AIM

 

To provide clear direction regarding the safe handling, storage and administration of prescription and over the counter medicines, within the school. In achieving this, the aim is to minimise the associated risks.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Students may require medicines at school for various conditions. It is essential to ensure that such medicines are given as directed and kept safely to minimise the risk of a drug error.

 

By providing and following guidelines it is anticipated that the medical condition will be safely and appropriately treated and risk to other students is eliminated. The procedures include checking for parental consent and student allergies, acquiring documentation from a prescriber, adhering to recommended doses, appropriate documentation of all medicines given, safe handling and storage of medicines and alerting staff to those students who are at risk of requiring urgent medication.

Medication will be stored, administered and documented in accordance with current legislation. Staff will be able to meet their requirements for duty of care to students. The health and safety of all students will be maintained at all times.

 

OBJECTIVES

 

• The School will assist students who have health support needs at school by means that include the provision of first aid (including emergency care), the provision of temporary care when students become unwell at the School, the administration of prescribed medications and health care procedures, and the development of individual health care plans if required.

• The health and safety of students are relevant to learning and is important to the School.

• The present and future health of students can be enhanced by quality learning and positive experiences at the School.

• All students are entitled to participate in education regardless of their health support needs.

• Support for students on health issues must be provided in a way that does not discriminate unlawfully against any student.

• Students benefit if they are provided with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and understandings relevant to managing their own health. Taking into account what is reasonable and safe in an individual case, we will support students to develop independence in managing their own health.

• The School relies on and values the co-operation of parents, medical practitioners, health services, other relevant agencies and local community resources to assist them to support the health of students.

• The School will assist with the administration of prescribed medication or health care procedures during school hours where this support cannot reasonably be undertaken by parents or others outside school hours. The non-emergency administration of prescribed medication and health care procedures by staff will be delegated to suitable staff which may include non-teaching staff and class teachers.

• The School's duty of care does not extend to administering medication and/or health care procedures to students who are able to administer this medication or carry out this procedure themselves. If, however, a student self-administers prescribed medication and/or health care procedures, the school has a duty to take reasonable steps to ensure that the self-administration is carried out safely. Students will be advised to self-administer in the School sickbay in the presence of a First Aid trained staff member.

 

First Aid

 

The School staff will be responsible for providing first aid at a local level and are required to implement procedures regarding first aid.

 

Care of students who become unwell at school

 

• Students who become unwell at school are best transferred to the care of parent/carer. The aim of care given at the School to such students is to make them comfortable in the interim.

• The School needs to identify the staff members(s) who will care for students who are unwell and the procedures that are to be followed. This role can be carried out by staff members who have been asked by the Principal to undertake these duties.

• The School sickbay is yet to be determined but will all staff and students will be notified of its location.

 

Administration of prescribed medications and health care procedures

 

• The administration of prescribed medications and health care procedures in the School will be carried out by staff members who are trained to do so.

 

Individual health care plans

 

An individual health care plan must be developed for any student:

• diagnosed with severe asthma, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy or anaphylaxis and/or

• diagnosed as being at risk of an emergency and/or

• who requires the administration of health care procedures.

 

Health care plans developed by the individual’s doctor/specialist may suffice. A copy must be kept in the individual’s student record.  Copies will be displayed in locations where support and emergency care may apply.  Copies will be taken with the student for any off-site activities.

 

A summary of the plan will be noted on the Health Care Plan Register, which is maintained and monitored by the Front Office staff.

 

The Principal has the discretion about developing a written individual health care plan in other cases. Their decision will be guided by circumstances where the Principal judges that a formal plan will assist in the School’s management of the support for the student.

 

Relevant staff must be consulted in the development of individual health care plans and in many cases where their assistance in the administration of prescribed medication and/or health care procedures may be called upon. It is particularly important that they are consulted regarding students diagnosed with a condition that might require an emergency response.

 

CONTEXT

 

The Maarif School is committed to meeting its obligations under the NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the common law to keep students safe while they are at school. The school also seeks to provide opportunities for students to learn about and practice ways of adopting and maintaining a healthy, productive and active life through the student welfare policies and procedures of the School and through Personal Development, Health and Physical Education and other Key Learning Areas.

 

On specific issues related to student health and on public health priorities, the school will be guided by advice from the NSW Ministry of Health. Local health networks, including Public Health Units, provide information and advice on local health issues. Once known the contact details of the local services will be included in this document and on records in the school’s main office for reference.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELEGATIONS

 

Principal

 

It is the responsibility of the Principal to implement policy and procedures to ensure that systems are in place to protect the health and safety of all students when they are at school or involved in School activities.

 

The Principal oversees the development of documents and local procedures to support student health which reflects the school policy and incorporate local needs, including:

• First aid

• temporary care of students who become unwell at schools

• the administration of prescribed medications and health care procedures

• individual health care plans

• immunisation documentation requirements (see http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Documents/nsw_schedule_july_13.pdf (must provide during enrolment and or update record throughout the year.

• supply and storage of medication

• provision of emergency care

 

All School staff

 

It is the responsibility of School staff to:

• take reasonable measures to protect students against the risk of injury or harm which should reasonably have been foreseen.

• take reasonable care for the health and safety of all persons in the workplace and to co-operate with the employer to ensure that the health and safety of all in the workplace, including assisting in an emergency.

• where staff do not have first aid qualifications, provide assistance to ensure that a student receives medical attention including first aid.

 

Particular staff members

 

It is the responsibility of the staff that are trained in the administration of medications to administer prescribed medications in accordance with school policy and procedures.

 

It is the responsibility of staff trained to perform health care procedures to administer health care procedures in accordance with the school policy and procedures.

It is the responsibility of staff trained in the administration of first aid to administer first aid in accordance with school policy and procedures.

 

Expectations of parents/guardians/caregivers

 

Parents are expected to:

• Co-operate with the school on student health matters.

• Inform the School of the health needs of the child at enrolment or when health conditions develop or change. Such records will be kept in student files.

• Liaise with the child's medical practitioner about the implications of any health condition for their schooling and convey advice and information from the medical practitioner to the School. Documentation such as individual health care plans developed by the medical practitioner must be given to the School, to be kept in the student’s file.

• If required, provide prescribed medication and 'consumables' for administration by the School in a timely way and as agreed with the Principal.

• Where relevant, collaborate with the School is planning to support the child's health needs at school including updating information and reviewing plans.

• Fill in a “student at risk form” if it applies to your child. This will be retained in the student’s file.

 

Expectations of students

 

Students are expected to:

• contribute to the provision of a healthy and safe school environment.

• ensure that medication is taken for the purpose for which it is intended by the person for whom it is intended.

• cooperate with staff in managing their health.

• as relevant to the individual, develop the understandings and skills needed to progressively manage their own health.

 

DRUG STORAGE

 

All medications purchased and given to the school for a student by a parent must be securely stored in locked cupboards. Storage must conform to the manufacturers labelling.

 

ADMINISTRATION (Self and by staff)

 

Always refer to written instructions set out by the medical practitioner. The following checklist should be adhered to:

• Right Medication

• Right person

• Right Dose

• Right route

• Right time

• Correct entry into student’s medication chart/notes

 

NON-WESTERN MEDICATIONS

 

While we understand the value of these medications, it is important that the staff are familiar with the medication that every student in the school is taking. Parents wishing that their son/daughter take non-western medications or medication not prescribed by a local General Practitioner must consult with the Principal.

 

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

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The NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) requires the reporting of certain work-related incidents within given timeframes. Depending on the type of incident, WorkCover may need to be notified.

 

The Principal will ensure that individual health care plans are reviewed at least annually by the relevant School staff in consultation with the student and his/her parents.

 

The Health and Medications Procedures are based on the NSW Department of Education and Training documentation adapted for International Maarif Schools Australia –Gallipoli Campus.