RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
MEDICINES POLICY
Drafted August 2012 by A V Connell
Reviewed December 2013 by A V Connell
Reviwed January 2015 by A V Connell
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
Rationale
Although there is no legal duty for Raise the Youth (RTY) to administer medicines or
to supervise a Young Person (YP) self-administering, we feel as an organisation that
the benefits to our YP’s and their legal guardians would outweigh any risks. The
advantages would be; YP’s on prescribed medication are able to continue to attend RTY.
 YP’s who need regular prescribed medication for behaviour management will
have a greater chance of engaging with RTY and reaching their full potential.
RTY has identified the need to asses any risks that this additional service could pose
and have written the following policy in answer to this.
All the information will be stored in a file in a locked cupboard and all information
shared with staff on a need to know basis.
Consultation of Young Person
condition
When the YP’s parent or guardian enquires about RTY administering medicines to
their YP we can inform them that RTY can offer this service on the condition that an
Individual Care Plan is set up to protect the YP and RTY. A meeting should be
arranged with the parent/guardian and a senior member of the Raise team. The
designated member of RTY needs to ask that any correspondence connected to the
condition and medication, including the YP’s medicine, is brought to the meeting.
The medicine needs to be in its original container, packaging and dosage
instructions.
The following points should be discussed and a copy given to the Parent or
Guardian; The parent or guardian needs to fill out an Individual Care Plan form and a
Medicine and Creams Permission slip.
 Parents or guardians have prime responsibility for their YP’s health and
should give RTY sufficient information about their YP’s medical condition and
treatment or special care needed whilst attending RTY.
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
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If a YP requires medication that is of a life threatening nature then RTY
cannot take responsibility for the administration and the YP should not attend
RTY.
It may be beneficial for a parent or guardian to call into the Centre to
administer the medications.
We can only store and supervise the self-medication of prescription drugs
Very few medicines need to be taken during normal RTY hours and in most
cases the appropriate dosage of medicine when prescribed to be taken “three
times a day” can be given “before RTY, after RTY and at night”.
The same principle can also be applied to medication such as creams/drops
for conjunctivitis/ eczema etc. However, the school should not assume that
this will always be the case as some prescribed medication will have times or
conditions stipulated by the doctor.
Where YP’s are recovering from a short term illness which requires
medication (such as tablets, creams, eye drops, mixtures), any request for
RTY staff to administer medicine by a parent/carer must be in writing and
include evidence that the child needs to take medicine during RTY hours, e.g.
instructions on the container or advice from the pharmacist
General pain relief such as Calpol, Paracetamol, throat sweets, Food
supplements and alternative medicine etc should not be brought into RTY
although Guardians may come to RTY to administer these themselves if the
YP is deemed well enough to be in RTY; or take the YP home in the event of
illness, if they so wish. The above prescribed by a medical practitioner can be
administered by RTY
Drugs containing aspirin should only be given to YP’s under 16 with doctor’s
advice
All the information will be filled in the Medicines file and remain confidential.
Information will be shared with staff on a need to know basis only.
Individual YP Risk Assessment
Form 1 included
A risk assessment should be completed for every YP that attends Raise that has a
medical condition. It will lead to a more informative and accurate ICP.
Form included
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
Individual Care Plans
Form 2 included
An Individual Care Plan (ICP) must be completed for every YP that requires
medication during their RTY sessions, or on trips and residential visits. It must be
completed by a designated RTY staff member before any medication is brought in
and left at RTY. Before filling in the ICP the YP’s Individual Risk Assessment must
be consulted.
Points to consider with the YP and Guardian are; When, where and how is the medicine to be taken to protect the dignity of the
YP.
 How would it affect the YP, Staff, other service users when the medication is
missed or refused?
 How would the medicating fit in with the YP’s timetable.
 The finished plan should be signed by all parties in order for it to become an
official RTY responsibility
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Refusal of Medicines
If a YP refuses to take medicines, staff should not force them to do so, but should
note this in Views and act in accordance with the ICP.
Storage and disposal of medications
It is necessary for RTY to make appropriate and adequate arrangements for the
storage of medication. The following guidelines are in response to these needs to
ensure they are only used by the YP named on the prescription;
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All medicines brought into RTY should be in their original packaging,
labelling and with original full instructions included.
All medicines should be stored in accordance with product instructions
(paying particular attention to temperature). Medicines will normally be kept in
the medicine fridge which is located in Interview room 2. The office is locked
when unattended and a key left with reception staff.
Medicines not temperature sensitive with be stored in a lockable medicine
cupboard fixed to the wall in Karen’s office
Medicine should be administered from the original container or by a monitored
dosage system such as a blister pack.
The designated member of staff should fill in the Medicines Given Log next to
the Medicine cabinet. Staff should not sign unless witnessed first hand.
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
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RTY will store no more than is necessary and will only store medicines while
the YP is in attendance at RTY.
YP’s should be told where their medicine is stored and who has access to it.
Inhalers, adrenaline pens and other emergency medicines will not be locked
away and could be carried by the YP if part of the ICP or within easy reach of
staff members.
Where needles are used, a sharps container and adequate arrangements for
collection and incineration should be in place. Such arrangements are
necessary for any equipment used which may be contaminated with body
fluids, such as blood etc.
Any unused or outdated medication will be returned to the parent/guardian for
safe disposal.
Where drugs are controlled drugs, the Directors should be informed and
only named persons should have access to them.
No drugs should be given other than to the person they are prescribed
for.
Once removed from the cabinet, medication should be administered
immediately and never left unattended.
All medical needs are strictly confidential.
Trips and Outings
YP’s with medical needs are given the same opportunities as other children. Staff
may need to consider what reasonable adjustments they might make to enable
children with medical needs to participate fully and safely on visits. This may
include discussing the YP’s Individual Risk Assessment will management.
Roles and Responsibilities
RTY responsibility to staff
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Staff will not be asked to administer medicines to YP’s without an ICP in
place.
Staff who volunteer to administer medicines must have the appropriate
information and / or training specific to the YP’s medical needs particularly in
the event of YP’s with particular medical needs such as Epipens, Inhaler,
diabetes etc.
Staff that assist with any form of medication in accordance with the
procedures detailed within this guidance are explicitly reassured that they will
be acting within the scope of their employment.
Any protective clothing or equipment needed for the medicine administration
is supplied.
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
Parent/Carer
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Must complete and sign the ICP in full.
Where at all possible administer the medication.
The parent or guardian is still ultimately responsible for the correct medication
of the Young Person but will allow Raise to assist as detailed in the Individual
Care Plan.
The parent or guardian named in this plan has the responsibility to notify
Raise the Youth of any changes to the medication used by the Young person.
The parent or Guardian has given full and accurate account of the YP’s
condition and has provided all the medical evidence needed for Raise the
Youth to form an accurate assessment of the needs of the Young Person.
The Parent or Guardian must arrange for the medication to be handed over in
person to a member of the Raise the Youth staff in the original container,
packaging as dispensed by the pharmacist which include the prescriber’s
instructions.
The Parent or Guardian will collect the medication at the end of the term.
The parent or guardian will allow the Young Person to access their doctor if
there is an issue with the medication and the parent or Guardian is
unavailable.
Staff
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Make their selves familiar with the Individual Care Plan.
Discuss with a lead person on the correct way to administer the medicine if
you feel you are not adequately trained to do so.
Ensure they give the medication to only the correct recipient.
Locate the correct medicine for the right YP and read all information with
regards to the administration.
Ensure they fully understand how each medicine or drug should be stored and
administered by checking the instructions included on the packaging.
Only take on the role if written confirmation is recorded with RTY.
Record the relevant information after the medicine has been taken on the
Medicines Given form.
Return the medicine to its correct storage place.
Locate the emergency contact information, particularly for the G.P. and parent
or guardian.
Never change a prescribed dosage - even at parental request unless as a
review of the ICP
Be aware of a YP’s right to dignity and privacy and keep any medical
information confidential
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
YP’S
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Present their selves for medication.
Take the medication as per the instructions.
Notify us if they think their medication has changed so we can investigate.
Notify us if the medication has an adverse effect on them.
Accept the follow up to medicines not being taken.
Accidental failure of the agreed
procedures
Should a member of staff fail to administer any medication, give incorrect dosage or
give medication to the wrong YP they should; Consult the Individual Care Plan.
 Contact a line manager.
 Consult the medicines packaging and follow helpline details
Allergies
Where a parent/Guardian has indicated their YP has a food allergy, a photograph of
the YP with details of the allergy should be displayed in the Kitchen.
Staff Medications
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
RAISE THE YOUTH FOUNDATION
Staff (and other adults in RTY) should take full responsibility for the secure storage
and appropriate usage of their own prescribed and non-prescribed medications.
They should act as a ‘responsible parent’ with regard to the use of these
medications.
Paracetamol and Ibrufen supplied by Raise the
Youth
Raise the youth have purchased Paracetamol and Ibrufen that is stored in the
medicine cabinet. The procedure for administering is as follows; The parent or guardian must be contacted by a member of the Raise
administration and permission given in person( Raise will not accept the word
of any YP that their guardian has agreed)
 The permission should be obtained for every occasion needed and not given
because we have previously.
 The logs should be completed on every occasion.
This policy will be reviewed annually or when there is a change in circumstances, in
work practices or the introduction of new legislation. It will be uploaded to Behaviour
Watch for the purpose of sharing information with staff and outside organisations.
Signed
-----------------------------Jason Steele
Director
Raise the Youth CIC Ltd Medicines Policy
Date: