giving medicine

[SenSationsMad]

Quick question regarding asking for permission to give medicine.

Do you ask advice/permission EVERY time your LO needs Calpol/Tixilix/ Cream e.g sudacream for dry spots????

I find this exhausting with two little ones, please tell me my SW is overly cautions, and as long as I've had permission to use them once - and that they don't have allergies, that I'm ok to use my own judgement thereafter

I don't think so, just seen the black nurse last week and didn't need permission for over the counter stuff.

And if. Medicine has been prescribed by the gp or hospital than we don't need to ask the parent but do need to inform the sw with what they have been given and the dosage

Hope that helps

I mean lack nurse

thanks maypole. The advice I've been given by another SW is different to what this one is advising you see....

I would ask the nurse in your area

If your still a bit worried

OP As far as I am aware if the medication has been prescribed by the child's doctor you do not need permission to administer.

You are not allowwed to administer any medication that has not been prescribed for the child.

In the case of creams for nappy rash etc any cream is allowed provided it does not contain lanolin. (As there are an increasing number of children being diagnosed with an allergy to lanolin).

Okat, thanks for posting. Will get in touch with LAC nurse.

There should be a section in the child's file so you can keep an accurate record of all medicines and creams you use for the child. the child's SW can then check the log.

If parental responsibilty is shared between BP and LA then parent's normally sign for medicines to be given. This includes prescribed and any that can be bought over the counter like calpol.

you can not give over the counter meds without permission.
you can request that mum signs a statement giving you permission to give calpol etc but this has to be signed by parents, social worker and yourself.

i recently spent hours and hours trying to get permission to give calpol to my lo, i got so frystrated with it that i insisted i had the form written up and signed so i would never have to watch lo go through pain again and be so helpless.

prescription meds are fine but over the counter like calpol, or tixylix etc you MUST have permission.

We were told by the lac nurse we are legally allowed to give cal pole last week.

All la and if a have different guidelines

we were told we legally couldnt give it without permission!

i think you are right i think all LA'S are different but surely the law should be the same regardless of what la you foster for?

its like fotering has said above if pr is shared by bp and la then you have to have permission.

how odd though.
i wonder why one says one thing and another says another.

ooh fostering children can be very confusing cant it.
i wish there was a national agrrement on things. most things actually lol!

A national agreement - yes that's exactly waht is needed. Did you look at the fostering charter yet, we should add that? Then when foster carers give each other advice it would be within the law (which must be consistent already) and LA or SW would all work from the same rule book.

e.g. why are some foster carers allowed to use a computer to write up logs but others have to hand write, then some can email, others have to print off for signature. It's ridiculous.

The forms that I hold within the child's care plan provide permission from the birth parents to administer calpol etc which you would not be able to survive without.

I think this is a lesson for all of us here.. and not to take the word of another foster carer - as each LA or IFA could well be different.

Today I attended a CWDC support group meeting where we covered giving medicine. I asked for full clarification and their stance was that we as carers could use our common sense regarding bought medicines (eg calpol), anything from the doctor fine too - its just when you get onto the bigger things you need permission from everybody & his dog.

If unsure in any way shape or form, get it in writing from your SSW !!

p99gmb i so agree with you and the only out come is the childs care is compermised.

Only medicines prescribed by GP can be given under our LA.

But isn?t the CWDC supposed to represent a ?standard? across all LA/IFA carers? Something that we ALL have to do and adhere to?

CWDC standard 3 covers ?Safe Caring?

Section 3 E: Know what procedures to follow in relation to medication and healthcare procedures including what consent is required?

Questions:

Which of the following do you need consent for and who would be involved in giving consent?
a) Taking a child to the GP
b) Administering medicines
c) Vaccinations/inoculations
d) Routine operations
e) Emergency operations
f) Contraception
g) Dental treatment
h) Body piercing

Answers:

a) Don?t need specific consent. General consent is given under LAC documentation
b) Over counter: as above.
Prescribed medication e.g. antibiotics: as above. Other medicines such as Ritalin needs consent from the CCSW
c) Consent of the CCSW
d) Consent of the CCSW ? in the first instance ? they then must inform their performance manager or Head of Services
e) Foster carer can give consent for operations if life threatening. Otherwise, Carers should inform and gain agreement from the CCSW, EDT.
f) Consent from CCSW
g) Dental checkups ? no consent is required. Treatment requires consent from the CCSW.
h) Consent is required from CCSW dependant on age of the LAC.

So if the CWDC say this, then surely this is what we ALL should be working to?I know I do.

ahh.. but it also depends on who has PR ...

but also, I thought that the standards where that you KNEW & UNDERSTOOD them as each LA can have its own policy on certain things - its not yet a 'universal' policy.

I agree it would be great and much simpler if it was, but it certainly isn't and is dangerous to quote something just because you are allowed or not allowed to do something.

You are responsible to your LA/IFA and you must abide by their rules/policies - I would hate for anyone (me included!!) to do something that they shouldn't have done just because it was stated on mumsnet. I just think we have to be careful and read our own handbooks.

p99

Quite.

When i was fostering for LA we were not allowed to sign consent for anything - even school trips, school photographs etc

No way on this earth would I administer medication to a child that had not been prescribed by thier own GP. If anything happened to the child as a result of me giving over the counter medicine (even calpol) THE BUCK STOPS HERE!

I agree I would not give medicine to a foster child unless it has his name on the label and been prescribed by a doctor. Too risky!