Medical Conditions Policy

Rationale: Lili’s Early Learning has a duty of care to ensure that all persons are provided with a high level of protection during our hours of operation.

We believe that protecting the health of all children including the appropriate administration of medication should be considered a high risk practice and take all reasonable precautions and efforts to ensure that our staff and our Centre are compliant with State and National legislative requirements.

We believe in an inclusive environment, where children can participate in all activities in a safe manner to enable them to develop, learn and grow within an integrated society.

LEL reserves the right to contact a health care professional if staff are unsure about administering medication to a child - even if the parent or legal guardian has requested the medication to be administered, refuse a person’s attendance at the centre due to illness or insufficient instruction for medication or to call for ambulance support to support an ill person when deemed necessary by a suitably trained First Aid Certificate holder.

Procedure:

We will:

  • Maintain confidentiality of all disclosures and medical reports according to our Confidentiality and Privacy Policy, ensuring that information regarding the medical condition and the sufferer are only shared with specific and targeted educators, management and authorised external stakeholders including a registered health practitioner and/or any external organisation specialising in the treatment and care of individuals with the identified medical condition (with permission from the authorised guardian noted on the enrolment form)
  • Adhere at all times to the current Medication Policy and Procedures in place.
  • Administer prescribed medication in accordance with the Medical Conditions Treatment Plan provided to the centre by the family or, in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual, and authorised by a registered health care professional.
  • Adhere to the terms and requirements of any Medical Conditions Communication Plan agreed to between the centre and the family or, in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual, their registered health care professional (where applicable) and/or any external organisation specialising in the treatment and care of individuals with the identified medical condition (with permission from the authorised guardian noted on the enrolment form).
  • Undertake a risk assessment plan, in consultation with the family, or, in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual, the child (where appropriate), a registered health care professional (where applicable) and/or any external organisation specialising in the treatment and care of individuals with the identified medical condition (with permission from the authorised guardian noted on the enrolment form).
  • Call for an ambulance to attend should a medical intervention be required, in accordance with the Action Plan provided to the centre, for all high risk, life-threatening conditions including, but not limited to, anaphylaxis and severe asthma. All associated costs are to be borne by the enrolling child’s legal guardian or, in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual.
  • Provide a copy of the Medical Conditions Policy to all adults engaged as Educators, staff, students and /or volunteers LEL
  • Ensure that all Educators employed at Lili’s Early Learning have undertaken, or will undertake within 3 months of employment, recognised Asthma, Anaphylaxis and First Aid training.
  • Refuse entry to any child and/or adult who attends the centre without medication prescribed by the sufferer's medical practitioner in relation to the sufferer's specific health care need, allergy or relevant medical condition.
  • Lili’s Early Learning will not allow self-administration of medication by children under the age of 16 years

Legal Guardian’s responsibilities

  • Ensuring that appropriate information regarding their child’s medical condition and medication is recorded by a registered health practitioner and/or pharmacist and provided to the centre upon diagnosis of the medical condition or enrolment at the centre.
  • Conveying clear information to staff at Lili’s Early Learning regarding details of the medical condition, known triggers (if appropriate) and provision of a medical treatment plan for long term illnesses, allergies and reactions that may require medication, completed and signed by your registered health care professional. This plan is to be updated annually or earlier as necessitated by the condition.
  • Appropriate storage and labelling of medications and equipment required to dispense medication appropriately.
  • Provision of all medications required to accompany a child suffering a medical condition as noted in the Action Plan and removal of such medication from their child’s bag upon entry to LEL ensuring that medications are handed to a member of staff for safe storage.
  • Involvement in the development of an appropriate risk assessment plan
  • Involvement in the development of an appropriate communication plan

Responsibilities of an adult with a known Medical Condition

  • Ensure all appropriate information regarding the medical condition is recorded by a registered health practitioner and/or pharmacist and provided to the manager upon diagnosis of the medical condition.
  • Convey clear information to the Centre Manager at Lili’s Early Learning regarding details of the medical condition, known triggers (if appropriate) and provision of a medical treatment plan for long term illnesses, allergies and reactions that may require medication, completed and signed by your registered health care professional.

This plan is to be updated annually or earlier as necessitated by the condition.

  • Appropriate storage and labelling of medications and equipment required to dispense medication appropriately
  • Provision of all medications required to accompany an individual suffering a medical condition as noted in the Action Plan and storage of any bag containing such medication or equipment in an area not accessible to children with advice provided to the manager of the location of such medication and equipment.
  • Involvement in the development of an appropriate risk assessment and mitigation plan.
  • Involvement in the development of an appropriate communication plan.

Additional Information regarding the prevention of food anaphylactic reactions

LEL will observe the four steps for the prevention of food anaphylactic reactions as recommended by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Inc.:

  • Obtain medical information - carers or in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual shall provide an Anaphylaxis Action Plan, authorised by a registered health practitioner and containing the following information:
  • A photo
  • Documentation of allergic triggers
  • Documentation of any first aid response including any prescribed medication
  • Identification and contact details of the registered health practitioner who completed the form
  • Education of Staff employed at Lili’s Early Learning in recognising risk, understanding risk mitigation actions, actions to undertake in the case of a sufferer having a severe allergic reaction and instruction on the use of an EpiPen.
  • Practical strategies to avoid known triggers including;
  • the daily notation of known triggers in the centre's foyer for a child or adult in attendance at the centre
  • Strict adherence to a "nut-free" environment, including food brought from home, fund raising foods available for purchase and education of centre stakeholders in hygiene procedures to minimise exposure to known allergens
  • Notification of kitchen staff and educators of the presence of an anaphylactic person within the centre and details of the known triggers through the use of food trolley spikes and whiteboard markings
  • Strict compliance with food preparation segregation requirements
  • Strict adherence to the centre's Food Handling Policies and Procedures, Healthy Eating Policies and Mealtime Procedures
  • Age appropriate education of children

Additional Information regarding the prevention of asthma reactions

Lili’s Early Learning is committed to ensuring that children suffering from asthma have equal opportunity for play and education as children without the condition. In consultation with parents and registered health practitioners, we will;

  • Obtain medical information - carers, or, in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual shall provide an Asthma Action Plan, authorised by a registered health practitioner and containing the following information:
  • A clear photo of the sufferer
  • Documentation of allergic triggers
  • Documentation of any first aid response including any prescribed medication
  • Identification and contact details of the registered health practitioner who completed the form
  • Education of educators and Staff employed at Lili’s Early Learning in recognising risk, understanding risk mitigation actions, actions to undertake in the case of a sufferer having an asthma attack and instruction in the use of an asthma puffer, spacer and facemask.
  • Record all incidences of asthma, including those requiring medical intervention in the centre's medication register and/or on an appropriate Illness, Injury, Accident or Trauma form duly signed by the supervising educator, the manager and the legal guardian of the child
  • Maintain a current Asthma First Aid Kit including a puffer, spacer and facemask, instructions for use and cleaning instructions
  • Notification to kitchen staff and educators of the presence of an asthmatic person within the centre and details of the known food triggers through the use of food trolley spikes and whiteboard markings
  • Maximise efforts to reduce asthma triggers by;
  • minimising the use of chemicals when children are present
  • washing floor surfaces at least once daily
  • vacuuming carpets at least once daily
  • wet dusting window sills, doors and shelving regularly
  • washing pillow cases on throw cushions regularly
  • ensuring adequate ventilation to reduce mould and mildew growth
  • Encourage age appropriate education of children

Additional Information regarding the management of diabetes

Lili’s Early Learning is committed to ensuring that children suffering from diabetes have equal opportunity for play and education as children without the condition. In consultation with parents and registered health practitioners, we will;

  • Obtain medical information - carers, or, in the case of an adult with an identified medical condition, that individual, shall provide a Diabetes Action Plan, authorised by a registered health practitioner and containing the following information:
  • A photo      
  • Documentation of significant blood sugar level symptoms (hypo-glycaemic or hyper-glycaemic)
  • Documentation of any first aid response including any prescribed medication
  • Identification and contact details of the registered health practitioner who completed the form
  • When a sufferer is identified, educate staff employed at Lili’s Early Learning in recognising risk, understanding risk mitigation actions, actions to undertake in the case of a sufferer experiencing high or low blood sugar reactions and instruction in the administration of glucagon.
  • Record all incidences of low or high blood sugar reactions, including those requiring medical intervention in the centre's medication register and/or on an appropriate illness, injury, accident or trauma form duly signed by the supervising educator, the manager or 2IC and the legal guardian of the child
  • Allow additional trips to the toilet / nappy change area
  • Allow the sufferer to eat as required regardless of centre routines
  • Remove the person to the staff room to test blood sugar levels and administer insulin as required under the supervision of an appropriately trained educator
  • Encourage age appropriate education of children


Policy Source Acknowledgements:

This Policy satisfies the following National Quality Framework documents;

Education and Care Service National Regulations:

  • Part 4.2, Division 3 - Medical Conditions Policy
  • Part 4.2, Division 4, Regulation 94 - Exception to authorisation requirement - anaphylaxis or asthma
  • Part 4.4, Division 6 - First Aid Qualifications

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010;

  • Part 6, Operating an education and care service

This Policy satisfies the following National Quality Standard Quality Areas;

  • 1.1.5 - • 2.1.1 - 2.3.2 - • 5.2.3 - 6.2.1 - 6.3.1 - 7.1.2 - 7.3.1 –

Policy reviewed August 2017