This policy has been written to protect children and staff in the administration of medicines whilst in the care of Twinkles Nurseries Ltd.

The safety of children in our care is paramount and it is the intention of this policy to comply with the Welfare Requirements – Safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare, stipulated and monitored by Ofsted.

The statutory guidance to which providers should have regard states: Providers should ask parents about the medicines that their child needs to take and provide details of any changes to the prescription or the support required. If the administration of prescription medicines requires technical/medical knowledge then individual training should be provided for staff from a qualified health professional. Medicines should not be administered unless they have been prescribed for that child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist. Non-prescription medication e.g. calpol or teething gel may be administered, but only with the prior written consent of the parent and only when there is a health reason to do so.

Appendix 1 attached details the parent consent form and recording form for medication given within Twinkles. The administration procedures (document number 023-1) details actions staff will take to ensure the safe administration of medicines.

Senior Nursery Nurses will enquire about all children’s well being at the start of each session and record this in books situated in each room area.

The Senior Nursery Nurse will find out the following information and record it on the administration of Medicine recording sheet (Document Number 023):

Obtaining Consent

•         When, how much and why a child has had medicine before attending Twinkles.
•         Record details of any dosage given, when it was given and the amount of the dose.
•         Record the date, Childs name, DOB, Parents name.
•         Explain to parents the Administration of Medicines Procedure their consent is required for the stated date                 only. Ask parents to stipulate medication and the amount required and sign the consent.

•         Two nursery nurses are required for the administration of medicines. One Nursery Nurse stays with the child                   while the other collects the medicine from the office (located within the locked cupboard).
•         Contact the parent by telephone prior to administering any medication. (not required for prescribed                            medication such as antibiotics all other procedures remain unchanged)
•         Check the expiry date for the medicine has not elapsed.
•         Two Nursery nurses check the identity of the child, record and sign the record sheet.
•         Administer the medication.
•         If a child is reluctant to take the medicine, or is immediately sick following administration, this should be                      noted on the records and the parents informed.
•         Close observation / recording of child’s temperature (where appropriate) should be undertaken on ½ hourly             intervals throughout the child’s session / all day. The parent should be informed of any deterioration in                         condition and asked to collect the child in accordance with the Infection Control Policy (Document                           Number 07).

Calpol may be given in case of emergency when a child has fallen and incurred a minor head injury or a child develops a high temperature whilst at nursery and a consent form has not been signed.

•         Nursery Manager/Deputy must ring to inform parents of the situation
•         Gain written consent where possible
•         If written consent can not be achieved the Manager may take verbal consent in extreme circumstances.
•         The manager must obtain written consent when the child is collected at the end of their session.

•         Storage of antibiotics. Children’s antibiotics are stored in the fridge, labelled with the child’s name and                       d.o.b.
•         The procedure for the storage of self- held medication such as inhalers is as                                                                             Follows: BS, RS, SS        locked cupboard office                                                                                                                                       OSC                          about the child’s possession.
•         Storage of children’s sun creams, lotions and nappy creams are within the changing area labelled and                        named for each child.

Records