• Children taking prescribed medication must be well enough to attend the setting. • Only prescribed medication is administered. It must be in-date and prescribed for the current condition. • Children’s prescribed medicines are stored in their original containers, are clearly labelled and are inaccessible to the children. • Parents give prior written permission for the administration of medication. The staff receiving the medication must ask the parent to sign a consent form stating the following information No medication may be given without these details being provided: • Full name of child and date of birth; • Name of medication and strength; • Who prescribed it; • Dosage to be given in the setting; • How the medication should be stored and expiry date; • Any possible side effects that may be expected should be noted; and signature, printed name of parent and date. The administration is recorded accurately each time it is given and is signed by two staff. Parents sign the book to acknowledge the administration of a medicine. The Medication Record Book records: • Name of child; • Name and strength of dosage; • Dose given and method; and is signed by two Nursery staff, and is verified by parent signature Storage of medicines • All medication(including staff medication) is stored safely, away from children or refrigerated, in a marked plastic box. • The Manager is responsible for ensuring medicine is handed back at the end of the session to the parent. • If the administration of prescribed medication requires medical knowledge, individual training is provided for the relevant members of staff by a health professional. • If rectal diazepam is given, as with other medication, another member of staff must be present and co-sign the record book • No child may self-administer. Where children are capable of understanding when they need medication, for example with asthma, they should be encouraged to tell the Nursery staff what they need. However, this does not replace staff vigiliance in knowing and responding when a child requires medication. Children who have long term medical conditions and who may require ongoing medication • A risk assessment is carried out for a child with long term medical conditions that require ongoing medication. This is the responsibility of the Manager alongside the Key Person. Other medical or social care personnel may need to be involved in the risk assessment. • Parents will also contribute to a risk assessment. They should be shown around the Nursery, understand the routines and activities and point out anything they think may be a risk factor for their child. • For some medical conditions Key staff will have training in a basic understanding of the condition as well as how the medication is to be administered correctly. The training needs for staff is part of the risk assessment. • The risk assessment includes vigorous activities and any other Nursery activity that may give cause for concern regarding an individual child’s health needs. The risk assessment includes arrangements for taking medicines on outings and the child’s GP’s advice is sought where there are concerns. • Health care plan for the child is drawn up with the parent; outlining the Key Person’s role and what information must be shared with other staff, who care for the child. • The health care plan should include the measures to be taken in an emergency. • The health care plan is reviewed every six months, or more frequently if necessary. This includes reviewing the medication, e.g. changes to the medication or dosage; any side effects noted. • Parents receive a copy of the health care plan and each contributor, including the parent, signs it. Managing medicines on trips and outings • If children are going on outings, staff accompanying the children must include the Key Person with a risk assessment, or another member of staff who is fully informed about the child’s needs and/or medication. • Medication for a child is taken in a sealed plastic box, clearly labelled with the child’s name, name of the medication. Inside the box is a copy of the consent form and a card to record when it has been given, with the details as aforementioned. • On returning to the setting the card is stapled to the medicine record book and the parent signs it. • If a child on medication has to be taken to the hospital, the child’s medication is taken in a sealed plastic box, clearly labelled with the child’s name, name of the medication. Inside the box is a copy of the consent form signed by the parent. • As a precaution, children should not eat when travelling in vehicles. • This procedure is read alongside the outings procedure.

It is not our policy to care for sick children, who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the Nursery, we will agree to administer medication as part of maintaining their health and well-being or when they are recovering from an illness. In many cases, it is possible for children’s GP’s to prescribe medicine that can be taken at home in the morning and evening. As far as possible, administering medicines will only be done where it would be detrimental to the child’s health if not given in the setting. If a child has not had a medication before, it is advised that the parent keeps the child at home for the first 48 hours to ensure no adverse effects as well as to give time for the medication to take effect.

Administering Medicines

Policy statement

Procedures

These procedures are written in line with current guidance and the Manager is responsible for ensuring all staff understand and follow these procedures. We ensure that parent consent forms have been completed, that medicines are stored correctly and that records are kept according to procedures. The Manager is responsible for the overseeing of administering medicine.