Physical Impairment and Medical Support Team (PIMST)

INTEGRATED COMMUNITY EQUIPMENT SERVICE (iCES)

GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS, SUPPORT SERVICES and THERAPISTS

Updated March 2010

1. What are the key features of the iCES?

1.1. iCES is available for all schools to access although clearly related to

pupils with significant physical needs requiring specialist equipment.

1.2. All equipment must be requisitioned by therapists or PIMST.

1.3. A Headteacher’s or SENCO’s signature is required with each requisition.

1.4. The Service operated by Medequip from Priorswood in Taunton, now has

improved stock maintenance and recycling facilities.

1.5. A list of “specials” available for recycling can be viewed online or at the

store. Prior booking is required for visits to the store.

1.6. All therapy colleagues must check available recyclable stock before the

ordering of new items can be authorized.

1.7. There are regular paediatric iCES meetings between Health, Social Care

and Education Managers in order to authorise new equipment requests, and to promote efficient and effective use of available resources. All requests for new equipment will be held over until the next meeting following their receipt.

1.8. Meetings are held monthly at the iCES store and any colleague is

welcome to attend. Please contact the Physical Impairment and Medical

Support Team (PIMST) Team Leader or one of the Physiotherapy or OT

Managers to arrange this. Following the meetings individual letters with the outcome of the decision are sent to the prescriber, the school and PIMS Team Advisory Teacher. If there is an agreement to purchase the piece of equipment, the letter clarifies the responsibility of the school when receiving a piece of iCES equipment.

1.9. Medequip will phone the school the day before to confirm either a

morning or afternoon delivery/collection.

1.10. If a pupil moves or an item of equipment is no longer required, the

2 school’s Physiotherapist or OT should arrange for its collection via their

PIMS Advisory Teacher. Requests for collection should be made using the

iCES requisition form. Collected items will then be cleaned, bar-coded

and stored by Medequip and will be available for recycling.

1.11. If an OT/Physiotherapist has discharged a pupil but left a piece of

equipment in place with a pupil, the piece of equipment is left in situ for

the school to monitor. Should the school have a significant issue in

relation to the piece of equipment, such as at times of school transfer, the

school and/or PIMS Team need to re-refer to the therapist for more

advice.

1.12. Freestanding load-bearing equipment items which have been purchased

by JES or iCES, such as mobile hoists, hydraulic changing tables, physio

plinths, are bi-annually inspected by Medequip. (If so required under

LOLER Health and Safety Regulations).

1.13. Medequip will inform PIMS Team Leader when mobile hoists are 4 years and 6 months old. The Team leader will then arrange for the actuator to

be replaced and a service to be carried out.

1.14. Medequip will inform PIMS Team Leader when mobile hoists are 9 years and 6 months old. The Team leader will then arrange for the mobile hoist to be replaced.

1.15. Fixed hoists and changing tables, which have been funded by the Local

Authority, are now the responsibility of the school to service.

1.16. For the repair of equipment which has been purchased by JES or iCES,

whoever requisitioned the piece of equipment e.g. the Therapist or Advisory Teacher, will need to acquire a quote from the supplier for the repair, and then requisition the repair via the iCES requisition form process.

1.17. When one piece of equipment is transferring from one school to another

e.g. when a pupil is transferring schools, two requisition forms need to be

completed for the collection and the delivery. It is crucial that the requisitioner puts the barcode of each piece of equipment on each requisition form so that equipment does not go astray.

1.18. Medequip must be informed of all equipment manoeuvres between

establishments via the requisition form process, so that they can fulfil their

responsibilities regarding cleaning, servicing and Health and Safety.

1.19. The Quality Assurance Officer for iCES will inform the PIMS Team Leader of any medical device alerts, and the schools where the relevant

equipment is in place. The Team Leader will then inform the relevant 3 schools and Health and Safety Officer of the alert and the suggested

action.

1.20. It is the school’s responsibility to ensure that equipment is regularly serviced and maintained, and if a service or inspection is missed then school staff must contact either Medequip or South Western Aids directly as appropriate.

Medequip tel: 01823 259993 fax: 01823 259994

SW Aids tel: 01803 663457

2. What is Provided Under this Arrangement?

2.1 There is a minimum level of cost for any one item of £150. Items costing

less than this amount will need to be covered under school’s delegated

budgets. Additional attachments to a piece of equipment which is already in place may be requisitioned at a later date e.g. if the pupil grows.

2.2 The maximum of one height adjustable table is provided per school where

there is a pupil who requires it.

2.3 A request must promote access to educational provision, for example

specialist seating, height adjustable tables or mobile hoists

2.4 Specific personal care equipment is also provided. This includes

specialist toilet seats, changing tables, toileting slings, and physio plinths.

2.5 All equipment which is purchased by iCES is on loan to the school from

the provider.

2.6 It is the Headteacher's responsibility to ensure that all equipment

provided by iCES is included within a school's insurance

arrangements.

3. What is Not Covered by this Service?

3.1 Therapy items are not part of this Service. Education will not fund such

items, for example, standing frames, standing frame slings, therapy benches,

rolls, mats and ramps.

3.2 ICT equipment for use in schools is not part of this Service.

3.3 The Service cannot supply specialist seating for ambulant children with low muscle tone. Posture packs or other equipment may provide an acceptable alternative.

3.4 Equipment which has not been bought via PIMST and iCES (JES) process.

4. How to Access the Service

4.1 The Service is regulated through the Physical Impairment and Medical

Support Team. The equipment is only issued through a PIN number. The

Advisory Teachers in the PIMS Team hold PIN numbers.

4.2 All requests must be on an iCES requisition form accompanied by the

necessary additional information and should be sent to the appropriate

PIMS Advisory Teacher. See Requisition Guidance.

4.3 Following the Managers monthly meetings all order requests approved

will be authorised by the PIMS Team Leader in order to ensure that the

budget is not exceeded.

4.4 For items costing under £150 schools can purchase directly from

Medequip themselves. Contact the West Drayton office on tel:0208-750

1580.

4.5 For items costing £150 or over, all requests have to go through a

Therapist or PIMS Team Advisory Teacher as appropriate.

4.6 It is essential that all iCES requisition forms are signed by the

Headteacher or SENCo of the receiving school (an e-mail

acknowledgement is acceptable).

4.7 Requests for re-cycled equipment will be authorised as quickly as

possible by the PIMS Team Advisory Teacher or Team Leader and will not

be held over for the monthly meetings.

4.8 All equipment requests following the publication of this guidance

must be completed according to the requisition guidance.

4.9 The monthly Managers meetings which authorise equipment requests will

prioritise requests in the following way:

4.9.1 Health and Safety considerations.

4.9.2 Toiletting/changing equipment.

4.9.3 Seating.

4.9.4 Other equipment to promote curriculum access.

Please contact the PIMS Team Advisory Teacher in your local area base if you have any queries.

Yeovil Buckland House 01935 476130

Taunton Holway Centre 01823 334475

Bridgwater Chandos House 01278 446445

Wells Priory Medical Centre 01749 678500

© Selworthy School Physical Impairment and Medical Support Team Page 1 of 4

May 2010