Health and Safety practices criterion 25
Medicine (prescription and non-prescription) is not given to a child unless it is given:
- by a doctor or ambulance personnel in an emergency; or
- by the parent of the child; or
- with the written authority (appropriate to the category of medicine) of a parent.
Medicines are stored safely and appropriately, and are disposed of, or sent home with a parent (if supplied in relation to a specific child) after the specified time.
Documentation required:
- A record of the written authority from parents for the administration of medicine in accordance with the requirement for the category of medicine outlined in Appendix 2.
- A record of all medicine (prescription and non-prescription) given to children left in the care of the service.
Records include:
- name of the child;
- name and amount of medicine given;
- date and time medicine was administered and by whom; and
- evidence of parental acknowledgement. When the same dose of Category (iii) medicine is administered on a regular basis, parental acknowledgement may be obtained weekly or every 3 months.
The recording of Category (i) medicines administered in relation to injuries in the record required by criterion HS22 will meet this requirement for those medicines.
Related to clause 46(1)(b) of standard.
Rationale/Intent:
The criterion aims to uphold the health and safety of children by ensuring that children are given proper care, and that medication is not administered inappropriately by services.