Schools are putting teaching assistants under increasing pressure to carry out medical procedures without appropriate training, a union warns.
Unison says most support staff only hold a basic first aid certificate.
But some are being asked to carry out procedures such as administering drugs for heart problems, changing colostomy bags and testing blood sugar levels.
Government guidelines say staff must be properly trained before carrying out any medical procedure.
And they stress that it is the responsibility of schools to make sure that is happening.
Unison is calling for the introduction of new, tougher guidelines setting out what support staff should and should not be asked to do.
The survey found 85% of the 334 respondents were expected to provide medical support, and 70% to administer medicines as part of their job - even though these are voluntary duties.
Lack of competence
One in four respondents did not feel competent and comfortable with the responsibility of administering medicines or providing medical support.
And one in three said they were not familiar with school policy on how to do it.
Michelle McKenna, a schools support worker from Durham, said: "I know school support staff who routinely have to change colostomy bags, administer drugs or epilepsy medicine.
"Some staff have to do tube feeding or take children as old as their early teens into the toilet - often without proper training.
"Support staff are really worried that they will make a mistake.
"But they are even more worried about the safety of the children they look after.
"Many of the procedures they are being asked to do are above and beyond what they signed up to do, and it is only a matter of time before something terrible happens."
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น