Administration of Medication Policy

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand this policy, please contact the office on 9560 6371 or glen.waverley.south.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Purpose

To explain to parents/carers, students and staff the processes Glen Waverley South Primary School will follow to safely manage the provision of medication to students while at school or school activities, including camps and excursions.

Scope

This policy applies to the administration of medication to all students. It does not apply to:

the provision of medication for anaphylaxis which is provided for in our school’s Anaphylaxis Policy
the provision of medication for asthma which is provided for in our school’s Asthma Policy
specialised procedures which may be required for complex medical care needs.

Policy

If a student requires medication, Glen Waverley South Primary School encourages parents to arrange for the medication to be taken outside of school hours. However, Glen Waverley South Primary School understands that students may need to take medication at school or school activities. To support students to do so safely, Glen Waverley South Primary School will follow the procedures set out in this policy.

Authority to administer

If a student needs to take medication while at school or at a school activity:

Parents/carers will need to arrange for the student’s treating medical/health practitioner to provide written advice to the school which details:
- the name of the medication required
- the dosage amount
- the time the medication is to be taken
- how the medication is to be taken
- the dates the medication is required, or whether it is an ongoing medication
- how the medication should be stored.
In most cases, parents/carers should arrange for written advice to be provided in a Medication Authority Form which a student’s treating medical/health practitioner should complete.
If advice cannot be provided by a student’s medical/health practitioner, the Principal (or their nominee) may agree that written authority can be provided by, or the Medication Authority Form can be completed by a student’s parents/carers.
The Principal may need to consult with parents/carers to clarify written advice and consider student’s individual preferences regarding medication administration (which may also be provided for in a student’s Student Health Support Plan).

Parents/carers can contact the office for a Medication Authority Form.

Administering medication

Any medication brought to school by a student needs to be clearly labelled with:

the student’s name
the dosage required
the time the medication needs to be administered.

Parents/carers need to ensure that the medication a student has at school is within its expiry date. If school staff become aware that the medication a student has at school has expired, they will promptly contact the student’s parents/carers who will need to arrange for medication within the expiry date to be provided.

If a student needs to take medication at school or a school activity, the Principal (or their nominee) will ensure that:

Medication is administered to the student in accordance with the Medication Authority Form so that:

the student receives their correct medication
in the proper dose
via the correct method (for example, inhaled or orally)
at the correct time of day.

A log is kept of medicine administered to a student.
Where possible, two staff members will supervise the administration of medication.
The teacher in charge of a student at the time their medication is required:
- is informed that the student needs to receive their medication
- if necessary, release the student from class to obtain their medication.

Self-administration

In some cases it may be appropriate for students to self-administer their medication. The Principal may consult with parents/carers and consider advice from the student’s medical/health practitioner to determine whether to allow a student to self-administer their medication.

If the Principal decides to allow a student to self-administer their medication, the Principal may require written acknowledgement from the student’s medical/health practitioner, or the student’s parents/carers that the student will self-administer their medication.

Storing medication

The Principal (or their nominee) will put in place arrangements so that medication is stored:

securely to minimise risk to others
in a place only accessible by staff who are responsible for administering the medication
away from a classroom (unless quick access is required)
away from first aid kits
according to packet instructions, particularly in relation to temperature.

For most students, Glen Waverley South Primary School will store student medication in the sick bay.

The Principal may decide, in consultation with parents/carers and/or on the advice of a student’s treating medical/health practitioner:

that the student’s medication should be stored securely in the student’s classroom if quick access might be required

to allow the student to carry their own medication with them, preferably in the original packaging if:
- the medication does not have special storage requirements, such as refrigeration
- doing so does not create potentially unsafe access to the medication by other students.

Warning

Glen Waverley South Primary School will not:

in accordance with Department of Education and Training policy, store or administer analgesics such as aspirin and paracetamol as a standard first aid strategy as they can mask signs and symptoms of serious illness or injury
allow a student to take their first dose of a new medication at school in case of an allergic reaction. This should be done under the supervision of the student’s parents, carers or health practitioner
allow use of medication by anyone other than the prescribed student except in a life threatening emergency, for example if a student is having an asthma attack and their own puffer is not readily available.

Medication error

If a student takes medication incorrectly, staff will endeavour to:

Step	Action
	If required, follow first aid procedures outlined in the student’s Health Support Plan or other medical management plan.
	Ring the Poisons Information Line, 13 11 26 and give details of the incident and the student.
	Act immediately upon their advice, such as calling Triple Zero “000” if advised to do so.
	Contact the student’s parents/carers or emergency contact person to notify them of the medication error and action taken.
	Review medication management procedures at the school in light of the incident.

In the case of an emergency, school staff may call Triple Zero “000” for an ambulance at any time.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

Included in staff induction processes
Available publicly on our school’s website
Included in transition and enrolment packs
Included as annual reference in school newsletter
Included in our staff handbook/manual
Discussed at staff briefings/meetings as required
Discussed at parent information nights/sessions
Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Further information and resources

The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):

Our School policies and documents:

First Aid Policy
Health Care Needs Policy
Medication Authority Form
Medication Administration Log

Policy review and approval

Policy last reviewed	August 2023
Approved by	Principal
Next scheduled review date	August 2026

Appendix A: Medication Administration Log

Medication Administered

Student Name:

Class:

Staff member to verify the following before administering medication:

Correct child
Correct medication
Correct dose
Correct route of administration

Date	Time	Name of Medication	Dose	Staff Name	2nd Staff Name

Appendix B: Medication Authority Form

Medication Authority Form

This form should ideally be completed by the student’s medical/health practitioner for all medication to be administered at school.

Please note: Wherever possible, medication should be scheduled outside school hours, eg medication required three times daily is generally not required during a school day – it can be taken before and after school and before bed.

Monitoring effects of medication

Please note: School staff do not monitor the effects of medication and will seek emergency medical assistance if concerned about a student’s behaviour following medication.

Privacy Statement

We collect personal and health information to plan for and support the health care needs of our students. Information collected will be used and disclosed in accordance with the Department of Education and Training’s privacy policy which applies to all government schools (available at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/schoolsprivacypolicy.aspx) and the law.

Please ensure the following:

o	The medication is in its original packaging.
o	The medication is within its expiry date.
o	The medication labelling is in English.
o	The pharmacy label matches the information included on this form.
o	The student will not be taking their first dose of a new medication at school. For allergy reasons this should be administered under the supervision of the student’s parents/carers or health practitioner.

Medication Authority Form

Student’s Name:				Class:

Name of Medication	Dosage	Method	Date(s)		Time(s)





Medication Expiry Date:
Medication Storage Instructions:
The most recent dose of this medication:	Date:		Time:

Condition:
Triggers:
Likely reaction/symptoms:
Action Plan:


“ This medication will be kept in the student’s school bag (Asthma medication only). OR “ This medication will be kept in the school sickbay, clearly labelled with this form attached the medication is within its expiry date.

I give the first aid staff at school the authority to administer the above medication to my child whilst at school, as per the above directions. I have read and agree to all the conditions listed on the back of this page.


Parent/Guardian Signature		Parent/Guardian Name		Date


Medical/Health Practitioner Signature		Medical/Health Practitioner Name		Date