Medicine, Sickness, Illness and Allergies Policy

Full policy

Medicine, Sickness, Illness and Allergies Policy

While it is not our policy to care for sick children, who should be at home until they are well enough to return to the setting, 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. For example if a child has a health care plan and the administration of medication is needed. If a child has not had a medication before it is advised that the parent keeps the child at home for the first 24 hours to ensure no adverse effect as well as to give time for the medication to take effect.

Sickness and illnesses Procedures for children who are sick or infectious: If children appear unwell during the day with a temperature (higher than 37.5 degrees, sickness, diarrhoea or pains, particularly in the head or stomach, staff will call the parents and asks them to collect the child or send a known carer to collect on their behalf.

Temperature: If a child has a temperature, they are kept cool, by removing top clothing, sponging their heads with cool water, but kept away from draughts. The temperature is taken using an external thermometer which is kept in the Daycare medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Administration of Calpol can be given to children in order to bring down the temperature once throughout the day, but the parent/carer will still need to collect the child as calpol will not be administered more than once.

Parents are asked to take their child to the doctor before returning them to nursery and keep the child at home until their temperature has returned to normal for at least 24 hours. In extreme cases of emergency the child will be taken to the nearest hospital and the parent informed. The nursery can refuse admittance to children who have a temperature, sickness and diarrhoea or a contagious infection or disease. Please refer to the NHS list of illnesses, this can give you information on the types of sicknesses and Illnesses and the exclusion periods for these. It will also keep you up to date on current guidance.

The nursery is responsible for the correct administration of medication to children. This includes ensuring that the medication forms have been completed accurately, that medicines are stored correctly and that records are kept according to the procedures. In the unlikely absence of the nursery Manager, the nursery Deputy is responsible for the overseeing of administering medication.

Procedures Children taking prescribed medication must be well enough to attend Nursery. Only prescribed medication will be administered. (All medication bought to the setting should be in its original packaging and with the GP label, child's name and date) It must be in-date and prescribed for the current condition of the child. Children's prescribed medicines will be stored in their original containers, clearly labelled and be inaccessible to the children. The setting will ensure a medicine fridge/storage cupboard is allocated for this.

Parents will give prior written permission for the administration of medication and must sign a declaration to state the dosage the child has received within the last 24 hours. The management receiving the medication, must ask the parent to complete and sign the medication form for consent. No medication may be given without the form being fully completed. It is the responsibility of the managers to ensure the medication form has been completed and all necessities have been checked. The administration is recorded accurately each time it is given and is signed by management and a staff witness.

Parents must sign the medication record on the form to acknowledge the administration of a medicine.

Medications and storage of medicines All medication is stored in accordance with product instructions. Medicines are placed in a secure cupboard or refrigerated. Medication stored in the cupboard will be kept in a marked plastic box. The child's keyworker is responsible for ensuring medicine is handed back at the end of the day to the parent. For some conditions, medication may be kept in the setting. Keyworker must check that any medication held is in date and return any out-of-date medication back to the parent or, if more appropriate, a pharmacy.

Emergency medicine such as asthma inhalers or Adrenaline Auto-injectors (AAI) will be stored in the office area or a suitable place in the classroom that is easily accessible and known to all staff. The child should be provided with 2 of these. g. for trips, Adrenaline Auto-injectors/ asthma pumps will be taken in a separate medical bag (hip bag) If the administration of prescribed medication requires medical knowledge, individual training is provided for the relevant member of staff by a health professional. 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 their key person what they need. However, this does not replace staff vigilance in knowing and responding when a child requires medication. Older children from 7-11 years may be able to use an asthma pump independently but an adult must still be present and the child supervised. Children who have long term medical conditions and who may require ongoing medication: A health care plan is completed for each child with long term medical condition that requires on going medication or creams.

This is the responsibility of the Nursery Manager alongside the key person. Other medical or social care personnel may need to be involved in the health care plan process. Parents will also contribute to a risk assessment before their child attends. They should understand the routines and activities and point out anything which they think may be a risk factor for their child. If appropriate they may also be shown around the setting. For some medical conditions key staff will need to have training in a basic understanding of the condition as well as how the medication is to be administered correctly.

Staff training needs forms part of the risk assessment. The risk assessment includes vigorous activities and any other school activities that may give cause for concern regarding an individual child's health needs. A separate risk assessment is written if taking medicines on outings outside of the Daycare grounds and the child's GP's advice or the Daycare First aider is sought if necessary where there are concerns. A health care plan for the child is completed based on the information from the parent and advice from the child's doctor. A copy of this information is given to the Nursery, to their next setting or school.

The health care plan should include the measures to be taken in an emergency. The health care plan is reviewed annually or more if necessary. g. changes to the medication or the dosage, any side effects noted etc. Any changes to the health care plan are discussed with parents. A new health care plan will be completed as and when any changes are made. A list of children needing Adrenaline Auto-injectors will be on display visible for all staff in the rooms.

Allergies and Allergic reactions Just Kids Daycare staff are aware that some children may have allergies which may cause allergic reactions. We will therefore ensure all staff follow this policy to ensure allergic reactions are minimised or where possible prevented and staff are confident and fully aware of how to support a child who may be having an allergic reaction. No nuts are allowed in the nursery and the nursery does not provide Pork or Beef. All allergies and dietary requirements ared catered for by the nursery.

Procedures All Staff will be made aware of the signs and symptoms of a possible allergic reactions, in the case of an unknown or first reaction in a child. These may include red rash, hives, nausea, stomach pains, diarrhoea, itchy skin, runny eyes, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the mouth and tongue, wheezing and anaphylaxis. On the induction the parent will pass all information to the senior management and the child's Key worker by completing an allergyinformation sheet. The allergy information sheet will contain information about the child's allergy, the signs and symptoms and medical procedure to follow.

The parent will then go on to complete a Health care plan to records further emergency procedures and what medication to give if they have an allergic reaction. All information retained from the parent on these forms will be shared with all staff who care for the child and the kitchen who will need to prepare the correct meal. The child will have their own medical box containing information on a health care plan about the child's allergy and the correct up to date medicine to give in an emergency with the correct dose stated. The child's information will be displayed in a confidential area in the room for each member of staff to view.

Meal times The management, child's keyworker and kitchen staff will work closely to create a menu for the child. The child's meals will be prepared separately in an area where no cross contamination can be involved. Each day when a child is in with an allergy the key worker will communicate this with the kitchen staff, stating the allergy and what their requirements are. The children with allergies will still be able to serve themselves while the keyworker will be always supervising them. Children will have a place mat at meal times which will clearly state what they are allowed and not allowed and allergies highlighted in red. A member of staff will always be sitting next to the child, and they will be adequately supervised, it will be their job to ensure that the child's meal does not become contaminated with any foods from other children's plates.

Allergic reaction If a child has an allergic reaction to food, bee sting, plant etc, that requires an Adrenaline Auto-Injector, then at least two members of staff including the manager will receive specific medical training to be able to administrator the treatment to each individual child. At a minimum at least one member of staff in each room will also have a Paediatric First Aid qualification, although we will aim to have all staff first aid trained.

A sick child above all needs their family, so every effort will be made to contact a family member as soon as possible and the child's emergency procedure on their individual care plan needs to be followed and the critical medicine given. If the allergic reaction is severe, a member of staff will contact the emergency services immediately. Nursery staff will not attempt to transport a sick/ injured child in any nursery vehicles. Whilst waiting for an ambulance, we will contact and arrange to meet parents at the hospital.

A senior member of staff must accompany the child and collect registration forms, relevant medication sheets and medication and child's belongings. All other children will be distracted and moved away from the incident. Staff must always remain calm, children who witness an allergic reaction may well be affected by the incident will be given cuddles and lots of reassurance. All incidents will be recorded, shared and signed by the parent at the earliest opportunity.