Statement of intent

ACE is committed to providing emergency first aid provision in order to deal with accidents and incidents affecting staff, pupils and visitors. The arrangements within this policy are based on the results of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment carried out by the Pupil Referral Unit in regard to all staff, pupils and visitors.

The Pupil Referral Unit will take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all staff, pupils and visitors.

This policy aims to:

• Ensure that the Pupil Referral Unit has adequate, safe and effective first aid provision for every pupil, member of staff and visitor to be well looked after in the event of any illness, accident or injury, no matter how major or minor.
• Ensure that staff and pupils are aware of the procedures in the event of any illness, accident or injury.
• Ensure that medicines are only administered at the Pupil Referral Unit when express permission has been granted for this.
• Ensure that all medicines are appropriately stored.
• Promote effective infection control.

Nothing in this policy will affect the ability of any person to contact the emergency services in the event of a medical emergency. For the avoidance of doubt, staff should dial 999 in the event of a medical emergency before implementing the terms of this policy and make clear arrangements for liaison with ambulance services on the Pupil Referral Unit site.

 

Legal framework

This policy has due regard to legislation and statutory guidance, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981
• The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013
• DfE (2015) ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’
• DfE (2019) ‘Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)’
• DfE (2021) ‘Statutory framework for the early years’ foundation stage’
• DfE (2022) ‘First aid in schools, early years and further education’

The policy is implemented in conjunction with the following Pupil Referral Unit policies:

• Health and Safety Policy
• Administering Medication Policy
• Infection Control Policy
• Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy
• Records Management Policy
• Allergen and Anaphylaxis Policy
• Behaviour Policy
• Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy
• Lone Working Policy
• Educational Visits and Day Trips Policy
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Policy
• Staff Wellbeing Policy

Roles and responsibilities

The Management Committee is responsible for:

• The overarching development and implementation of this policy and all corresponding procedures.
• Ensuring that the relevant risk assessments, and assessments of the first aid needs of the Pupil Referral Unit specifically, have been conducted.
• Ensuring that there is a sufficient number of appointed first aiders within the Pupil Referral Unit based upon these assessments.
• Ensuring that there are procedures and arrangements in place for first aid during off-site or out-of-hours activities, e.g. educational visits or parents’ evenings.
• Ensuring that insurance arrangements provide full cover for any potential claims arising from actions of staff acting within the scope of their employment.
• Ensuring that appropriate and sufficient first aid training is provided for staff, and ensuring that processes are in place to validate that staff who have undertaken training have sufficient understanding, confidence and expertise in carrying out first aid duties.
• Ensuring that adequate equipment and facilities are provided for the Pupil Referral Unit site.
• Ensuring that first aid provision for staff does not fall below the required standard and that provision for pupils and others complies with the relevant legislation and guidance.
• Ensuring that an ‘appointed person’ is selected from amongst staff to take the lead in first aid arrangements and procedures for the Pupil Referral Unit.

The Headteacher is responsible for:

• The development and implementation of this policy and its related procedures.
• Ensuring that all staff and parents are made aware of the Pupil Referral Unit’s policy and arrangements regarding first aid.
• Ensuring that all staff are aware of the locations of first aid equipment and how it can be accessed, particularly in the case of an emergency.
• Ensuring that all pupils and staff are aware of the identities of the Pupil Referral Unit first aiders and how to contact them if necessary.

Staff are responsible for:

• Ensuring that they have sufficient awareness of this policy and the outlined procedures, including making sure that they know who to contact in the event of any illness, accident or injury.
• Securing the welfare of the pupils at the Pupil Referral Unit.
• Making pupils aware of the procedures to follow in the event of illness, accident or injury.

First aid staff are responsible for:

• Completing and renewing training as dictated by the Management Committee.
• Ensuring that they are comfortable and confident in administering first aid.
• Ensuring that they are fully aware of the content of this policy and any procedures for administering first aid, including emergency procedures.
• Keeping up to date with government guidance relating to first aid in Pupil Referral Units.

ACE must have at least one ‘appointed person’ to oversee first aid provision. The appointed person is not a first aider, and must not conduct any first aid for which they have not been trained. The appointed person should, however, be trained in emergency procedures as outlined below.

The appointed person is responsible for:

• Overseeing the Pupil Referral Unit’s first-aid arrangements.
• Taking charge when someone is injured or becomes ill.
• Looking after the first-aid equipment, e.g. restocking the first aid container.
• Ensuring that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when appropriate.
• Partaking in emergency first aid training, and refresher training where appropriate, to ensure they have knowledge of:
  • What to do in an emergency.
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • First aid for the unconscious casualty.
  • First aid for the wounded or bleeding.
  • Maintaining injury and illness records as required.

First aid provision

The Pupil Referral Unit will routinely re-evaluate its first aid arrangements, at least annually, to ensure that these arrangements continue to be appropriate for hazards and risks on the Pupil Referral Unit premises, the size of the Pupil Referral Unit, the needs of any vulnerable individuals onsite, and the nature and distribution of pupils and staff throughout the Pupil Referral Unit.

The Pupil Referral Unit will have suitably stocked first aid boxes in line with the assessment of needs. Where there is no special risk identified in the assessment of needs, the Pupil Referral Unit will maintain the following minimum provision of first aid items:

• A leaflet giving general advice on first aid
• 20 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings, of assorted sizes
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 2 individually wrapped triangular bandages, preferably sterile
• 6 safety pins
• 6 medium-sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 2 large-sized individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings
• 3 pairs of disposable gloves

All first aid containers will be identified by a white cross on a green background.

The appointed person will routinely examine the contents of first aid boxes, including any mobile first aid boxes for offsite use – these will be frequently checked and restocked as soon as possible after use. Items will be safely discarded after the expiry date has passed.

First aid boxes are in the following areas:

• Central Services Team office
• In every classroom
• Gymnasium
• Minibuses

4. First aiders

The main duties of first aiders will be to administer immediate first aid to pupils, staff or visitors, and to ensure that an ambulance or other professional medical help is called when necessary.

The Pupil Referral Unit will ensure that all first aiders hold a valid certificate of competence, issued by a HSE-approved organisation, and that refresher training and retesting of competence is arranged for first aiders within the Pupil Referral Unit before certificates expire.

The Pupil Referral Unit will be mindful that many standard first aid at work training courses do not include resuscitation procedures for children, and will consequently ensure that appropriate training is secured for first-aid personnel where this has not already been obtained.

First aiders will ensure that their first aid certificates are kept up-to-date through liaison with the Assistant Business Manager.

Each classroom’s first aiders will be responsible for ensuring all first aid kits are properly stocked and maintained. The first aid appointed person will be responsible for maintaining supplies.

First aid notices will be clearly displayed throughout the Pupil Referral Unit with information on the names and locations of first aiders to ensure that pupils and staff know who they must contact in the event of illness or injury.

The current first aid appointed person(s) are:

Name	Location	Date of first aid qualification
R. Baptiste	Central Services Office	07/01/2020
S. Ludford	DT Room – Ground Floor	07/01/2020
L. Earley	Muit Skills Room – 2nd Floor	07/01/2020
S. Partington	Muit Skills Room – 2nd Floor	07/01/2020
L. Norvill	Homeskills – 1st Floor	07/01/2020
T. Devin	R19 Office – 2nd Floor	07/01/2020
L. Yearwood	BSA – Ground Floor	07/01/2020
O. Heron	Sports Hall – Lower Ground	07/01/2020
N. Vaughan	Sport Hall – Lower Ground	07/01/2020

The Pupil Referral Unit will ensure that there is always a sufficient number of first-aid personnel available on site at all times to provide adequate cover to all areas of the Pupil Referral Unit.

All staff members will be made aware that agreeing to become a first aider for the Pupil Referral Unit is strictly on a voluntary basis and that they should never feel pressured to take on this role.

When selecting first aiders, the Pupil Referral Unit will follow the criteria laid out in government guidance, considering the individual’s:

• Reliability and communication skills.
• Aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills.
• Ability to cope with stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures.
• Availability to respond immediately to an emergency.

The Pupil Referral Unit will ensure that first aid training courses cover mental health in order to help them recognise the warning signs of mental ill health and to help them develop the skills required to approach and support someone, while keeping themselves safe. Pupils will be supported in accordance with ACE’s Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Policy and Staff Wellbeing Policy.

 

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

The Pupil Referral Unit has procured an AED through the NHS Supply Chain, which is located in the Central Services Team Unit office.

Where the use of the AED is required, individuals will follow the step-by-step instructions displayed on the device. A general awareness briefing session, to promote the use of AEDs, will be provided to staff on an annual basis, and usually during the first INSET session of the academic year. Use of the AED will be promoted to pupils during PSHE lessons.

 

Accommodation

The Pupil Referral Unit’s first aid room will be suitable to use as and when it is needed, and any additional medical accommodation will be available in accordance with the Pupil Referral Unit’s first aid needs assessment.

The first aid room will be used to enable the medical examination and treatment of pupils and for the short-term care of sick or injured pupils. The first aid room includes a wash basin and is situated near a toilet.

The first aid room will not be used for teaching purposes.

The first aid room will:

• Be large enough to hold an examination or medical couch.
• Have washable surfaces and adequate heating, ventilation and lighting.
• Be kept clean, tidy, accessible and available for use at all times when employees are at work.
• Have a sink with hot and cold running water.
• Be positioned as near as possible to a point of access for transport to hospital.
• Display a notice on the door which advises the names, locations and, if appropriate, the contact details of first aiders.

 

Emergency procedures

If an incident, illness or injury occurs, the member of staff in charge will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate course of action, which may involve calling for an ambulance immediately or calling for a first aider.

If called, a first aider will assess the situation and take charge of first aider administration. If the first aider does not consider that they can adequately deal with the presenting condition by the administration of first aid, then they will arrange for the injured person to access appropriate medical treatment without delay.

Where an initial assessment by the first aider indicates a moderate to serious injury has been sustained, or the individual has become seriously unwell, a responding staff member will call 999 immediately.

Where necessary, a trained staff member will administer emergency help and first aid to all injured persons. The purpose of this is to keep the victim alive and, if possible, comfortable, before professional medical help arrives. In some situations, immediate action can prevent the accident from becoming increasingly serious, or from involving more victims.

Where the seriously injured or unwell individual is a pupil, the following process will be followed:

• A responding staff member calls 999 immediately and follows the instructions of the operator – this may include the administering of emergency first aid.
• Where an ambulance is required, a staff member accompanies the pupil in the ambulance and calls the pupil’s parent as soon as possible to inform them of the course of action taken. The staff member remains with the pupil at the hospital until a parent arrives.
• Where an ambulance is not required, but medical attention is needed, the pupil is taken to a hospital or doctor in a staff car, accompanied by at least two staff members – one to drive the car, and one who is a first aider, to sit with the pupil in the back seat and attend to their medical needs. The pupil’s parent is called as soon as possible to inform them that this course of action has been taken, and at least one of the staff members remains with the pupil at the hospital or doctor’s office until a parent arrives.
• The Pupil Referral Unit will ensure that no further injury can result from any incidents that occur, either by making the scene of the incident safe, or, if they are fit to be moved, by removing injured persons from the scene.
• Responding staff members will see to any pupils who may have witnessed the incident or its aftermath and who may be worried or traumatised, despite not being directly involved. These pupils will be escorted from the scene of the incident and comforted. Younger or more vulnerable pupils may need parental support to be called immediately.

Once the above action has been taken, details of the incident will be reported promptly to:

• The Headteacher.
• The parents of the victim(s).

 

Reporting accidents and record keeping

In the event of incident or injury to a pupil, a parent will be informed as soon as practicable. In the event of a serious injury or an incident requiring emergency medical treatment, the pupil’s class teacher will telephone the pupil’s parent as soon as possible. Parents will be informed in writing of any injury to the head, whether minor or major, and be given guidance on the action to take if symptoms develop.

A list of emergency contacts will be kept at the Central Services Team office.

The appointed person will ensure that records are kept of any injuries, accidents or illnesses, as well as any first aid treatment that is given – this will include:

• The date, time and place of the incident.
• The name and class of the injured or ill person.
• Details of the injury or illness and what first aid was given.
• Details of what happened to the person immediately afterwards, e.g. whether they were sent home or went back to class.
• The name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

The Headteacher will ensure that any injury or accident that must be reported to the HSE or LA under RIDDOR obligations is reported in a timely and detailed manner.

All records will be filed and stored in line with the Records Management Policy.

 

Offsite visits and events

Before undertaking any offsite visits or events, the teacher organising the trip or event will assess the level of first aid provision required by undertaking a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the visit or event and the persons involved.

The Pupil Referral Unit will take a first aid kit on all offsite visits which contains at a minimum:

• A leaflet giving general advice on first aid.
• 6 individually wrapped sterile adhesive dressings.
• 1 large sterile unmedicated dressing.
• 2 triangular bandages individually wrapped and preferably sterile.
• 2 safety pins.
• Individually wrapped moist cleansing wipes.
• 2 pairs of disposable gloves.

Additionally, the Pupil Referral Unit will ensure that all large vehicles and minibuses have a first aid box readily available and in good condition which contains:

• 10 antiseptic wipes, foil packed.
• 1 conforming disposable bandage that is not less than 7.5cm wide.
• 2 triangular bandages.
• 1 packet of 24 assorted adhesive dressings.
• 3 large sterile unmedicated ambulance dressings that are not less than 15x20cm.
• 2 sterile eye pads, with attachments.
• 12 assorted safety pins.
• 1 pair of non-rusted blunt-ended scissors.

For more information about the Pupil Referral Unit’s educational visit requirements, please see the Educational Visits and Day Trips Policy.

 

Storage of medication

Medicines will be stored securely and appropriately in accordance with individual product instructions, save where individual pupils have been given responsibility for keeping such equipment with them. Medicines will be stored in the original container in which they were dispensed, together with the prescriber’s instructions for administration, and properly labelled, showing the name of the patient, the date of prescription and the date of expiry of the medicine.

Medicine brought in by pupils will be returned to their parents for safe disposal when they are no longer required or have expired.

An emergency supply of medication will be available for pupils with medical conditions that require regular medication or potentially lifesaving equipment, e.g. an EpiPen.

Parents will advise the Pupil Referral Unit when a child has a chronic medical condition or severe allergy so that an IHP can be implemented and staff can be trained to deal with any emergency in an appropriate way. Examples of this include epilepsy, diabetes and anaphylaxis. A disclaimer will be signed by the parents in this regard.

Pupils will have any medication stored and, where appropriate administered, in accordance with their EHC plans and ACE’s Administering Medication Policy.

 

Illnesses and allergies

When a pupil becomes ill during the day, their parent will be contacted and asked to pick their child up as soon as possible.

A quiet area will be set aside for withdrawal and for pupils to rest while they wait for their parent to pick them up. Pupils will be monitored during this time.

Where a pupil has an allergy, this will be addressed via ACE’s Allergen and Anaphylaxis Policy.

The Pupil Referral Unit will manage any emergencies relating to illnesses and allergies in accordance with the Emergency procedures section of this policy.

 

Consent

Parents will be asked to complete and sign a medical consent form when their child is admitted to ACE, which includes emergency numbers, alongside details of allergies and chronic conditions – these forms will be updated at the start of each academic year.

Staff will not act ‘in loco parentis’ in making medical decisions as this has no basis in law. Staff will always aim to act and respond to accidents and illnesses based on what is reasonable under the circumstances and will always act in good faith while having the best interests of the pupil in mind – guidelines will be issued to staff in this regard.

 

Monitoring and review

This policy will be regularly monitored by ACE, and reviewed and ratified annually by the Management Committee. Any changes will be communicated to all members of staff.

Staff will be required to familiarise themselves with this policy as part of their induction programme. Staff will be informed of the arrangements that have been made in connection with the provision of first aid, including the location of equipment, facilities and personnel.

The next scheduled review date for this policy is April 2023.