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