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Administering Medicines Policy

We aim to ensure that all children with medical needs have the same right of admission to our settings. All reasonable adjustments will be made to systems and the physical environment to support the inclusion of all children including children with long-term or complex health needs.

Parents/carers have primary responsibility for their child’s health and are required to provide the setting with information about their child’s condition. We will not administer any treatment or medication that can be administered outside our sessions without putting the child at risk. No medication or treatment will be given by the organisation without proper and sufficient authorisation and training. Medication will only be administered to a child where written permission for that particular medicine has been obtained from the child’s parent and/or carer. Prescription medicines will not be administered unless they have been prescribed for a child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.

Responsibility for putting this policy into practice is delegated to the Health and Safety Officer. To achieve this we will actively work to the following objectives.

1. To manage medicines that need to be taken during session times
2. To manage medicines on trips and outings
3. To manage proper storage and handling of medicines, and communication with parents
4. To provide clear procedural statements on the administration of medicines
5. To provide appropriate training to support inclusion of children with specific medical needs.
6. To enable children with long term medical conditions to have equality of access to our provision

Procedures

Managing Medicines Procedures

• The organisation will obtain medical histories on the registration form for each child prior to attendance
• Children with physical/medical needs will have an individual health care plan drawn up in partnership with parent/carers, setting and, where necessary, a medical practitioner.
• The plan will record relevant health details, emergency contacts, medication and training to administer. These plans will be kept in a clearly marked folder and information kept confidential to those staff that need to know.

Children requiring short term medication

The setting may from time to time need to administer medication for children with temporary medical needs. This can be both prescribed and non-prescribed, depending on the individual circumstances. Prescription medicines must not be administered unless they have been prescribed for a child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist (medicines containing aspirin should only be given if prescribed by a doctor). In the case of prescribed medication, the details on the medication will always be followed. In all cases of administration of medicine by staff:

• Parents will train staff in administering relevant medication, parent/carers will complete a form detailing the medication which is to be administered. Records of medicines administered will be held in the “Health Care Plans” The staff member informed by the parent should inform the rest of the staff verbally and in written form where appropriate- eg via the white board in the entrance/ on the register.
• Written agreement will be gained from parent/carers before the administration of any medicine.
• Where appropriate children will be encouraged to administer their own medication
• All staff will undergo training to deal with medical needs where identified, the training will be specific to the individual child except where training is considered generic; for example the administration of epipens
• A clear record of medication will be kept; clearly identifying the name and dosage of medication; name of staff member administering medication, time of medication or any contra-indications noted.
• All medicines will be stored effectively depending on the specific circumstances. Some medicines may be stored in a fridge, in the cabinet in the office, in medical bags on outings, at school.
• The management of medicines (including checking medication in date) will form part of the regular risk assessments undertaken by the setting.

Children requiring long term medication / intervention

• A health care plan will be put in place for the child outlining the necessary details of the child’s condition and what the setting will do. This will be unique to the child and their circumstances and produced in partnership with the child’s primary carer and medical professional, where necessary. All relevant information should be effectively communicated to the staff team
• Prior written consent must be received from the child’s parent or guardian to give treatment and/or medication prescribed by the child’s GP.
• Staff will have additional training where necessary- this could be provided by the child’s parents or medical professionals depending on the circumstance
• The setting’s insurance company will be notified if necessary
• It may be necessary to carry out individual risk assessments- eg in the case of medication which would influence a child’s mobility i.e. a child requiring the use of an oxygen tank
• Health care plans will be kept under a process of monitor and review

Trips & Outings

• One specific staff member will be named and given responsibility for the safe storage and carrying of medications. Medications will be stored in a zipped bag kept in the control of the named staff member. This bag will not be left unsupervised at any point.
• In the case of emergency a list of contact names and numbers will be kept to enable a swift and prompt response
• A record of contents will be kept stored in the medication folder.

Supporting Documents:

Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions (2023)

EYFS (2020)