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Document No: 001
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Document Type:
Policy
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Owner:
Arklow CBS
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Version No: 06
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Page 1 of 9
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Document Type:
Administration of Medicines Policy
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Approved By:
B.O.M.
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Supersedes: v05
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Rationale:
The policy as outlined was put in place to;
- Clarify areas of responsibility.
- To give clear guidance about situations where it is not appropriate to administer medicines.
- To indicate the limitations to any requirements which may be notified to school staff.
Relationship to School Ethos:
The school promotes positive home-school contacts, not only in relation to the welfare of students, but in relation to all aspects of school life. This policy is in keeping with the school ethos through the provision of a safe, secure and caring school environment and the furthering of positive home-school links.
Aims of this Policy:
The aims and objectives of the policy can be summarised as follows;
- To minimise health risks to children and staff on the school premises.
- To provide a framework within which medicines may be administered in cases of emergency or in instances where regularised administration has been agreed with parents/guardians.
In –School Procedures:
Parents/guardians are required to complete a section on Health/Medication in the application form when enrolling their child(ren) in the school. No staff member is obliged to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil and any member of staff willing to do so, works under the controlled guidelines outlined below.
- Medicines will only be administered after parents/guardians of the pupil concerned have written to the B.O.M. requesting the Board to authorise a member of staff to do so. The Board will seek indemnity from parents/guardians in respect of any liability arising from the administration of medicines.
- In general, medicines will be administered by the parents/guardians outside of school hours
- The school generally advocates the self administration (e.g. inhalers, epi-pen) of medicine. Parents/guardians are responsible for the provision of medication and notification of change of dosage.
All members of staff have a professional duty to safeguard the health and safety of pupils, both when they are authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere.
- The Board of Management requests parents/guardians to ensure that staff be made aware in writing of any medical condition suffered by any student.
- This does not imply a duty upon staff personally to undertake the administration of medicines or drugs.
Long Term Health Problems:
Where there are students with long-term health problems in school, proper and clearly understood arrangements for the administration of medicines must be made with the Board of Management. This is the responsibility of the parents/guardians. It would include measures such as self administration, administration under parental supervision or administration by school staff.
Life Threatening Condition:
Where students are suffering from life threatening conditions, parents/guardians must clearly outline, in writing, what should be done in a particular emergency situation, with particular reference to what may be a risk to the student (Appendix 3). If emergency medication is necessary, arrangements must be made with the Board of Management. A letter of indemnity must be signed by the parents/guardians in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of medication.
Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines:
- The parents/guardians of the pupil with special medical needs must inform the Board of Management in writing of the condition, giving all the necessary details of the condition. The request must also contain written instruction of the procedure to be followed in administering the medication. (Appendix 1, 2 or 3)
- Parents/guardians must write requesting the Board of Management to authorise the administration of the medication in the school.
- Where specific authorisation has been given by the Board of Management for the administration of medicine, the medicines must be brought to school by the parent/guardian/designated adult.
- A written record of the date and time of administration must be kept by the person administering it (Appendix 4).
- Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that emergency medication is supplied to the school and replenished when necessary, ensuring medication is valid and in date.
- Emergency medication must have exact details of how it is to be administered.
- The B.O.M. must inform the school’s insurers accordingly of medication for life threatening conditions.
- Parents/Guardians are further required to indemnify the Board of Management and members of the staff in respect of any liability that may arise regarding the administration of prescribed medicines in school and during school related activities
- All correspondence related to the above are kept in the school.
Medicines:
- Where possible, parents/guardians should arrange for the administration of prescribed medicines outside of school hours.
- School staff will only administer prescribed medication when arrangements have been put in place as outlined above.
- Arrangements for the storage of certain emergency medicines, which must be readily accessible at all times, must be made with the Principal.
- A staff member must not administer any medication without the specific authorisation of the Board of Management.
- Two members of staff to be present for the administering of medication and both to sign Appendix 4 (record of administration of medicines).
- The prescribed medicine must be self-administered if possible, under the supervision of an authorised member of staff, if not the parent/guardian.
- No staff member is obliged to administer medicine or drugs to a pupil.
- In an emergency situation, qualified medical assistance will be secured at the earliest opportunity and the parents/guardians contacted.
- Students should be responsible for the administration of their own medication with due regard to the age of the student.
Emergencies:
In the event of an emergency, staff members should do no more than is necessary and appropriate to relieve extreme distress or prevent further and otherwise irreparable harm. Qualified medical treatment should be secured in emergencies at the earliest opportunity.
Where no qualified medical treatment is available, and circumstances warrant immediate medical attention, staff members may take a student into Accident and Emergency without delay. Parents/guardians will be contacted simultaneously.
In addition, parents/guardians must ensure that staff members are made aware in writing of any medical condition which their son is suffering from. For example students who have epilepsy, diabetes etc. may have a seizure at any time and staff members must be made aware of symptoms in order to ensure that treatment may be given by appropriate persons.
Written details are required from the parents/guardians outlining the student’s personal details, name of medication, prescribed dosage, whether the student is capable of self-administration and the circumstances under which the medication is to be given. Parents/guardians should also outline clearly proper procedures for students who require medication for life threatening conditions.
The school maintains an up to date register of contact details of all parents/guardians including emergency numbers. This is updated in September of each new school year.
First Aid Boxes:
A full first aid kit is taken when students are engaged in out of school activities such as tours, football/hurling games and athletic activities.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The BOM has overall responsibility for the implementation and monitoring of the school policy on Administration of Medication. The Principal is the day to day manager of routines contained in the policy with the assistance of all staff members.
Success Criteria:
The effectiveness of the school policy in its present form is measured by the following criteria;
- · Compliance with Health and Safety legislation.
- · Maintaining a safe and caring environment for students.
- · Positive feedback from parents/guardians and teachers.
- · Ensuring the primary responsibility for administering medication remains with parents/guardians.
Ratification and Review:
This policy is ratified by the BOM on 16th January 2020. It will be reviewed in the event of incidents or on the enrolment of students with significant medical conditions, but no later than 2 years from date of ratification.
Implementation:
The policy has been implemented since 17th January 2020.
Appendix 1
Medical Condition and Administration of Medicines
Students Name: ________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
Date of Birth: ____________
Emergency Contacts
1) Name: ____________________________ Phone: ___________________
2) Name: ____________________________ Phone: ___________________
3) Name: ____________________________ Phone: ___________________
4) Name: ____________________________ Phone: ___________________
Student’s Doctor: ____________________________ Phone: ________________
Medical Condition:
_________________________________________________________
Prescription Details:
_________________________________________________________
Storage details:
_________________________________________________________
Dosage required:
_________________________________________________________
Is the student to be responsible for taking the prescription him/herself?
_________________________________________________________
What Action is required
_________________________________________________________
I/We request that the Board of Management authorise the taking of Prescription Medicine during the school day as it is absolutely necessary for the continued well-being of my/our child. I/We understand that we must inform the school of any changes of medicine/dose in writing and that we must inform the school each year of the prescription/medical condition. I/We understand that school staff may have minimal first aid training but do not have any formal medical training and we indemnify the Board from any liability that may arise from the administration of the medication.
Signed ________________________ Parent/Guardian
_________________________ Parent/Guardian
Date ________________________
Appendix 2
Allergy Details
Type of Allergy:
__________________________________________________
Reaction Level:
__________________________________________________
Medication:
__________________________________________________
Storage details:
__________________________________________________
Dosage required:
__________________________________________________
Administration Procedure (When, Why, How)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Parent / Guardian Signature:___________________ Date:__________________
Appendix 3
Emergency Procedures
In the event of ______________ displaying any symptoms of his medical difficulty, the following procedures should be followed.
Symptoms: _________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Procedure:
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
6. ____________________________________
To include: Dial 999 and call emergency services.
Contact Parents
Parent / Guardian Signature:___________________ Date:__________________
Appendix 4
Record of administration of Medicines
Pupil’s Name: _____________________
Date of Birth: _____________________
Medical Condition:
__________________________________________________
Medication:
__________________________________________________
Dosage Administered:
__________________________________________________
Administration Details (When, Why, How)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Signed: __________________ Date: __________________
Signed: __________________ Date: __________________
Students
Signature _________________ Date: ________________