TOTOM HOUSE M.E.C.C.
Administration of Authorised Medication Policy
NQS
QA2
2.1.1
2.1.4
2.3.2
Each child’s health needs are supported.
Steps are taken to control the spread of infectious diseases and to manage injuries and illness, in
accordance with recognised guidelines.
Every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and any hazard likely to cause
injury.
National Regulations
Regs
90
Medical conditions policy
91
Medical conditions policy to be provided to parents
92
Medication record
93
Administration of medication
94
Exception to authorisation requirement - anaphylaxis or asthma emergency
95
Procedure for administration of medication
96
Self-administration of medication
EYLF
LO3
Children are happy, healthy, safe and connected to others.
Educators promote continuity of children’s personal health and hygiene by sharing ownership of routines and
schedules with children, families and the community
Educators discuss health and safety issues with children and involve them in developing guidelines to keep the
environment safe for all
Aim
That Totom House educators can safely administer medication as necessary to children with the
written or verbal authority of the child’s parents, or through stated emergency procedures as
outlined in this policy. It is important to follow strict procedures in the correct administration of
authorised medications to promote the health and wellbeing of each child at the Centre.
Related Policies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Emergency Service Contact Policy
Enrolment Policy
Food Nutrition and Beverage Policy
HIV AIDS Policy
Immunisation and Disease Prevention Policy
Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Policy
Medical Conditions Policy
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Implementation
1. General
1. Upon enrolment a General Authorisation form is to be signed by parents to cover:
1.
Administration of Panadol or an alternative to Panadol. If the child is allergic to
Panadol it is the parents/guardians responsibility to specify an alternative on the
General Authorisation form. It is also the parents/guardians responsibility to supply
the alternative medication to the Centre.
2.
Parents of children who are in nappies will consent to use cream supplied by the
Centre or will provide their own cream if their child has allergies or sensitive skin.
Cream supplied by the Centre may have a nut content mainly in the form of nut oil.
2. If a child’s temperature reaches 38 degrees Centigrade or above, parents/guardians will be
asked to collect their child immediately.
3. A long term Medication Record Form is to be signed if a child requires ongoing
administration of medication (for periods exceeding one month). This form is to be updated
every three months.
4. Teething gel will not be applied to a child unless a written permission letter from a
registered medical practitioner is provided to the Centre.
5. Herbal or alternative medicine will not be administered to a child, unless a written
permission letter from a registered medical practitioner is provided to the Centre. A
parent/guardian of the child may attend the Centre to administer herbal or alternative
medicine themselves.
6. If prescribed cream is to be applied to a child at the Centre, a written clearance letter from a
registered medical practitioner must be provided to the Centre to state the child is suitable
to attend a child care centre whilst having the prescribed cream administered, and that the
child’s condition is not contagious.
7. There will be a staff member on duty at the Centre at all times who is trained in the use of
specialised equipment (e.g. nebulisers).
8. Only Room Leaders and Certified Supervisors are to administer medication to children.
9. All medical forms are to be kept for seven years by the Centre, these being:
1.
Administration of Authorised Medication Record
2.
Medication Book
3.
General Authorisation form
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4.
5.
6.
Medication Record Form
Medical letters provided by parents
Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record
10. Panadol or an alternative to Panadol will be administered to a child at the Centre once only
on any given day, unless a written permission letter from a registered medical practitioner is
provided to the Centre authorising the Centre to administer multiple doses to the child
within one day.
11. The Enrolment Form is to be checked and the parents/guardians contacted before
administering Panadol or an alternative to Panadol medication.
12. If verbal (phone) permission is given by a parent/guardian to administer Panadol or an
alternative to Panadol to their child, the parent/guardian must sign the Medication Record
Form immediately upon collecting their sick child from the Centre.
2. Administration of Prescribed Medication
1. In the instance that a child has been prescribed a medication by a registered medical
practitioner, the Centre will ensure the medication is administered appropriately as
instructed by the child’s parent/guardian who must give written and signed permission on
the Medication Record Form.
2. Medication can only be administered by the Centre if it receives written authority on the
Medication Record Form, signed by the child’s parent or another responsible person named
in the child’s enrolment record that is authorised by the child’s parents to make decisions
about the administration of medication for the child.
3. The Centre will ensure that the Medication Record Form is completed for each child at the
Centre who requires medication that has been prescribed by a registered medical
practitioner.
4. Any person delivering a child to the Centre must not leave medications in the child’s bag or
locker. Medication must be given directly to an educator for appropriate storage upon
arrival.
5. Medication provided by the child’s parent must include the following :
1. Original container. Medication will only be administered from the original container.
2. Original label that is clearly legible
3. Child’s name clearly on the label.
4. Expiry Date
5. Any instructions attached to the medication or related to the use of the medication.
6. Any written instructions provided by an authorised medical practitioner.
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13. Parents are to provide the following information on the Administration of Authorised
Medication Record each time the medication is to be administered:
1.
Child’s full name
2.
Name of medication
3.
Last time medicine administered
4.
Dosage to be given
5.
Method of administration
6.
Time to be given
7.
Parent’s signature
14. The first dose of medicine for the day should be given by the parent/guardian of the child,
unless the dosage of the medicine restricts this from being possible eg if medication is only
given once a day at lunch time. For such instances, the parent/guardian must state the last
time the medicine was administered to the child from the previous day.
15. Staff administering medicine to a child, as documented on the Medication Record Form are
to sign their name on the Medication Record Form, and state details of the dosage and
time.
16. When medication is about to be administered to a child, a second permanent staff member
is required to check the dosage to be given to the child, and also sign the Medication Record
Form once the medication has been administered.
17. If medication is administered to the child, but the child then remains unwell and is not able
to cope in group situations, parents/guardians will be contacted to collect the child
immediately.
18. If medication is administered to a child, but the child then vomits immediately afterwards,
the Centre will not re-administer the medication, but will inform the parents of the
occurrence of vomiting as soon as they are able to.
3. Emergency Administration of Medication
For anaphylaxis or asthma emergencies, please see separate section below.
1. In the event of an emergency, the Centre must follow the Incident, Injury, Trauma and
Illness Policy and complete the Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record.
2. In the event of an emergency and where the administration of medication must occur:
a. The Centre must attempt to receive verbal authorisation by a parent or guardian of
the child named in the child’s Enrolment Form who is authorised to consent to the
administration of medication.
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b. If a parent of the child cannot be contacted, the Centre must attempt to receive
verbal authorisation from an emergency contact of the child named in the child’s
Enrolment Form, who is authorised to consent to the administration of medication.
c. If none of the child’s nominated contacts can be successfully reached within a
reasonable timeframe, the Centre must contact a registered medical practitioner or
an emergency service on 000.
d. Written notice must be provided to parent/guardian(s) of the child or other
emergency contact person listed on the child’s Enrolment Form, outlining the details
of the administered medication.
4. Emergency Involving Anaphylaxis or Asthma
For anaphylaxis or asthma emergencies,
1. Medication may be administered to a child without an authorisation following the
procedures as listed above under ‘Emergency Administration of Medication’.
2. The Centre must contact the following as soon as practicably possible a. A parent of the child
b. Emergency services.
3. The child will be positively reassured, calmed and moved to a quiet area under the direct
supervision of a suitably experienced and trained educator.
Sources
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
National Quality Standard
Early Years Learning Framework
Putting Children First (1999) Childcare and children’s health: Medications use by children
attending childcare Vol.2 No.4
National Health and Medical Research Council (2005) Staying Healthy in Child Care: Preventing
infectious diseases in child care Australian Government
Review.
The review will be conducted by:

Management

Employees
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
Families

Interested Parties
Date for next review: February 2015
Last Updated: 8/02/2016
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