School safeguarding issue

[Obladeeobladaa]

Posting for a friend...

Child A with no medical needs was given prescription meds (penicillin) given to school for Child B in a totally different class. Child A alerted Parent A to situation, school had no idea of the error.

School keen to sweep under carpet. Where to go from here?

It’s a huge deal. As PP have said penicillin allergy is really common and potentially fatal. My child’s nursery was given a horrible time by Ofsted about medications after an issue was reported anonymously. At that wasn’t even a drug error as such. They were downgraded and had extra inspections. I would be tempted to do that. But usually after headteacher, the next person to report to is Governors.

There should be a form completed and name on the meds.

The school should have a policy (on their website normally) about giving medication.

A head teacher should be taking this error seriously and investigating what has gone on. At the least there should be a robust look at the policy to see if it is fit for purpose and also the staff training to ensure they follow policy.

I would be unhappy if this happened in the school where I govern and at the next opportunity/governor meeting we were not made aware of this. - that might take up to a term to come around but I would expect the HT to present the facts and what they have done to ensure it never happens again. (That should all happen whether a parent complains or not).

I honestly cannot see how this has happened. We administer meds. They have to be in the original bottle with the child’s name label on it. The parent has to complete a form. Penicillin would be stored in the fridge. The person responsible for meds (in our case a named 1sr aided) would then administer the meds in the school office with mother member of staff present. They then sign the sheet to say it’s been given.
I am bemused as to how the meds were given to a completely different child, unless there are 2 children with exactly the same name in the school that the 1st aided and office staff don’t know about.

@GreyhoundG1rl Schools are allowed to administer prescribed medicine, as long as all the correct paperwork is in place. We can't give over the counter medicine, it must be prescribed. We can use plasters but we buy the hypoallergenic ones anyway.

@Shakirasma

they don't even give the kids plasters in case of allergies

Again, just not true. School apply plasters when necessary

Again, I've had children at various different schools (different London boroughs), and this was common policy. I accept it's not entirely universal, but it seems ubiquitous here.

There was a thread a few months ago with a parent incandescent because school wouldn’t give antibiotics to her daughter. This is why schools increasingly won’t do it.

That said, that’s a pretty big error and definitely needs properly addressing - apart from anything else to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Their procedures simply should not have allowed this to happen. I’d follow the schools official complaint procedure, up to governors if necessary, and also report to local authority.

Why did the 5yo randomly ask for medicine? This seems like a story that doesn't add up.

Thanks all, will pass feedback on. Child A is fine but Parent A really upset with how has been dealt with, totally brushed under schools carpet by head...

@Hercisback they did not ask for, were taken out of class room to be given it by office. I do t know any child of that age who would question. The actions of teachers in that scenario.

This is a situation where a compmaint does need to be made to ensure it doesnt happen again. So i think starting with the complaints procedure and flowing that is best. Id also see if there is an administering medicines policy /procedure - it might be part of Supporting Children with Medical Conditions or First Aid. It woukd also be worth askinv if anyone has attended an administerng medicines safely course recently.
Mistakes happen but they are less likely with robust procedures in place.

@MildredPuppy exactly that. Mistakes happen but she is keen to ensure cannot happen again (with worse consequences)

That's a huge issue, and should be reported to the local authority and board of governors. If a child was allergic, it could have been a fatal mistake.

Dd was given another kids antibiotics, thankfully they were the same antibiotics but as soon as school realised they called me, and the other parent. It was escalated to the governors and they have out new policies in place.

Absolutely not the point of the thread, but a true penicillin allergy is rare. For example, see here and here.

All I'm saying is I can see how it could have potentially happened if the initial parent was not explicitly clear when handing over the medication

Absolutely incorrect. Schools do administer medication to children when the parent has signed a medication form in line with the schools policy. The medication would be labelled with the child’s name and parent signed explicit instruction kept with it. Schools also keep a register of allergies and do put plasters on children.

It's as much how the school dealt with it as the actual error.

Mistakes happen. This one could have had horrific consequences.

What school should have done (I'm a chair of Govs) is:

1. Apologised to parent
2. Asked parent A to call 111 or GP to seek medical advice.
3. Informed Parent B that child had missed a dose.
4. Contacted LADO and sought advice - who is this reportable to?
5. Immediately checked procedures and clarified how the mistake was made and put emergency measures in pending a full review of procedures.

Make sure child A is ok with another check in and to tell them that it's been reported and they have got to the bottom of how it's happened and changed things so it won't happen again.

This is a dreadful mistake.
The key thing now is for the Head to find out what happened and to keep both parents in the loop of progress, up to point where cannot (eg disciplinary). Even if processes are followed in terms of the paperwork, this looks to be a case of mistaken identity when it got to the child.
First step in complaints policy for this is the Head. Then if concern remains, it is the next stage.
It does not need to go beyond the school, if it was fully investigated. Some poor soul, likely a member of the support staff, has made an error and grabbed the wrong child.
The school would be raising this under their own processes. The school needs to demonstrate it has actioned changes to be made to ensure this does not happen again.

@Onehotmess the media’s correctly labelled, the forms signed correctly.... all in Child B (very different name, very different class)

The wrong child was called to have the medicine, the child was too young to know otherwise and say no.

Yeah this is awful. I wouldn't want it swept under the carpet. They should have protocols in place to prevent this happening, and if there is an error (we are all human after all) the school should have alerted the parents immediately. I'm assuming the school didn't realise the error until parent informed them?

Our school gives calpol, prescription meds, plasters and applies suncream - we sign a form at the beginning of the year to say they can (or can't).

@Obladeeobladaa

Thanks all, will pass feedback on. Child A is fine but Parent A really upset with how has been dealt with, totally brushed under schools carpet by head...

Despite any appearances, the Head is likely frantically finding out what happened. No sleep this weekend for Head and perpetrator. It seems any communication to this effect (actions is place) is missing.

I think it's a huge fuck up, and could've been incredibly serious. But it seems no major harm was done.

So

I don't think it's safeguarding. And I don't think its reportable to lado

I think its a very unfortunate cock up, huge relief no ill effects. Tighten up procedures.

I'm a deputy dsl.

@CommanderBurnham and @Birminghambloke
Crossed posts. Both really helpful. Head has been atrocious and looked to close out same day with no investigation. Thanks for constructive feedback re what steps should be taken

@RogueMnerHidesUnderABigHat thanks for reply. Agree no actual harm done but what do you feel is best way forward then?

I'd say next step is to look at the complaints procedure and take it from there.