When assessing whether you comply with HS123

Questions we are likely to ask

• Do any of the children in your service need medication on a regular basis? What medication do they need and how is it recorded?
• Who administers medication for children who need it on a regular or semi-regular basis? What training do they have to administer the medication and who provided this training?

The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.

You might find it useful to adapt the Ministry of Health’s Medicines Management Guide for Community Residential and Facility-based Respite Services – Disability, Mental Health and Addiction for your service. 

Medicines Management Guide for Community Residential and Facility-based Services – Disability, Mental Health and Addiction – Ministry of Health NZ

Before giving medicine to a child, adults need to be sure they’re doing it correctly. Clear guidance helps adults in the service feel confident and gives parents and whānau peace of mind that their children are safe and well cared for.

Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.

Administering medication

It is best practice for multiple adults in the service to have appropriate information, training and instruction about how to administer a child’s medication. It can be useful to see a demonstration about how to administer the medication. 

Recording keeping 

You could keep a written or digital record of the authorisation provided by parents. These records could include: 

• the parent(s) or guardian(s) authorisation (including their name and the date it was authorised)
• the information, or a description of the training or instruction provided, and the date it was provided
• the name and occupation of the person who provided the adult(s) with the information, training or instruction, and the date it was provided
• the name and role of the adult at your service who was provided with information, training or instruction.

You could keep these records alongside the child’s enrolment records.