MEDICATION POLICY

RATIONALE

To uphold the health and safety of children by ensuring that children are given proper care, and that medication is administered appropriately by staff.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this operational policy is to:

• implement procedures for the administration of prescription and non-prescription medication.
• ensure the security and storage of medications.
• provide appropriate information and training to staff members who administer medication.
• define medication categories.

REFERENCES AND REGULATIONS

The policy is designed to meet provisions of the:

• Criterion HS28 of the Licencing Criteria for Early Childhood and Care Services 2008
• Criterion HS 29 of the Licencing Criteria for Early Childhood and Care Services 2008
• Education (ECS) Regulation 2008; 46
• Implementation of the Statement of
• Barrier Free Access - National Education and Learning Priorities in licensed early learning services.

Definition of Categories

Category (i) A non-prescription preparation (such as arnica cream, antiseptic liquid, insect bite treatment, saline solution etc) that is:

• not ingested
• used for “first aid” treatment of minor injuries and
• provided by the service or caregiver/parent and kept in the medicine box.

Parent authorisations for category (i) medicines must be received in writing at time of enrolment and updated when necessary.

Category (ii) A prescription (such as antibiotics, ear/eye drops, paracetamol liquid, or non-prescription (such as cough syrup etc) herbal remedies, medicine that is;

• used for a specified period of time to treat a specific condition or symptom; and
• provided by a parent for the use of that child only or, in relation to Rongoa Māori

(Māori plant medicines), that is prepared by other adults at the service.

Category (ii) medicines require parent written authorisation at the beginning of each day the medicine is administered.

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Category (iii) A prescription (such as asthma inhalers, epilepsy medication etc) or non-prescription (such as antihistamine syrup, lanoline cream etc) medicine that is:

• used for the ongoing treatment of a pre-diagnosed condition (such as asthma, epilepsy, allergic reaction, diabetes, eczema etc) and
• provided by a parent for use of that child only.

Parent authorisations for category (iii) medicines must be received in writing at time of enrolment or when the condition starts and be a part of an individual health plan. These are reviewed every 3 months.  Category (iii) medicines that are taken orally or injected require parent authorisation at the end of each day.

PROCEDURES

a) During the induction of new employee’s process, staff will be taught the medication processes before being able to administer medication.

b) Medication training will be given to staff as necessary and recorded on the medication forms. Training could be provided via a conversation / demonstration / written information by any of:

• the parents/ caregivers
• the child’s GP or practice nurse
• a public health nurse
• a pharmacist
• a foundation or society e.g. asthma foundation

c) At enrolment parents/ caregivers are advised of the Centre procedure of medication and storage.

d) On enrolment parents/caregivers will be informed of the category one preparations that the Centre provides and asked to consent for these to be used on their child.

e) Staff should ensure all prescribed medication is in the name of the child it is being administered to i.e. no family prescriptions and the medication is less than 6 months old.

f) Any child requiring or reliant on pain relief such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen should not be in attendance at the Centre. Exceptions will be at the discretion of and in consultation with the Centre Manager. The Centre will only accept prescribed pain relief which will not be administered for teething or high temperatures.

g) Prescription/ non-prescription medication is not given to a child unless authority from parent/ or caregiver is written on the medication form. The medication should be provided by the parent/caregiver for the use of their child only and should record:

1. Child’s full name
2. Details of medication (name)
3. How it should be administered
4. When medication is to be administered (time and symptom/circumstance)
5. When the child last had it

h) Medication needs to be clearly named and stored in the fridge, or, in a closed safe container out of the reach of the children.  Written instruction should be made in a communication book and on the Medication Chart.

i) It is the responsibility of parents, whānau / caregivers to inform the Centre of any change to their child’s medical circumstances.

j) When administering medication two permanent staff must be present. A first aid certificated staff member to administer the medication, and a permanent staff member to witness and ensure procedures are followed correctly.  

k) Detailed records of all medication that is administered is kept on the Medication form.

As medication is administered it is the responsibility of the staff administrating and the staff witnessing to check the following:

1. Child’s name
2. The medication name matches the medication form
3. The medication dosage is correct
4. The correct child is given the medication
5. Complete time, dose and the medication form is signed by the teacher administering and the teacher witnessing.  

l) When the child is picked up parents/ caregivers need to sign that they acknowledge the medication was given and take the medication home.

Preventative Medication

• Generic or blanket approvals should be avoided.  
• If long term medication is required, eg. EpiPens, inhalers, eczema creams, and allergy medication, a detailed “preventative medication” form should accompany each medication.
• This form must be signed when oral, or injected medication is administered, and parental acknowledgement must be signed for that day.
• Written approval for long term medication administration is to be reviewed every three months. ‍
• Preventative medication forms are stored as close as possible to the actual medication, and both are out of reach of children but easily accessible to adults.
• In the event of an excursion and/or evacuation, preventative medication and its associated forms must be taken also.