First aid and medication

You should be clear about what decisions you can make about giving consent for medical treatment and this will be recorded in the child's Placement Plan.

You should have a fully equipped first aid box at home and in each vehicle you use to carry children. You should also attend health and safety training.

First aid boxes should be kept in a safe accessible place, not within reach of small children.

The first aid box may be looked at in an unannounced visit.

First aid

If a child is at risk or requires first aid, you should apply first aid if it is safe to do so, and contact your fostering social worker as soon as possible. You must not delay the process of getting medical help.

You should always assess the situation and in a medical emergency, send for medical help and an ambulance or the police if this is needed.

Before help arrives:

• do not move the person other than to remove them from immediate danger or place them into the recovery position
• try to find out what has happened
• collect any drugs or spillages (for example vomit) for analysis
• do not try and make them vomit
• observe the child/young person; keep them calm, warm and quiet.

If the person is unconscious:

• ensure they can breathe and place them in the recovery position
• do not move them if they are likely to have spinal or other serious injury which may not be obvious
• do not give anything by mouth
• do not attempt to make them sit or stand
• do not leave them on their own.

When medical help arrives, pass on any information available, including samples of vomit and any drugs.

If a child who is placed with you has particular health needs, the child’s social worker should provide information and advice on specialist advisory or support groups.

You must have guidance on giving prescribed drugs for children and advice on if you can give drugs not on prescription.

You are expected to update the child's record when you administer any medication or when there has been a medical incident for example a hospital admission, consultant or doctors appointments.

If you accept responsibility to give medicines (for example by injections, administering rectal medication or tube feeding), the following criteria should be met:

• The child’s parent has given written consent
• You are instructed in the technique by a qualified nurse or doctor who is satisfied that you are competent to do it
• You are aware of any possible reactions to the medication and the necessary steps to correct such an occurrence.

Any health-related issues should always be discussed in supervision meetings and recorded.

You will receive training in relation to the management and administration of medication.