13.3 Administration of Medication

Home remedies treatment should not be extended beyond two days without seeking medical advice. In the case of paracetamol, medical advice should be sought after 24 hours if the symptoms persist beyond that time.

• Each residential home/foster home should have an agreed list of Home Remedies that can be bought over the counter, preferably from a local pharmacist who can be contacted to provide pharmaceutical advice to the home/carer;
• Advice should always be sought from the pharmacist about any potential interactions between the home remedies and any prescribed medications the child may be taking. Children should not be administered both prescribed and non-prescribed medication unless signed consent has been obtained from the child's GP that it is safe to do so;
• The use of complementary or alternative remedies should only be undertaken following a documented discussion/agreement with the child's social worker;
• All home remedies must be administered in accordance with the manufacturer's advice on dosage and side effects;
• Each child must have their own personal record which indicates any home remedies which have been administered.

4.1

Self Administration by a Child

4.2

Issues to be Considered include:

• Does the child understand the importance of taking the medication regularly and at the correct time?
• Can the child safely store the medication?
• Is the child cooperative with staff/carers?
• Could the medication be taken and used by other children in the home?
• Does the medication have value if sold illegally?

4.3

Administration by Staff/Carers

When administering medication, the following procedures must be followed:

• All medicines should be administered strictly in accordance with the prescriber's instructions or, in relation to home remedies, as advised on the packet;
• Children should not be administered both prescribed and non-prescribed medication unless signed consent has been obtained from the child's GP that it is safe to do so;
• Aspirin must not be administered to a child unless prescribed by a GP;
• All children must have an up-to-date medical record sheet for each prescribed/non prescribed medication;
• The staff member/carer responsible for administering medication to a child must be trained in the safe administration of medication;
• When removing the medication from the locked cabinet, the staff/carer must ensure that the cabinet is locked if it is left unsupervised;
• All medicines should be administered from the container in which they were dispensed;
• If prescribed medication with an expiry date is to be administered, e.g. eye drops, staff/carers should record on the container the date opened and the expiry date of the medication must be checked before administration;
• Before administering any medication, a check must be made that the correct name of the child is on the medication container and the records must be checked to ensure that the medication has not already being given/taken; this will clarify that the medication being administered is correct;
• The required dose should be given directly to the child and the staff/carer administering the medication must ensure that it has been taken;
• Once administered, the remaining medication must be returned immediately to safe storage;
• A check should be made to see whether the course has been completed;
• The administration of the medication should be recorded on all the appropriate records as set out in Section 10, Recording;
• If and when medication has been refused or not taken by a child, this must be recorded and the reasons why. If a child is refusing to take an essential prescribed medication, the residential manager/supervising social worker must be informed and advice sought from the GP/Pharmacist;
• If a child is absent when a medication is due - this should also be recorded;
• If the course has been completed, this must be recorded;
• In the case of prescribed creams being applied, the cream should be squeezed directly onto the child's finger to apply themselves. If it has to be applied by staff, latex gloves should be worn;
• In the event of an error being made in the administration of any medication, advice should be sought by either contacting the child's G.P. or another medical practitioner/help line;
• Any adverse drug reaction or suspected adverse drug reaction should be reported to the GP before further administration is considered;
• If a label becomes detached from a container or is illegible, the prompt advice of the person who made the supply must be sought. Until then, the container should not be used.
  
  

4.4

Procedure for Administration and Recording of Medication During Time Away from the Home

Medication should be disposed of when:

• The expiry date has been reached;
• The course of treatment is completed;
• A medical practitioner stops the medication.

The following records should be kept:

• First Aid should be recorded in a First Aid Record/Log;
• Prescribed medicines, Home Remedies and controlled drugs should be recorded in a Medication Log Book;
• Each administration of medication should be recorded on a Record of Medication Administration Sheet or other record authorised by a pharmacist or medical practitioner;
• The storage or stock checking of medicines/drugs should be recorded in the Medication Log Book or as required/agreed by a pharmacist or medical practitioner;
• The disposal of any medication should be recorded on the Medication Log Book.