Personal and Confidential Matters

This section explains what you can do if you feel worried about something or if you think you have been unfairly treated.

We can all have worries, problems and difficulties from time to time, which may be major or minor and which may affect an individual or a group. They might cause anxiety or prompt you to seek help. Many matters can normally be resolved, or sorted out to some extent, by talking to your friends, to a member of staff or by telephoning home. Your Head of House, House Tutor or Matron will always be ready to listen. The Chaplain, The Medical Centres, Sister, the School Doctor and all members of the teaching staff, including the Deputy Heads, Headteachers, VicePrincipal and Principal, are also available.

You may also contact other people who are not involved in the day to day running of the School. The School Counsellor is available to everyone and is in School every day. You can drop in during break or lunch times or you may leave a message for her by telephoning 07785 462105 or email, counsellor@ berkhamsted.com. At Castle the room is above the Bursary (BU101), at Kings it is NH209.

You could also contact the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, The Civic Centre, 161 High Street, Berkhamsted, which is only a few minutes away (Tel: 01442 866930), or ‘Childline’ (Tel. 0800 1111), or Reverend Jonathan Gordon, our independent listener, who can be contacted on 01442 871 547 or revjagordon@gmail. com.

What you say will be treated with confidence and information will only be shared with those who need to know if you or someone else is in danger.

Some problems are best dealt with by individual contact with one person, but others may need to be dealt with by several people. An adult who knows you well and in whom you have trust is often the best person to help you, but it is important to understand that you may choose the people with whom you would like to speak. Your choice may depend on the circumstances and your feelings at the time.

There are many problems which may cause you to be upset. It may be a problem about work, friendships, health, discrimination because of race or religion; it may be that you have been badly treated, abused or harassed (verbally, physically or sexually); it may be you feel that you have been treated unreasonably by a member of staff or that you have been bullied by another pupil. Whatever the problem, it is important to know that you need not be alone in managing the situation.

The School’s pastoral and counselling arrangements should support you through your time at Berkhamsted and deal with most matters of concern.

MEDICAL AND DIETARY NEEDS

The School Medical Centre is open from 08:00 - 16:00. Most of you are registered as patients of the School Doctor. The doctor is available at the School Medical Centre every Thursday (if required) between 08:30 – 09:00). Generally, boarders may see the Doctor or Sister on duty. Matron may also refer you if you are ill.

School Doctor Milton House Surgery Doctors Commons Road Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 3BY

If your parents have any concerns over your medical needs, they can contact the Houseparent who will advise the Medical Centre. In the event of an emergency the boarding staff will contact the Medical Centre. If there are any medical issues outside these hours that cause concern then the following procedure will be followed as appropriate:

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3. Advice, may be sought from NHS 111. You may be taken by a member of staff to hospital. 999 (UK Emergency Number) may be called

The UK Border Agency requires boarders from designated countries to be vaccinated against Tuberculosis and random screening may take place upon arrival in the UK.

CONFIDENTIALITY With all medical and nursing matters, the House and the School Medical Team will respect your confidentiality unless there is a concern regarding Child Protection.

MEDICATION AND TREATMENT • If you arrive with prescribed medication you must have a full translation, indicating contents, purpose of medication and dosage. All medicines are to be given to Matron for safe keeping except

Sixth Formers who may keep throat lozenges, cough linctus and ant-acids locked safely in your own rooms. In discussion with the Senior Nursing Sister, you may be assessed as Gillick competent (Sixth Formers may be able to have their own medication locked up in their rooms and be responsible to selfmedicate). If medicines are found, they will be confiscated. You are not permitted your own nonprescribed medication in School (except some Sixth Formers – see above). Should you feel ill during the night, you should ring the bell of the Houseparent’s flat or House Tutor or call them on their mobile. If you feel ill in the morning and are considered to be well enough to attend school but to be excused from P.E. and Games, the Houseparent, House Tutor, Matron or Sister will issue a note or send an e-mail to the P.E/games staff or your Head of House. If you are too unwell you will be cared for by your guardian (if possible)

or the Matron in the Boarding House. Each boarding house has a sick bay/medical room for isolation if needs be.

If you need to bring to School and self-administer doses of medication during school-time please follow the guidelines below:

Report to the Matron or Houseparent who will inform Sister, or you can go directly to Sister in the Medical Centre where your medicines can be stored and administered as prescribed. An inhaler for asthma and medication for severe allergic reactions are exceptions and these should be kept with you at all times. Some over-the-counter medicines are available for the Boarding House staff to administer when they consider it necessary or when you request it. Such medication might include painkillers such as Paracetamol. These are stored in a locked cupboard. The administration of medication in the boarding house is recorded in the Medical Book.

If parents have any queries regarding medication, please telephone Sister Carol Coombes in the Medical Centre on 01442 358088.

Please make reference to the School Administrations of Medicines Policy by clicking here.

DIETARY NEEDS If you have any dietary requirements that have not already been identified when you join the school please speak to your relevant Houseparents.