UNISONSchool Support Staff Briefing

Statutory Guidance - Supporting Pupils withMedical Conditions

UNISON cautiously welcomes the introduction of the new guidance to be implemented in September 2014 with a review in 2015.

We have campaigned long and hard to address the inconsistencies of dealing with medication, which has to date left both pupils and support staff vulnerable.

We welcome this clearer, more consistent statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions. This will enable all children to be fully included in every aspect of school life.

Children need to have individual healthcare plans andSupport Staff, including Teachers, should be fully trained in the need to carry out complex procedures, to fully understand the safety procedures associated with medication.

It is important for schools to understand what is required especially the needs of Support Staff from being able to deliver the healthcare with training as stipulated in the plans, to not being willing to undertake the role.

It is important Branches and Stewards work with schools to ensure that the Statutory Guidance is implemented safely and smoothly.

Staff taking on these duties should be properly rewarded for agreeing voluntarily to taking on any additonal responsibilities.

The main highlights of the Statutory Guidance:

Key Points for Governors –

  • Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on governing bodies of maintained schools, proprietors of academies and management committees of PRU’s to make arrangements for supporting pupils at their school with medical conditions.
  • Governing bodies must ensure that arrangements are in place in schools to support pupils at school with medical conditions.
  • Governing bodies should ensure that school leaders must consult health and social care professionals, pupils and parents to ensure that the needs of children with medical conditions are effectively supported.
  • The statutory guidance is to assist governing bodies to meet their legal responsibilities.
  • Children with disabilities - their governing bodies mustcomply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010.
  • Governing bodies are legally responsible and accountible for fulfilling their statutory duty.

Schools Policy

  • It is essential that a named person has overall responsibility for policy implementation including risk assessments for all school visits.
  • Governors must ensure they develop a policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions.
  • Risk assessments for school visits must be in place.

Individual Healthcare Plans

  • Healthcare Plans should be produced with the agreement of professionals and the parents.
  • If consensus cannot be reached the headteacher is best placed to take a final view.
  • When producing healthcare plans, governors will provide details of the training needs, expectations of roles, confirmation of proficiency to provide support for the child’s medical condition from a healthcare professional.
  • Arrangements for written permission from parents and the Headteacher for medication to be administered by a member of staff, or self administered by the pupil during school hours.
  • Separate arrangements for trips or other activities outside work require risk assessments.

Rules and Responsibilities

  • Governors must ensure a school policy identifies the role and responsibilities of all those involved with supporting medical conditions.
  • The support for a child with a medical condition during school hours is not the sole responsibility of one person.
  • Sufficient staff must have received suitable training and are competent before they take on responsibility to support children with medical conditions.
  • Headteachers have the overall responsibility for healthcare plans and that school staff are appropriately insured, and that staff aware that they are insured to support pupils in this way.
  • Any member of schoolstaff may be asked to provide support to pupils with medical conditions, including the administering of medicines, although they cannot berequired to do so.
  • All schools should have access to the nursing services. They are responsible for notifying the school when a child has been identified as having a medical condition.

Staff Training and Support

  • Governing bodies must ensure that the schools policy sets out clearly how staff willbe supported in carrying out their role to support pupils with medical conditions and how this will be reviewed by Governors. This should specify how training needs are assessed and how and by whom training will be commissioned and provided.
  • Schools policy should be clear that any member of school staff providing support to a pupil with medical needs should have received suitable training.
  • Healthcare professionals should lead on identifying and agreeing with the school the type and level of training required.
  • Staff mustnot give prescription medicines or undertake healthcare procedures without appropriate training.
  • A First Aid Certificate doesnot constitute appropriate training in supporting children with medical conditions.

Emergency Procedures

  • Governing bodies should ensure that the schools policy sets out what should happen in an emergency situation.

Liability and Indemnity

  • It is vital that the school policy sets out the details of the schools insurance arrangements which cover staff providing support to pupils with medical conditions. Insurance policies should be accessible to staff who are providing such support.