Students Who Are Unwell Should Not Attend School

Rationale:

Schools are often asked by parents to administer medication for their children while at school. It is important that such requests are managed in a manner that is appropriate, ensures the safety of students, and fulfils the duty of care of staff.

Aims:

·  To ensure that required medications are administered appropriately to students in our care.

Implementation:

·  Students who are unwell should not attend school.

·  The Principal is to appoint staff member/s to be responsible for administering prescribed medication to students.

·  Storage of Prescribed Medications: Medication should be kept in a central location (Sick Bay). In accordance with the Poisons Act 1966 Regulation, medications included in Schedule 8 of the Poisons List (including Ritalin & Dexamphetamine) and stored separately in a securely locked office, first aid cupboard, office refrigerator, or whichever is most appropriate. All other prescribed medications should be stored under similar conditions and accessed only by the staff administering the medications.

·  Parents/Guardians give permission for medication to be given to staff member/s responsible for administering the prescribed medication to their child.

·  The College will obtain written advice on a Medication Authority Form for all medication to be administered by the school. The form should be completed by the student’s medical/health practitioner ensuring that the medication is warranted. However if this advice cannot be provided the principal may agree that the form can be completed by parents/guardians or adult/independent students.

·  All medication to be administered must be:

o  accompanied by written advice providing directions for appropriate storage and administration

o  in the original bottle or container clearly labelled with the name of the student, dosage and time to be administered by the pharmacist and ordered by a general practitioner.

o  within its expiry date

o  stored according to the product instructions, particularly in relation to temperature

o  must be for the student concerned.

o  The quantity of tablets need to confirmed and documented.

o  The container must not be tampered with in any way.

·  Any spill, reaction or refusal to take medication will be recorded in the “Drug Medication Book” held in Sick Bay.

·  The College will encourage parents/guardians to consider whether they can administer medication outside the school day, such as before and after school and before bed.

·  The Medication Authority Form must include the name of the student, dosage and time to be administered.

·  All verbal requests for students to be administered prescribed medications whilst at school must be directed to the Assistant Principal or Wellbeing Manager or Wellbeing Administration Assistant; who in turn, will communicate with parents/guardians to confirm details of the request and to outline school staff responsibilities.

·  Parents/Guardians of students that may require injections (e.g. insulin) are required to meet with a member of the Principal Class to discuss the treatment plan. Injections are to be administered at the Sick Bay, where possible and sharps disposed of in an authorized sharps disposal container.

·  All completed Medication Authority Forms and/or details relating to students, their prescribed medication, dosage quantities and times of administering will be kept and recorded in confidential student files. Senior staff and/or the school nurse will alert other staff members of students with serious medical conditions.

·  The staff member on duty in Sick Bay is to ensure that the entry in “Drug Medication Book” has been fully completed and any discrepancy is to be resolved with the parent before the medication is administered.

·  The Assistant Principal or Wellbeing Manager or Wellbeing Administration Assistant will seek clarification from Parents/Guardians with requests for medications to be administered by the school “as needed”.

·  Class room teachers will be informed by the Principal Class or Wellbeing Manager, where class room teachers will release students at prescribed times so that students receive their medications at correct times as required.

·  Unprescribed Medication will only be administered to a student if it is provided by a parent/guardian with a note providing permission. The Medication will be stored in sick bay or with a designated teacher/s on excursions.

·  Medication prescribed outside Australia will not be administered.

·  Students involved in school camps or excursions will be directly administered medications by the “Teacher in Charge” or nominated “First Aider”; in a manner consistent with the above procedures. Details to be recorded and the completed pages will be returned to the Drug Medication Book held in First Aid for filing upon returning to school.

·  Consistent with the Asthma Friendly School criteria and the student’s personal Asthma Action Plan, the student may carry their asthma inhaler with them and follow the student’s Asthma Action Plan as required. Asthma attack emergencies require Asthma First Aid and staff require an annual Asthma First Aid update.

·  Consistent with the Ministerial Order 90, Children’s Services and Education Legislation Amendment (Anaphylaxis Management) Act 2008, Children Services Regulations 2009, S076-2013 Anaphylaxis Management – Updated Guidelines - all schools require a Management Policy to deal with students diagnosed as at risk of anaphylaxis and have a ‘spare’ or ‘back-up’ adrenaline auto injector.

o  All staff should be made aware of all students at risk of Anaphylaxis and other serious medical alerts

o  Students at risk of Anaphylaxis must have a current Anaphylaxis Medical Management Plan prepared and signed by the child’s Medical Practitioner.

o  EPIPEN/ANAPEN’s must be kept in an easily accessible place (SICK BAY) and all staff need to notified of this.

o  Complete the Anaphylaxis Risk Management checklist annually

o  Conduct twice yearly briefings for staff on Anaphylaxis Management and practice with adrenaline auto injectors

Evaluation:

·  We will review this policy as part of the college’s three-year review cycle.

Reference:

DEECD School Policies and Advisory Guide: Medication http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/health/Pages/medication.aspx

This form should be completed ideally by the student’s medical/health practitioner, for all medication to be administered at school. For those students with asthma, an Asthma Foundation’s School Asthma Action Plan should be completed instead. For those students with anaphylaxis, an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis should be completed instead. These forms are available from section 4.5 Student Health in the Victorian Government School Reference Guide: www.education.vic.gov.au/referenceguide.

Please only complete those sections in this form which are relevant to the student’s health support needs.

Name of School: ______

Student’s Name:______Date of Birth:______

MedicAlert Number (if relevant): ______Review date for this form: ______

Please Note: wherever possible, medication should be scheduled outside the school hours, e.g. medication required three times a day is generally not required during a school day: it can be taken before and after school and before bed.

Medication required:
Name of Medication/s / Dosage (amount) / Time/s to be
taken / How is it to be taken? (eg orally/ topical/injection) / Dates
Start date: / /
End Date: / /
□ Ongoing medication
Start date: / /
End Date: / /
□ Ongoing medication
Start date: / /
End Date: / /
□ Ongoing medication
Start date: / /
End Date: / /
□ Ongoing medication
Medication Storage
Please indicate if there are specific storage instructions for the medication:
Medication delivered to the school
Please ensure that medication delivered to the school:
Is in its original package
The pharmacy label matches the information included in this form.
Self-management of medication
Students in the early years will generally need supervision of their medication and other aspects of health care management. In line with their age and stage of development and capabilities, older students can take responsibility for their own health care. Self-management should follow agreement by the student and his or her parents/carers, the school and the student’s medical/health practitioner.
Please advise if this person’s condition creates any difficulties with self-management, for example, difficulty remembering to take medication at a specified time or difficulties coordinating equipment:
Monitoring effects of Medication
Please note: School staff do not monitor the effects of medication and will seek emergency medical assistance if concerned about a student’s behaviour following medication.

Privacy Statement

The school collects personal information so as the school can plan and support the health care needs of the student. Without the provision of this information the quality of the health support provided may be affected. The information may be disclosed to relevant school staff and appropriate medical personnel, including those engaged in providing health support as well as emergency personnel, where appropriate, or where authorised or required by another law. You are able to request access to the personal information that we hold about you/your child and to request that it be corrected. Please contact the school directly or FOI Unit on 96372670.

Authorisation:

Name of Medical/health practitioner:

Professional Role:

Signature: Date:

Contact details:

Name of Parent/Carer or adult/independent student**:

Signature: Date:

If additional advice is required, please attach it to this form.

**Please note: Adult student is a student who is eighteen years of age and older. Independent student is a student under the age of eighteen years and living separately and independently from parents/guardians (See Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide 4.6.14.5).

Swan Hill College Council Reviewed: April 2013