Parklands High School

Medication Administration Policy

LEARN RESPECT ASPIRE ACHIEVE

SUPPORTING PUPILS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS: POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Parklands follow the guidelines set out by Lancashire County Council

This policy:

• Establishes a statement of the ways in which the school responds to its responsibilities regarding

pupils with medical needs; and

• Establishes the legal position on administering medication.

The policy aims to:

• Build on the existing good practice, which ensures that children with medical needs attend school and

benefit from doing so.

• Establish the ways in which the school can effectively and safely meet the needs of these pupils.

• Complement the school’s health and safety policies.

Specific Procedures

1. Administration of Medicines in School

1.1 The Governors and staff of Parklands High School wish to ensure that pupils with medical needs

receive proper care and support at school. The Headteacher will accept responsibility in principle for

members of the school staff giving or supervising pupils taking prescribed medication during the school

day where those members of staff have volunteered to do so.

1.2 Only medication prescribed by a doctor will be administered or supervised taken by pupils.

Whenever possible pupils will be encouraged to administer prescribed medicine.

1.3 Parents are required to make a specific request in writing. (Appendix 1)

1.4 Only reasonable quantities of medication should be supplied to the school.

1.5 Each item of medication must be delivered in its original container and handed directly to the

Headteacher (or to a nominated person authorised by the Headteacher).

1.6 Each item of medication must be clearly labelled with the following information:

• Pupil’s name

• Name of medication

• Dosage

• Frequency of dosage

• Date of dispensing

• Storage requirements (if important)

• Expiry date

1.7 The school will not accept items of medication which are in unlabelled containers. 1.8 Unless

otherwise indicated all medication to be administered in school will be kept in a locked medicine

cabinet.

1.9 The school will keep a record with details of medication administered.

(Appendix 2)

1.10 It is the responsibility of parents/carers to notify the school if there is a change in medication, a

change in dosage requirements, or the discontinuation of the pupil’s need for medication.

1.11 Staff who volunteer to assist in the administration of medication will receive appropriate

training/guidance through arrangements made with the School Health Service.

1.12 The school will make every effort to continue the administration of medication to a pupil whilst on

trips away from the school premises, even if additional arrangements might be required. However,

there may be occasions when it may not be possible to include a pupil on a school trip if appropriate

supervision cannot be guaranteed.

2. School Trips

2.1 Teachers and other school staff in charge of pupils have a common law duty to act as any reasonably

prudent parent would to make sure that pupils are healthy and safe on school premises and this might,

in exceptional circumstances, extend to administering medicine and/or taking action in an emergency.

This duty also extends to teachers leading activities taking place off the school site, such as educational

visits, school outings and field trips.

2.2 Pupils with medical need should be encouraged to participate in school trips, where safety permits.

2.3 Arrangements for taking any necessary medication will need to be taken into consideration.

2.4 Staff supervising excursions should always be aware of medical needs, and relevant emergency

procedures.

2.5 An additional supervisor or parent might accompany a particular pupil to help with specific medical

needs.

2.6 If staff are concerned about whether they can provide for a pupil’s safety, or the safety of other

pupils on a trip, they should discuss this issue with the Headteacher.

3. Long-Term Medical Needs and Health Care Plans

3.1 Any pupil who has long-term medical needs and/or is likely to have prolonged or recurrent periods

of absence from school due to a medical condition will have a written health care plan developed by the

school nurse.

3.2 Any pupil who is likely to have prolonged or recurrent periods of absence from school will be

referred to L.E.M.S.

3.3 The main purpose of an individual health care plan is to identify the level of support needed by a

student. This document clarifies for staff, parents and the pupil the help the school can provide and

receive. It should include details of a pupil’s condition, special requirements, what constitutes an

emergency, what action to take in an emergency, what not to do in event of emergency, who to contact

in an emergency and the role the staff can play.

3.4 A list of all pupils with special health problems or physical difficulties can be found in the annual

booklet ‘Pupil Medical and SEN Information’.

4. Illness

4.1 Any student who becomes unwell during the day should report to a member of staff. The student

should be sent, or taken, to the reception area and the appropriate Form Tutor / Progress Leader

informed.

4.2 A qualified first aider will administer treatment if appropriate contact parents/carers if necessary.

4.3 If the first aider deems the illness to be an emergency and ambulance will be called and parents

contacted. The school is not responsible for taking an ill pupil to A& E or home.

5. Accident

5.1 When a pupil has an accident he/she will be attended to and examined by a qualified first aider who

will administer treatment if appropriate.

5.2 Parents/carers will be contacted and, in the case of a non emergency, asked to collect their child

from school or make arrangements for this to happen.

5.3 A recommendation may be given that the child should be taken to A & E as a precaution, in this

instance it is the parents/carers responsibility to do this.

5.4 If the first aider deems the accident to be an emergency and ambulance will be called and parents

contacted. The school is not responsible for taking an injured pupil to A& E.

5.5 For location of First Aid Equipment see School Handbook.

6. Emergency

For Emergency procedures see School’s Health and Safety Policy.

Appendix 1

Details of Pupil

Surname ……………………………………………………. Forename(s) …………………………………....................................

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......................................

M/F …………………………………………………………… Class/Form ……………………………………....................................

Date of Birth ……………………………………………… Condition/Illness ………………………….....................................

Medication

Name/Type of medication (as described on the container) ………………………………………................................

For how long will your child take this medication …………………………………………………................................…..

Date dispensed ………………………………………………………………………………………....................................……………..

Full directions for use

Dosage/amount (as per instructions on container) …………………………….................................……………………..

How often …………………………………………………. Side Effects ………………….......................................……………….

Self Administration ……………………………………..

Procedures to take in an Emergency ………………………...................................………………………………………………

Contact Information

Contact 1 Name ………………………...............………… Contact 2 Name ……….....................................…………….

Relationship ………………………………….........………….. Relationship ……...................................…………………………

Telephone No (home) ………………............……………… Telephone No (home) …………............................……..

Work/mobile …………………………..........………………… Work/mobile …………….................................………………..

GP

Name ……………………………………..........………………. Allergies ……………....................................………………………

Telephone No …………………………………………

I understand that I must deliver the medication personally to (agreed member of staff) and accept that

this is a service which the school is not obliged to undertake.

Signature …………………………….……....………… Date ………..……………… Relationship to Pupil ……....……………..

Appendix 2

Record of medication administered in School

Date Pupil’s Name Time Name of

Medication Dose Given Signature