1. The school must be able to deal effectively with medical as well as other pupil problems acting as it does on behalf of parents. In this respect all staff have a "duty of care" towards pupils.
2. General Points:
The school does not have a full time school nurse and relies on staff generally to support pupils with medical needs. We employ a nursing assistant.
A confidential list of all pupils with known medical problems is circulated to all staff annually in September with amendments as and when necessary.
Staff should not dispense any sort of medication to pupils, but can assist a pupil to take medicine which has been prescribed by a doctor or where a parent has provided written consent and given details of the medicine, dosage and frequency.
Staff taking pupils out of school should check the medical list and check with pupils whether or not they have any particular medical needs.
It is expected in secondary school that generally pupils can take their own medication without supervision (for example, course of antibiotics or lotion). Supervision will be provided by Office Staff if deemed necessary by the parent, guardian or doctor.
Wherever possible, pupils should avoid taking medicines in school.
Secondary school pupils have a right to take their own decisions regarding medical treatment as long as they are deemed to be aware of all the consequences.
3. Responsibilities
Responsibilities of School:
Duty of Care.
To have procedures to deal with medical problems.
To ensure that pupils with medical problems are dealt with in a competent, sensible and caring manner.
To inform parents of problems where it is considered appropriate and where the pupil's consent has been given.
To have facilities, first aid resources and trained staff.
Responsibilities of Parents:
To inform the school of medical or health issues relating to their children about which the school should know.
To inform the school of medication being taken that could result in a medical problem or emergency at school.
To keep pupils at home if they are unwell and unfit to carry on school work.
To have a contact person in case of emergency during the school day.
Responsibilities of Class Teacher:
To send pupils who are unwell or who require medical treatment to the Nursing Assistant or School Office, arranging for the pupil to be escorted if necessary.
To summon assistance from the Nursing Assistant or School Office to deal with a medical problem where the pupil cannot be moved out.
Responsibilities of Nursing Assistant:
To take care of pupils who have been sent because they are unwell.
When necessary, to organise for pupils to be taken home or to a doctor.
To co-ordinate action when there is a medical emergency.
Where possible, to provide feedback to teacher involved.
Responsibilities of School Medical Co-ordinator: Mrs Bryce
To co-ordinate the flow of information on pupils with medical or health needs.
To draw up "Health Care Plans" where necessary.
To manage the use of the various Aberdeenshire and school forms used for medical information.
Staff with First Aid Qualifications
Advanced
M. Shirran
A. Milne
F. Daniel
Basic
H. Bryce
A. Mair
A. McGillivray
G. Robertson
J. Sievwright
P. Steele
S. Wilson
E. Campbell
CHILD ABUSE
Recent publicity has alerted all in society to the prevalence of child abuse. Schools, because of their regular contact with children, have been identified as situations where such practices have frequently come to light. This can happen either through staff observing unusual behaviour or by a child taking a teacher into his/her confidence. In both situations teachers have a responsibility to the child to act immediately.
Any member of staff in such a position should at the earliest opportunity contact the appropriate PT Guidance, and/or Mrs Bryce who has been designated SMT member responsible for co-ordinating action on child abuse within Mintlaw Academy. The PT Guidance should inform Mrs Bryce straightaway. Further instructions will then be given to the teacher concerned.
Aberdeenshire have published a booklet outlining procedures for suspected child abuse. This can be consulted in either the Guidance or the Assistant Rectors' rooms. In this publication the following are listed as possible symptoms of child abuse.
1. "Medically-Alerting" Signs
A. Injuries or physical maltreatment - 'non accidental' bruises - often found on soft tissues.
Characteristic injuries
Bleeding from fraenulum tear - lip torn from alveolar margins of the gum.
'Finger-grip' bruising and scratching of the face and neck and upper arms.
Subdural haematoma: from infant 'shaking'.
Retinal haemorrhages
Bruised ear with or without associated haematoma.
Disproportionate or repetitive bruising, especially if multiple sites are not easily explained by one accident.
Repetitive fractures. Unless resulting from obvious accidental trauma eg. motor vehicle accident, all fractures in children under 2 years should be regarded with suspicion, especially those of skull, femur or ribs.
Bizarre mutilations: bites, circular burns, multiple "pinch" bruises, scratches.
Unusual bruise marks or weals, possibly caused by beating instruments eg. belt, rope, wire.
Old, healed lesions - burns, lacerations.
Evidence of deliberate, unauthorised administration of drugs or toxic substances.
B. General evidence of neglect or lack of care and supervision.
Repeated burns and scalds.
Repeated accidental ingestions/poisonings.
Infants with repeated skin infections and severe napkin rashes; evidence of general lack of hygiene in the care of infants eg. infrequent napkin changes; dirty, unwashed clothing.
Failure to gain weight ("failure to thrive"); dehydration in infants; excessive hunger in older children.
Unresponsiveness, age-related apathy.
2. "Socially-Alerting" Signs
These might be as obvious as children being left unattended but other forms are more difficult to define. They might include deviations from normal care, both physical and emotional; deterioration in standards of care.
Individual signs may not be significant in themselves but clusters of physical and emotional signs inconsistent with normal development should give cause for concern.
A. Emotional neglect with or without physical abuse
Undue fearfulness towards adults ('frozen awareness' or watchfulness) - loss of self-esteem.
Inappropriate clinging behaviour.
Unusual apathy or listlessness.
Irritability; unhappiness; unreasonable crying, overeaction to mistakes.
Hyperactivity or repetitive motor activity in class eg. "tics", jumpiness.
Drowsiness, possibly from lack of sleep.
Deterioration in school work.
Self-harm or anti-social behaviour.
B. Parental reactions and interactions
Reluctance to discuss injuries or ask questions about them.
Inconsistencies in explanation; evasiveness and contradictions.
Inappropriate hostility towards staff.
Refusal to allow home visits from agency staff.
Lack of "touching" or eye contact with the child.
Severe marital or environmental stresses, alcoholism, violence within the family.
Failure or delay in seeking medical care for illness or injury; non-compliance with treatment offered.
C. Parental Background
Parents or carers who were themselves abused as children.
Parents or carers with a history of confirmed psychotic or psychopathic illness.
However, staff should note that these symptoms must not be taken in isolation, many are a natural part of adolescence. Concern may arise if a number of these signs are evident for no obvious reason.
DRUG/SOLVENT ABUSE
As part of his/her duties as a classroom teacher, members of staff are expected to get to know the pupils well and monitor the progress of each individual. On occasions this may involve an awareness of social problems. This can occur either by general observation of the pupil or by comments made by pupils in the course of classwork. To ignore such situations could lead to more serious problems later on. Drug and solvent abuse is a problem in our contemporary society and the Mintlaw area is no different to most. Accordingly the following information booklets have been issued to staff:
A Parents' Guide to Solvent Abuse
A Parents' Guide to Drug Abuse
Principal Teachers also have additional leaflets. Staff should be familiar with these and particularly the lists of symptoms.
Should any member of staff have concerns regarding an individual pupil they should, at the earliest opportunity, discuss the matter with the appropriate PT Guidance or the Depute responsible for that pupil`s year group. The finding of any suspicious item must be reported immediately to a member of the Senior Management Team.
