Policy content

In supporting the health and wellbeing of children, the use of medications may be required for children at the School. All medications must be administered as prescribed by medical practitioners and first aid guidelines to ensure the continuing health, safety, and wellbeing of the child. 

National Quality Standard (NQS) 

Quality Area 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1.1	Wellbeing and comfort	Each child’s wellbeing and comfort is provided for, including appropriate opportunities to meet each child’s needs for sleep, rest and relaxation.
2.1.2	Health practices and procedures	Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected.
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.
2.2.2	Incident and emergency management	Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practiced and implemented.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all school educators understand their liabilities and duty of care in meeting each child's individual health care needs. This policy also aims to ensure that all educators are specifically trained to be able to safely administer children’s required medication with the written consent of the child’s parent or guardian. Educators will follow this stringent procedure to promote the health and wellbeing of each child enrolled at the School.  

Scope

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, and visitors of the School.
 

Implementation

Families requesting the administration of medication to their child will be required to follow the guidelines developed by the School to ensure the safety of children and educators. The School will follow legislative guidelines and adhere to the National Quality Standard to ensure the health of children, families, and educators at all times. 
For children with a diagnosed health care need, allergy or relevant medical condition a Medical Management/Action Plan must be provided prior to enrolment and updated regularly. A Risk Minimisation Plan and Communication Plan must be developed in consultation with parents/guardians to ensure risks are minimized and strategies developed for minimising any risk to the child.

The Nominated Supervisor will ensure:

• children with specific health care needs or medical conditions have a current medical management plan detailing prescribed medication and dosage by their medical practitioner 
• medication is only administered by the School with Written Authority signed by the child’s parent or other responsible person named and authorised in the child’s enrolment record to make decisions about the administration of medication [Regulation 92(3)(b)] 
• enrolment records for each child outline the details of persons permitted to authorise the administration of medication to the child  
• medication provided by the child’s parents must adhere to the following guidelines: 
  • the administration of any medication is authorised by a parent or guardian in writing 
  • medication is prescribed by a registered medical practitioner (with instructions either attached to the medication, or in written form from the medical practitioner) 
  • medication is from the original container/packaging 
  • medication has the original label clearly showing the name of the child 
  • medication is before the expiry/use by date. 
• a medication form is completed by parents for each child via EarlyWorks
• a separate form must be completed for each medication if more than one is required 
• any person delivering a child to the School must not leave any type of medication in the child’s bag or locker. Medication must be given directly to an educator for appropriate storage upon arrival. 
• written and verbal notifications are given to a parent or other family member of a child as soon as practicable if medication is administered to the child in an emergency when consent was either verbal or provided by medical practitioners 
• if medication is administered without authorisation in the event of an asthma or anaphylaxis emergency the parent of the child is notified as soon as practicable 
• if the incident presented imminent or severe risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of the child or if an ambulance was called in response to the emergency (not as a precaution) the regulatory authority will be notified within 24 hours of the incident 
• reasonable steps are taken to ensure that medication records are maintained accurately 
• medication records are kept in a secure and confidential manner and archived for the regulatory prescribed length of time following the child’s departure from the School 
• children’s privacy is maintained, working in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APP). 
• educators receive information about Medical Conditions and Administration of Medication Policies and other relevant health management policies during their induction 
• educators, staff and volunteers have a clear understanding of children’s individual health care needs, allergy or relevant medical condition as detailed in Medical Management Plans, Asthma or Anaphylaxis Action Plans 
• families are informed of the School’s medical and medication policies at time of enrolment 
• safe practices are adhered to for the wellbeing of both the child and educators.

A Nominated Supervisor/ Responsible Person /Educators will: 

• not administer any medication without the written authorisation of a parent or person with authority, except in the case of an emergency, when the written consent on an enrolment form, verbal consent from an authorised person, a registered medical practitioner or medical emergency services will be acceptable if the parents cannot be contacted 
• ensure medications are stored in the refrigerator in a labelled and locked medication container. For medications not requiring refrigeration, they will be stored in a labelled and locked medication container located in the office that is inaccessible to children.  
• adrenaline autoinjectors should be kept out of reach of children and stored in a cool dark place at room temperature. They must be readily available when required and not locked in a cupboard. A copy of the child’s medical management plan should be stored with the adrenaline autoinjector.  
• ensure that two educators administer and witness administration of medication at all times. One of these educators must have approved First Aid qualifications [this is best practice and not mandated in regulation 95] current legislation and regulations. Both educators are responsible for: 
  • checking the Medication Form on EarlyWorks is completed by the parent/guardian 
  • checking the prescription label for:  
    • the child’s name 
    • the dosage of medication to be administered 
    • the method of dosage/administration 
    • the expiry or use-by date 
  • confirming that the correct child is receiving the medication 
  • signing and dating the medication form 
  • returning the medication back to the locked medication container 
• follow hand-washing procedures before and after administering medication 
• discuss any concerns or doubts about the safety of administering medications with management to ensure the safety of the child (checking if the child has any allergies to the medication being administered) 
• seek further information from parents/guardian, the prescribing doctor or the Public Health Unit before administering medication if required 
• ensure that the instructions on medication form are consistent with the doctor’s instructions and the prescription label if they there are inconsistences, medication is not to be administered to the child  
• invite the family to request an English translation from the medical practitioner for any instructions written in a language other than English 
• ensure that the medication form is completed and sent including name and signature of witness, time and date 
• If after several attempts of encouraging the child to take medication, but they still refuse, contact the parent or guardian. Educators cannot use restrictive practices to make a child take medication at any time. 
• observe the child post administration of medication to ensure there are no side effects 
• respond immediately and contact the parent/guardian for further advice if there are any unusual side effects from the medication 
• if a child is not breathing or having difficulty breathing following administration of any medication, the educator will contact emergency services on 000 immediately.

Families will:

• provide the School with accurate information about their child’s health needs, medical conditions and medication requirements on the enrolment form   
• provide the School with a Medical Management Plan or Action Plan prior to enrolment of their child if required 
• develop a Risk Minimisation Plan for their child in collaboration with management and educators and medical practitioner for long-term medication plans  
• notify educators, verbally when children are taking any short-term medications (at home) 
• complete and sign a medication form on EarlyWorks for their child requiring any medication whilst they are at the School 
• update (or verify currency of) Medical Management Plan annually or as the child’s medication needs change 
• be requested to sign consent to use creams and lotions should first aid treatment be required (list of items in the first aid kit provided at enrolment) 
• keep prescribed medications in original containers with pharmacy labels. Please understand that medication will only be administered as directed by the medical practitioner and only to the child whom the medication has been prescribed for. Expired medications will not be administered. 
• keep children away at home while any symptoms of an illness remain 
• keep children at home for 24 hours from commencing antibiotics to ensure they have no side effects to the medication 
• NOT leave any medication in children’s bags 
• give any medication for their children to an educator who will provide the family with an Administration of Medication Record to complete 
• complete the medication form on EarlyWorks and the educator will sign to acknowledge the receipt of the medication 
• provide any herbal/ naturopathic remedies or non-prescription medications (including Paracetamol) with a letter from the doctor detailing the child’s name and dosage
• provide written consent for preference of non-prescription creams and lotions not provided by the school e.g. sunscreen, nappy rash cream and moisturiser with the discretion of the director or Nominated Supervisor.

 

Guideline for Administration of Medicine

Guidelines for Administration of Paracetamol

• Paracetamol will be kept in the medication cupboard for emergency purposes should authorised collectors not be contactable 
• To safeguard against the incorrect use of Paracetamol and minimise the risk of concealing the fundamental reasons for high temperatures, educators will only administer Paracetamol if it is accompanied by a Doctor’s letter stating the reason for administering, the dosage and duration it is to be administered for. However in emergency situations (onset of fever whilst at the School) Paracetamol may be given with permission from parents. 
• administration of Paracetamol must follow the procedure for Administration of Medication requiring two qualified educators to witness the administration and complete the required records  
• an Administration of Medication and/or Administration of Paracetamol Record will be completed with both educator’s full name, signature, time and date of administration clearly recorded 
• if a child presents with a temperature whilst at the School, the family will be notified immediately and asked to organise collection of the child as soon as possible (within 30 minutes) 
• the family will be encouraged to visit a doctor to find the cause of the temperature. While waiting for the child to be collected, educators will:  
  • remove excess clothing to cool the child down 
  • offer fluids to the child 
  • encourage the child to rest.  
  • monitor the child for any additional symptoms 
  • maintain supervision of the ill child at all times, while keeping them separated from children who are well.  

Medications Kept at the School

• any medication, cream or lotion kept on the premises will be checked monthly for expiry dates 
• First Aid Kit contents close to expiry or running low will be given to the Nominated Supervisor who will arrange for the purchase of replacement supplies 
• if a child’s individual medication is due to expire or running low, the family will be notified by educators that replacement items are required 
• it is the family’s responsibility to take home short-term medication (such as antibiotics) at the end of each day, and return it with the child as necessary 
• MEDICATION WILL NOT BE ADMINISTERED IF IT HAS PAST THE PRODUCT EXPIRY DATE 
• families are required to complete a medication form or provide a written consent letter for lotions to be administered (moisturiser, sun cream)

Emergency Administration of Medication

Emergency involving Anaphylaxis or Asthma

For anaphylaxis or asthma emergencies, medication/treatment will be administered to a child without authorisation, following the Asthma or Anaphylaxis Action Plan provided by the parent/guardian. [National Asthma Council (NAC) or ASCIA]. 

• In the event of a child not known to have asthma or anaphylaxis and appears to be in severe respiratory distress, the emergency plans for first aid must be followed immediately: 
  • an ambulance must be called immediately 
  • place child in a seated upright position 
  • give 4 separate puffs of a reliever medication (eg: Ventolin) using a spacer if required. 
  • repeat every 4 minutes until the ambulance arrives 
• In the event of an anaphylaxis emergency where any of the following symptoms are present, an EpiPen must be administered: 
  • difficulty/noisy breathing 
  • swelling of the tongue 
  • swelling or tightness in throat 
  • difficulty talking 
  • wheeze or persistent cough 
  • persistent dizziness or collapse pale and floppy
• The School will contact the following (as required) as soon as practicably possible:  
  • Emergency Services 000 
  • a parent of the child 
  • the regulatory authority within 24 hours (if an ambulance was called). 

The child will be comforted, reassured, and removed to a quiet area under the direct supervision of a suitably experienced and trained educator. 

Source

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).  
Australian society of clinical immunology and allergy. ascia. allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-p... 
Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2009) Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. 
Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016). 
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010. (Amended 2018).