Medication of Pupils Policy

         Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions

1        Our Aims

1.1        The Island Project  (“the School”) aims to support all pupils with medical conditions.  Many of our pupils have underlying health issues which may not be medically diagnosed.  However, the School will work with parents and carers, and may, with agreement, introduce an Individual Healthcare Plan to support the pupil even without any underlying diagnosis.  Examples may be where a pupil has bowel function issues or similar undiagnosed regular medical issues.

1.2        Other related policies include the Child Protection Policy, First Aid Policy, Health and Safety Policy.

1.3        The School will work with other health professionals and will seek advice, support, and information from them to ensure the best possible support for meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions. This may include working with parents to make referrals where necessary. The School may seek input from:

• The local health authority;
• The school health service;
• The general practitioner;
• The community paediatrician;
• Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services;
• Learning Disability Nurses; and/or
• Other relevant health professionals.

1.4        This policy aims to ensure that:

• Pupils, staff and parents understand how our school will support pupils with medical conditions
• Pupils with medical conditions are properly supported to allow them to access the same education as other pupils.

1.5        The School will ensure, so far as possible, that:

• Staff are suitably trained;
• Staff are aware of a pupil’s medical condition where appropriate; and
• Develop and monitor individual healthcare plans.

2.        Legislation and Statutory Responsibilities

2.1        This policy meets the requirements under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 which places a duty on schools to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions.

2.2        The statutory guidance “supporting pupils at schools with medical conditions” does not apply to independent schools. However, the School recognises the importance of this guidance and has adopted it as good practice.

3.        Roles and Responsibilities

3.1        The School will ensure that:

• Sufficient staff have received suitable training, including first aid training and specific training, where appropriate, around supporting specific pupils with specific medical conditions, eg, epilepsy;
• All staff are aware of and understand this policy;
• All pupils with medical conditions have an Pupil Welfare Plan (PWP) which will be developed in conjunction with staff at the School including the Welfare, Safety and Safeguarding Director, School Principal BA’s and Senior Staff. Additional professionals, such as School Nursing Service and/or Learning and Disability Nurses will also be consulted;
• Appropriate insurance is in place; and
• Systems are in place by sending out parent packs which includes a request for medical information to all parents on at least an annual basis.

3.2        Supporting pupils with medical conditions is not the sole responsibility of any one person.  Any member of staff may be asked to provide support to pupils with medical conditions although they will not be required to do so. This includes the administration of both prescription and non-prescription medicines.

3.3        Those staff who do take on the responsibility of supporting pupils with medical conditions will receive sufficient and appropriate training.

3.4        Parents will:

• Provide School with sufficient and up to date information about their child’s medical needs;
• Be involved in the development and review of their child’s PWP; and
• Carry out any action they have agreed as part of the implementation of the PWP, eg, provide medicines and equipment.

3.5        Wherever possible, pupils will be involved in discussions about their medical needs.  

3.6        Before administering any medicine, staff must check: 

• that the medicine belongs to the pupil 
• that the dosage they are giving is correct
• that written permission has been given

                All doses administered will be recorded in the medication book in the lockable cupboard at School

3.7        Medicines needing refrigeration will be stored in an airtight container in the staff fridge. The medication book must also be completed.

3.8         Failure to complete appropriate checks and records when administering medicine may result in Disciplinary proceedings

4.        Equal Opportunities

4.1        The School actively supports its pupils, whether they have a recognised medical condition or not, and will ensure that they participate in appropriate trips, community visits and activities.

4.2        Staff will ensure that when a child with an PWP takes part in a school trip, their PWP is included in the information supplied, along with relevant risk assessments.

5.        Personal Welfare Plans

5.1        The School Principal has overall responsibility for the development of PWP’s for pupils with medical conditions.  

5.2        Plans will be reviewed at least annually, or earlier if there is evidence that a pupil’s needs have changed. This review may be as part of the annual review process.

5.3        Plans will be developed with the pupil’s best interests in mind and will set out:

• What needs to be done;
• When;
• By whom; and
• Criteria for crisis management.

5.4        PWP’s will be linked to any EHC Plan once agreed.

5.5        The level of detail in the plan will depend on the complexity of the child’s condition and how much support is needed.

5.6        The format of the PWP is annexed.

5.7        At the beginning of each academic year, parent packs are sent out which include any updates on medical conditions, medication etc. These also contain relevant forms for administering medication, both prescription and non-prescription (for example pain relief or probiotics).

5.8        School will only accept prescribed medicines that are :

• In date;
• Labelled;
• Provided in the original container as dispensed by the pharmacist and which include the patient’s name, and instructions for administration, dosage and storage.
• Accompanied by appropriate “Administering Medication Consent Form”

5.9        School will only accept and administer non-prescribed medicines that are :

• Provided by the parent in original packaging as purchased;
• Clearly outline administration and dosage;
• Are licensed for over the counter purchase in the UK.

6.        Pupils Managing Their Own Needs

6.1        Pupils who are competent to do so will be encouraged to take responsibility for managing their own medicines and procedures. This will be discussed with parents and will be reflected in their PWP’s.

6.2        Pupils over the age of 18 will, where appropriate, be supported in the management of their own medications. This will be reflected in their PWP’s and they will be encouraged to complete medication logs (see annexures) where appropriate.

6.3        Where pupils are unable to manage their own medication, they will be supported to do so by staff members as set out in their PWP’s. Staff will not force a pupil to take a medicine or carry out a necessary procedure if the pupil refuses, but will follow the procedure agreed in the PWP and will inform parents so that an alternative option can be considered.  This may include calling the parent to come in to collect their child.

7.        Unacceptable Practice

7.1        When pupils are ill School staff should use their discretion as to whether parents should be contacted. The School Principal has overall responsibility for the development of PWP’s for pupils, but it is not acceptable to:

• Force pupils to take medication if they refuse to do so.
• Prevent pupils from easily accessing inhalers and medication and administering their medication when and where necessary;
• Assume that every pupil with the same condition requires the same treatment;
• Ignore the views of the pupil or their parents;
• Ignore medical evidence or opinion (although this may be challenged); or
• Prevent pupils from drinking, eating or accessing the toilet or other breaks when they need to

7.2     Temperatures of pupils may be taken using a non-contact thermometer.          

8.         Emergency Procedures

8.1        Staff will follow the School’s normal emergency procedures (for example, calling 999).

8.2.        Where pupils are known to be at risk of anaphylaxis or have been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector (also known as AAI’s or EpiPen), the School will purchase a spare AAI to be kept in School in accordance with the “Guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors issued by the the Department of Health in October 2017.”

8.3        Severe anaphylaxis is an extremely time-critical situation. In accordance with the above Guidance, School will ensure that a spare AAI device is kept in a safe and suitably central location, ie, the school office, where staff have access to it at all times.

8.4        As well as ensuring that a spare AAI is available in the School Office, a further AAI will be kept accessible and available in the relevant pupil’s Unit. This AAI would be the pupil’s own AAI provided from home.  

8.5        The Guidance states that the AAI should be out of reach and sight of children but must not be locked in a cupboard or an office to which access is restricted.  

8.6        Pupils should be encouraged to take responsibility for their medication wherever possible.  However, for some of our pupils, this may not be possible and therefore it may be necessary for staff to help administer an AAI.

8.7        AAI’s will only be used as set out in the above Guidance. Staff working with pupils who have epilepsy are required to undertake training

8.8        Storage and use of any AAI would be detailed in the PWP and agreed between parents, the Welfare, Safeguarding and Safety Director and any medical professionals involved.

8.9        Staff will ensure that any pupil who requires an AAI has access to this when they are offsite.  Irrespective of whether a pupil is able to manage their own medication or not, when offsite, staff will ensure that the pupil’s AAI is taken with them. It may be necessary for the staff member to take responsibility for the AAI.  

8.10        The School will keep emergency inhalers for use by pupils who have asthma. Up to 10 puffs may be administered at any one time for any pupil who is wheezing and appropriate medical advice will be obtained.  

8.11        The Department of Health advises that even without a prescription, inhalers can be used for any pupil who may be in need of them.

8.12        The Guidance on the use of emergency salbutamol inhalers in schools issued by the Department of Health will be followed.

Annexure 1 – Medical Log

Annexure 2 - Pupil Welfare Plan : [pupil number]

Parental permission for staff at the Island Project (“the School”) to provide intimate care and personal hygiene support

I understand that by signing this Pupil Welfare Plan :

• I have read the Intimate Care, Personal Hygiene Support and Toileting Policy and Medication of Pupils Policy (both of which are available on the School website)

• I give permission for members of staff at the School to provide appropriate intimate care and personal hygiene support to my child as detailed below

• I will advise the Welfare, Safeguarding and Safety Director of any medical reasons which may affect issues of intimate care

• I give permission for members of staff at the School to assist my child with showering in cases of extreme sickness or diarrhea

• I understand that it may not always be possible for intimate care and personal hygiene to be provided by a member of staff of the same sex as my child (as detailed in the Intimate Care, Personal Hygiene Support and toileting Policy).  Wherever possible, 2 staff members will be present when intimate care is provided.

• I understand that the members of staff providing care for my child have had appropriate training, including Child Protection and Safeguarding Training

• I will provide a towel and wash kit in a named bag for use in School.  I understand that this will be sent home for cleaning/replenishing after use

Family Contact Information

GP and other clinical Information

Describe medical needs and give details of symptoms, triggers, signs, treatments, environmental issues etc

Name of any medication, including dosage, when to be taken, side effects, contra-indications.

Detail any allergies and appropriate management of same

Is any medication administered by staff/self-administered with/without supervision.  NB, if medication is required to be administered by staff, please note that if the pupil refuses medication, it will not be given

Daily intimate care requirements

Personal hygiene support required

Gender preference for provision of intimate care or assistance with personal hygiene?  NB, it may not always be possible to provide care by preferred gender

Levels of assistance required for dressing/undressing

Annexure 3 - Contacting Emergency Services