Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre

Illness and Medicine Administration Policy

Policy

To ensure that children are healthy enough to participate in the session that they are attending.

It is a priority of Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre to provide a clean and healthy learning environment for children. The staff will ensure that the spread of germs will be at a minimum.

Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre will ensure

1. a strict procedure is in place for the administration of medication

2. That all parents understand the importance to following the procedure when a child has an illness.

Procedure

1. Before admission, all parents will sign the consent form stating whether they give permission for staff to administer medication.

2. Over-The-Counter medications will be administered by staff on consent from parents either over the phone or in person. A record of phone consent will be kept and parents must sign off on same.

3. Parents must provide the centre with all Over-The-Counter medications with their child’s name clearly labelled
4. For infection control reasons, children cannot share medications.

5. Suppositories will not be given.

If a child is on a regular prescribed medication, i.e. Inhaler, which must be given while attending the centre:

1. A medication consent form must be signed by the parent. This form is available from the staff.

2. If the medication is an inhaler, the parents must demonstrate and sign-off that they have shown the senior practitioner how to use the inhaler.

If a child is sick at home:

1. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the centre if their child has been diagnosed with a contagious disease/infection.

2. All infectious illnesses, such as but not limited to chicken pox, head lice/nits, measles, ringworm, conjunctivitis/pink eye, swine flu and whooping cough, may be required to have a doctor’s note as to when the child may return to the centre.

3. If a child is on antibiotics, they may not return until after the first 24 hours on the antibiotics. If a child is on antibiotics but has a Doctor Certificate to say that they are non-contagious and fit to attend the Centre, please contact Cuan Bhride Childcare Centre before your child returns, and the Manager shall make a decision on a case by case basis.

4. When a child does return and is still on antibiotics:

   1. The antibiotics must be signed over to a staff member.

   2. A clear pharmacy label must be on the antibiotics stating the name of the child, name of the medication, amount of times the medication is to be taken, and dosage of medication.

   3. The parent must fill in a form stating what time(s) the medication is to be given and the dosage.

   4. Medication will not be shared between children ie. siblings.

5. Upon collection of the child, the antibiotics will be signed back over to the parents.

6. The process will repeat every time the child is to take antibiotics at the centre.

7. It is up to the staff’s and management’s discretion to ask the parents to collect their child if they feel the child is not well enough to be at the centre.

If a child develops an illness at the centre:

1. Staff will monitor behaviour and symptoms

2. Staff will follow the procedure for administering a fever reducing medication.

3. Parents will be notified before medication given and a signature must be obtained for approval.

4. Diarrhoea is defined by the HSE as an increase in bowel frequency: three or more bowel movements within 24 hours. When a child has a loose bowel movement for the second time, the parent will be called and informed that is another loose bowel movement occurs, the child must be picked up by a parent or an approved adult as soon as possible.

5. As recommended by the HSE, there must be a minimum of 48 hours from the last instance of vomiting or diarrhoea before a child may return to Cuan Bhríde Childcare Centre.

Updated 12 September 2018