Medication Policy

All Foster Carers should have written information from the County Council indicating when they are allowed to give consent for medical treatment.
Foster Carers have a right to a full description of the medical needs of the child.
Foster Carers will have a written health record for the child, which will be sent with the child as they move and a copy of the child’s Health Plan.
Foster Carers are to be given clear guidance about roles and responsibilities for consent to treatment.
Unless the child is of the appropriate age to consent to a health assessment being undertaken, their parent(s)/ guardians will be asked to sign the Consent to Health Assessment form, agreeing to the assessment being completed.
Children are entitled to seek medical treatment without the consent of their foster carers or social worker, age appropriate.
The child can choose to attend the Health Assessment alone or with their parent(s)/Carer.
Failure to obtain consent from the young person/ child’s ‘birth parents(s)’ will not be allowed to override their need for health care.
Where written information is supplied, this may be made available in an appropriate language or format if required.
Foster Carers are to receive basic training on health issues, with particular attention given to issues around Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infections.
Foster Carers will ensure that medication is stored and appropriately labelled in line with the County Councils policy.
All medication must be in a suitably labelled container as dispensed by the pharmacist.
Foster carers will complete the relevant documentation in line with the County Councils policy.
Details of medication are to be recorded on SW 145 (Prescribed Medication chart and SW146 Over the counter (Homely) medication chart.
If a mistake occurs, then this must be IMMEDIATELYreported to the child’s GP so as to prevent any harm to the young person.
All Foster Carers and members of their family can access immunisation against Hepatitis B through their GP.