except if they are controlled drugs as defined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This is also the arrangement on any off-site or residential visits.
6.3 Children who do not carry and administer their own emergency medication know where their medication is stored and how to access it.
6.4 Children who do not carry and administer their own emergency 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
6.5 All use of medication defined as a controlled drug, even if the child can administer the medication themselves, is done under the supervision of a named member of staff at this
school.
6.6 This school understands the importance of medication being taken as prescribed.
6.7 All staff are aware that there is no legal or contractual duty for any member of staff to administer medication or supervise a child taking medication unless they have been specifically contracted to do so.
(Include clause below if appropriate)
6.8 There are several members of staff who have been specifically contracted to administer medication.
6.9 Many other members of staff are happy to take on the voluntary role of administering medication. For medication where no specific training is necessary, any member of staff may administer prescribed and non-prescribed medication to children under the age of 16, but only with the written consent of the pupil’s parent and information being available on dosage, timings etc.
6.10 Training is given to all staff members who agree to administer medication, where specific training is needed. The local authority provides full indemnity.
6.11 All staff have been informed through training that they are required, under common law duty of care, to act like any reasonably prudent parent in an emergency situation. This may include taking action such as administering medication.
6.12 In some circumstances medication is only administered by an adult of the same gender as the pupil, and preferably witnessed by a second adult.
6.13 Parents understand that if their child’s
medication changes or is discontinued, or the dose or administration method changes, that they should notify the school immediately.
6.14 If a child refuses their medication, staff record this and follow procedures set down in the healthcare plan. Parents are informed as soon as possible.
6.15 All staff attending off-site visits are aware of any child with medical conditions on the visit.
They receive information about the type of condition, what to do in an emergency and any other additional support necessary, including any additional medication or equipment needed.
6.16 If a trained member of staff, who is usually responsible for administering medication, is not available this school makes alternative arrangements to provide the service. This is always addressed in the risk assessment and management arrangements for off-site activities.
6.17 If a child misuses medication, their own or another child’s, their parents are informed as soon as possible. These children are subject to the schools usual disciplinary procedures.
6.18 If a child needs supervision or access to medication during home to school and transport is organised by the local authority, properly trained escorts are provided. All drivers and escorts have the same training as staff, know what to do in a medical emergency and are aware of any children in their care who have specific needs. If they are expected to supervise or administer emergency medication they are properly trained and have access to the relevant Healthcare Plans.
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
13/01/2010
7. This school has clear guidance on the storage of medication.
Model Policy1
* The term ‘parent’ implies any person or body with parentalresponsibility such as foster parent, carer, guardian or local authority.
+ The term health care plan relates to a document that provides children and their carers with information on how to monitor and manage their medical condition on a day to day basis.
13/01/2010
Safe storage – emergency medication
7.1 Emergency medication is readily available to children and/or staff required to administer it at all times during the day or at off-site activities. If the emergency medication is a controlled drug and needs to be locked up, the keys are readily available and not held personally by members of staff.
7.2 Most children at this school carry their emergency medication on them at all times. Children keep their own emergency medication securely.
7.3 Children at this school are reminded to carry their emergency medication with them.
7.4 Children, whose healthcare professionals and parents advise the school that their child is not yet able, subject to their age or understanding to self manage and carry their own emergency medication, know exactly where to access their emergency medication.
Safe storage – non-emergency medication
7.5 All non-emergency medication is kept securely, in a lockable cupboard in a cool dry place. Children with medical conditions know where their medication is stored and how to access it.