3.9.2 First Aid, Home Remedies and Prescribed Medicines |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This procedure applies to Children’s Homes and Foster Homes, but the principles apply to the placement of all Looked After Children. Therefore, where Looked After Children are placed with parents, relatives or friends or in placements outside the authority, the social worker must ensure these or other adequate procedures are applied.
RELATED CHAPTERS
Contents
- Home Remedies
- First Aid
- Prescribed Medication
- Disposal of Medication/Drugs
- Monitoring and Notifications
- Recording
1. Home Remedies
Home Remedies are medicines, suitable for children, which can be bought ‘over the counter’ without prescription, including Paracetamol. See First Aid, Home Remedies and Prescribed Medicines Guidance
Aspirin
Although Aspirin may be purchased ‘over the counter’, without prescription; it may not be given to children unless prescribed by a medical practitioner.
Other Home Remedies
The Home Remedies that are approved to be given to children are listed in First Aid, Home Remedies and Prescribed Medicines Guidance, which also provides guidance on their use.
The child’s social worker may agree that the child retains and administers his/her own Home Remedies. If not, Home Remedies kept in the home must be stored safely, in a locked cabinet.
If children are permitted to retain/administer their own Home Remedies, it should be stated in the Placement Plan and suitable arrangements should be in place for storage and recording by the child. The child should be provided with lockable storage facilities.
However, these other Home Remedies should only be given to a child with appropriate Consent or having consulted the child’s GP to ensure that no adverse reactions may result. The GP should sign a form permitting staff to administer home remedies suitable for the ages of the children of the home.
No other Home Remedies, other than those listed in First Aid, Home Remedies and Prescribed Medicines Guidance, may be given to children without the written authorisation of a medical practitioner.
Home Remedies, other than Paracetamol, should only be given for a maximum of 48 hours. If the symptoms persist beyond that time the child should see a medical practitioner before further dosages are given. However, if Paracetamol is given for 24 hours and the symptoms still persist, the child should see a medical practitioner before further dosages are given.
Where children are not deemed to be capable of administering Home Remedies themselves, care must be taken to ensure they consume the product as required, preferably in the presence of a member or a carer.
Arrangements must exist in the home for regular stock checks to be undertaken of the Home Remedies kept in the home; and for the disposal of those no longer in use or out of date.
2. First Aid
Fully equipped First Aid boxes must be kept in each home and in each vehicle used to carry children.
Children may administer their own First Aid if they have a suitable First Aid certificate or under the supervision of a carer. The arrangements for this should be outlined in the child’s Placement Plan.
If children are not deemed to be capable of giving First Aid themselves or under supervision, it must be administered by a carer.
3. Prescribed Medication
The child’s social worker may agree that the child retains and administers his/her own medication. If not, it should be stored safely, in a locked cabinet. Controlled medication should be kept in a separate cabinet or in a locked container within the medication cabinet. Medication that needs to be kept at a constant low temperature should be kept in a refrigerated medication chest or in a locked container within a refrigerator that is not used for food.
If children are permitted to retain/administer their own medicines, it should be stated in the Placement Plan and suitable arrangements should be in place for storage and recording by the child.
In any case, prescribed medicines should be kept in their original containers, clearly marked with the name of the person for whom they have been prescribed; and they should only be given to the named person, as prescribed or set out on the container. Two signatures should be recorded against any medication administered.
Arrangements must exist in the home for regular stock checks to be undertaken of the medicines kept in the home; and for the disposal of those no longer in use or out of date.
4. Disposal of Medication/Drugs
Even if children are permitted to retain and administer their own First Aid, Home Remedies or Prescribed Medicines, arrangements must exist in the home for undertaking regular stock checks of these items and arranging for their disposal as necessary.
Where medication is stopped before completion of prescribed courses or becomes out of date, it should be disposed of in a manner agreed with a pharmacist or taken to a pharmacist for disposal; a receipt obtained and a record of the disposal made.
Medication should not be disposed of in other ways, unless agreed with a Pharmacist.
5. Monitoring and Notifications
The manager of the home or Supervising Social Worker must ensure that arrangements exist for monitoring Home Remedies, First Aid or Prescribed Medicines given to children, and that these and other related health care procedures are adhered to.
Injuries, accidents, diseases or illnesses of a serious nature, should be notified to managers and others outside the home; as set out in Designated Managers Appendix.
6. Recording
Where children are permitted to retain and administer their own First Aid, Home Remedies or Prescribed Medicines, there should be a suitable record to monitor it; the child should also be given support as necessary to keep the record up to date.
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