Supporting Students with Complex Care Needs Policy (Medical Assistance)

Note: For administration of medications to students whilst attending school or school-based activities, in accordance with the advice of the student’s prescribing health practitioner, or as an emergency first aid response, please refer to the SCS Administering of Medication Procedures.  

For students with complex health care support needs who require specialised medical assistance at school, please adhere to the following:  

4.1   Where a student has a specific medical condition that requires specialised medical assistance at school, their parents or carers advise the Principal in writing at enrolment, or as soon as the requirement for specialised medical assistance becomes known. 

4.2   To ensure the school can support the student, parents or carers must provide the Principal with all necessary and relevant information regarding specialised medical assistance and agree to update this information as required. 

4.3   When notified of a complex medical condition by the parents or carers, the Principal or delegate contacts the SCS Diverse Learning Team and the Workplace Health and Safety Team for assistance. When assessing the student’s needs, the Principal ensures close collaboration with the student, their parents or carers, and healthcare professionals, so that appropriate considerations can be made regarding the student’s participation at school and to minimise, wherever possible, any interruption to the student’s education. Considerations may include disclosing information to relevant staff and students. 

4.4   The Principal, or their delegate, conducts a risk assessment (environmental and/or safety) with the assistance of the SCS Diverse Learning Team and the Workplace Health and Safety Team to determine the supports required to accommodate the student’s needs.  

4.5   The risk assessment process should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the changing health needs of the child or young person. Considerations should include: 

• How medication will be administered in alignment with the  Administering of Medication Procedures.
• The physical environment, including appropriate arrangements to support student privacy when medical assistance is required
• Any necessary 1:1 physical interaction between staff and students 
• Ensuring students are aware of their rights and understand how to raise a concern or make a complaint.

4.6    Parents or carers must provide all required equipment in good working order and all medication and consumables required for the student’s care. Medication and consumables must not be out of date and should be securely stored and appropriately labelled with directions from the prescribing doctor. 

4.7   A Health Care and Emergency Care/Response Plan  is to be completed. The plan addresses the student’s needs while at school, including participation in school activities. The plan is to be retained at school and: 

• Is a comprehensive individual plan developed by the Principal and school leadership team in consultation with parents or carers, SCS staff, the student (where practicable) and the student’s treating medical/health care professionals
• Takes into account the student’s full range of learning support
• Considers the student’s cultural needs
• Includes information about agreed responsibilities of those involved in the student’s support, including non-invasive procedures that do not require specialised assistance.

4.8    Appropriately trained school support staff may perform non-invasive health care procedures in line with the Health Care and Emergency Care/Response Plan. Non-invasive procedures include first aid that does not require any incision/insertion into the body or the removal of tissue. Non-invasive procedures also include dispensing medication or supervision of a student who self-administers medication.