Administration of Medication and Illness Policy

National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Age Care

2.1 - Health - Each child’s health is promoted.

National Regulations

87 - Incident, injury, trauma, and illness record.

85 - Incident, injury, trauma and illness policies and procedures.

86 - Notification to parents of incident, injury, trauma, and illness. 90 - Medical conditions policy.

91 - Medical conditions policy to be provided to parents.

92 - Medication record.

93 - Administration of medication.

95 - Procedure for administration of medication.

96 - Self-administration of medication.

Purpose

Kids Capers Childcare will ensure that all Educators are properly trained and can safely administer any medication as necessary to a child, with the written authority of the child’s parents. It is important that all Educators follow strict procedures to promote the health and wellbeing of each child using the service.

Implementation

In supporting the health and wellbeing of children, the use of medications may be required at the education and care service. Any medication must be administered as prescribed by medical practitioners and first aid guidelines to ensure continuing health for the child and for the child’s safety and wellbeing.

Families requesting the administration of medication will be required to follow the guidelines developed by Kids Capers to ensure the safety of children and Educators. All Kids Capers Centres will follow legislative guidelines and standards to ensure the health of children, families, and Educators always.

Responsibilities of Parents/guardian

  • The service will ensure that the administration of authorised medication record is completed for each child using the service who requires medication. A separate form must be completed for each medication if more than one is required.

  • Our service permits that children over Pre-School age can self-administer medication. In this instance, the service will ensure that the medication record is completed for each child using the service who self- administers, administration of medication will be supervised by an Educator and witnessed by another.

  • Medication may only be administered by the service with written authority signed by the child’s parent/ Guardian or other authorised nominee named in the child’s enrolment record.

  • In the instance that the child’s registered medical practitioner prescribes a medication, the service must ensure the medication is administered appropriately.

  • Medication must be provided by the child’s Parents/Guardian including the following –

    • Original container - Medication will only be administered from the original container.

    • Original chemist label that is clearly readable.

    • Child’s name clearly on the label and spelt correctly.

    • Not past the expiry date.

    • Any instructions attached to the medication or related to the use of the medication from the medical

      practitioner.

    • Any written instructions provided by the child’s registered medical practitioner.

  • Any individual delivering a child to the service must not leave medications in the child’s bag or locker this needs to be locked away in the medication boxes provided straight away and collected each day.

  • A medication permission form is to be completed by the parent or authorised nominee, all fields of the form must be complete and will be handed to an Educator.

  • It is the responsibility of Parents/Guardians or other authorised nominee to ensure that only medication prescribed for the nominated child is provided and that the medication is current and in date.

  • Documents for long term medication use will be developed with the family and the medical practitioner completing and signing the plan. Plans must be updated as the child’s medication needs change, this is a maximum of every six months with a new letter from the medical practitioner.

  • Keep children away from the care and education setting while any symptoms of an illness remain and for 24 hours from commencing antibiotics to ensure they have no side effects to the medication.

  • To keep children away from the centre for a minimum of 24 hours after having a temperature either at the centre or at home as this is a true indicator that your child is unwell. We ask you not to send your child to the centre when they have needed Panadol or Nurofen as this can mask illness.

  • To respect the decision of the Responsible person or Centre Manager if they choose to exclude your child from the service because of signs of illness.

  • To provide a doctor’s clearance on return to the centre, if your child has been diagnosed with a contagious illness or if the Centre Manager/ Responsible person is requesting this for any other reasons.

  • We ask families to reflect on when your child is showing signs of illness or discomfort and whether the centre can provide them with the one on one attention they would get at home.

Responsibilities of Educators

  • All Educators & volunteers will be informed practices in relation to managing existing medical condition on induction. This includes how to fill in an illness form and when.

  • Educators must NOT administer any medication without the authorisation of a parent/ guardian or person with authority – except in the case of an emergency, when the verbal consent from an authorised person, a registered medical practitioner or medical emergency services will be acceptable if the parents cannot be contacted.

  • Ensure that medications are stored in a labelled and locked medication container at adult height with the key kept in a separate location, inaccessible to children. This may be required to refrigerate or keep in dry store, please read the label on the medication to what temperature it needs to be kept.

  • Ensure that two Educators administer medications always, one to witness and one to administer. These Educators must have approved First Aid qualifications in accordance with current legislation and regulations.

  • Both Educators are responsible to check:

    • Original container - Medication will only be administered from the original container.

    • Original chemist label that is clearly readable.

    • Child’s name clearly on the label and spelt correctly.

    • Not past the expiry date.

    • Any instructions attached to the medication or related to the use of the medication from the medical

      practitioner.

  • Both Educators are responsible for following the prescription label and giving the right dosage. Educators must sign, date, and note the time on the Medication Form immediately after administering.

  • Medications will be returned to the locked medication container straight after use.

  • Follow hand washing procedures before and after administering medication, gloves need to be worn when administering medication.

  • Share any concerns or doubts about the safety of administering medications with the responsible person on premises to ensure the safety of the child. The responsible person may seek further information from the family, the prescribing doctor, or the Public Health Unit before administering medication.

  • Ensure that the instructions on the medication form are consistent with the doctor’s instructions and the prescription label, the prescription label or doctor’s instructions will be followed over the Parent/ Guardian’s instructions.

  • Request that the family request an English translation from the medical practitioner for any instructions written in a language other than English.

  • In cases of emergency trained staff are authorised to administrate anaphylaxis or asthma medication, the parent must be immediately notified and then emergency services.

  • If a child falls ill at the Centre and is showing signs of a contagious illness, the responsible person will assess the situation and the parents will be contacted Immediately. The child will be kept separated from the other children and will be supervised closely until the child is collected.

  • The responsible person will contact public health for further advice if the contagious illness is confirmed.

Emergency Administration of Medication (Administration of Paracetamol)

  • Administration of Paracetamol is needed if a child’s temperature reaches 38.0°C or over and for babies 0-3 months 37.5°C. In the event of an emergency and where the administration of paracetamol must occur which the centre will supply with their own pharmaceutical label , the service must receive verbal authorisation by a parent/guardian or authorised nominee of the child named in the child’s enrolment form.

  • The contact that gives consent for administration of medication will also be asked to collect the child straight away, this needs to be within the hour.

  • If none of the child’s nominated contacts can be reasonably reached, the service must contact a registered medical practitioner or an emergency service on 000 (if necessary).

  • The child’s temperature will be checked with a thermometer every 15 minutes an illness form will be completed until the child is collected.

  • While waiting for the child to be collected, Educators will implement the following procedures to reduce the child’s fever and discomfort:

    • Remove excess clothing to cool the child down.

    • Offer fluids to the child.

    • Encourage the child to rest.

    • Provide a cool, damp cloth for the child’s forehead.

    • Monitor the child for any additional symptoms.

    • Always Maintain supervision of the unwell child, while keeping them separated from the other

      children.

  • Parent will sign the illness form on collection and will be notified that their child cannot attend for at least 24 hours.

Emergency Involving Anaphylaxis or Asthma (For more information, see Anaphylaxis, Asthma and Medical conditions Policy).

Sources

Updated: October 2020