Health Care Needs

Help for non-English speakers

If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact the school office on (03) 366 4322.

Purpose

To ensure that Jackson School provides appropriate support to students with health care needs.

Objective

To explain to Jackson School parents, carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students with health care needs at school.

Scope

This policy applies to:

• All staff, including casual relief staff and volunteers.

• All students who have been diagnosed with a health care need that may require support, monitoring or medication at school.  

Policy

This policy should be read with Jackson School First Aid, Administration of Medication, Anaphylaxis and Asthma policies.

A Student Health Support Plan must be completed for each student with an identified health care need who:

· needs medical or health-related support at school

· has a health care need or condition that may impact the student at school

· has a health care need or condition that may impact their engagement and participation in education.

A Student Health Support Plan is not required for a student:

· who has a diagnosed health condition but who does not need any medical or health-related supports or adjustments at school · with anaphylaxis or an allergy – refer to Anaphylaxis and Allergies about the requirements for those conditions

· with well-controlled asthma that does not need any individualised supervision or care as per their provided Asthma Action Plan – refer to Asthma

· with an Epilepsy Management Plan and Epilepsy Medication Management Plan – refer to Epilepsy and Seizures

Student health support planning

In order to provide appropriate support to students at Example School who need medical or health-related support at school, a Student Health Support Plan will be prepared by Sam brown in consultation with the student, their parents, carers and student’s treating health team.

Student Health Support plans help our school to assist students with:

· routine health care support needs, such as supervision or provision of medication

· personal care support needs, such as assistance with personal hygiene, continence care, eating and drinking, transfers and positioning, and use of health-related equipment

· emergency care needs, such as predictable emergency first aid associated with asthma, seizure or diabetes management.

[Note: Template health planning forms are available here: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/health-care-needs/resources]

Students with complex medical care needs, for example, tracheostomy care, seizure management or tube feeding, must have a Student Health Support Plan which provides for appropriate staff to undertake specific training to meet the student’s particular needs.

At enrolment or when a health care need is identified, parents/carers should provide accurate information about the student’s condition or health care needs, ideally documented by the student’s treating medical/health care practitioner on a Medical Advice Form (or relevant equivalent).

Jackson School may invite parents and carers to attend a Student Support Group meeting to discuss the contents of a student’s Health Support Plan and assistance that the student may need at school or during school activities. 

Where necessary, Jackson School may also request consent from parents and carers to consult with a student’s medical practitioners, to assist in preparing the plan and ensure that appropriate staff understand the student’s needs. Consultation with the student’s medical practitioner will not occur without parent/carer consent unless required or authorised by law. 

Student Health Support Plans will be reviewed:

• When updated information is received from the student’s medical practitioner.

• When the school, student or parents and carers have concerns with the support being provided to the student.

• If there are changes to the support being provided to the student, or 

• On an annual basis. 

Management of confidential medical information 

Confidential medical information provided to Jackson School to support a student will be: 

• Recorded on the student’s file.

• Shared with all relevant staff so that they are able to properly support students diagnosed with medical conditions and respond appropriately if necessary. 

Communication 

• Available publicly on our school’s website through the Jackson Policy Advisory Library in iNewsletter

• Included in staff induction processes and staff training

• Included in Staff Handbook

• Discussed at annual staff briefings/meetings 

• Included in transition and enrolment packs

• Hard copy available from school administration upon request

Policy Review and Approval