MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

The Care Worker Agency & We Care has a detailed Medication Administration Policy which must be adhered to by all staff to ensure the safety and well being of our Customers. All staff receive induction and additional training prior to supporting people with any aspect of their medication management (including prompting).

Policy

The Care Worker Agency & We Care will help and support it’s customers to take their medication safely in a timely and efficient way once a Medication Agreement Form has been signed to confirm their consent to be supported in this way. The agreement will state clearly what kind of help and support the person needs and will also risk assess the procedure. In the interests of the event of an emergency,we must establish who the person's GP and Pharmacy are, and staff must note any side effects which require additional support and attention and raise appropriate help for the customer.

All staff will be trained in the Safe Administration of Medication and all medication procedures will follow pertinent legislation pertaining to Infection Control, Health & Safety and COSHH. Any support with medication will be clearly documented on a Medication Administration Record (MAR) sheet by the care worker, either in a paper version or on an E-MAR via the One Touch portal.

The Care Worker Agency and We Care will only support the safe administration of medication prescribed for each individual customer, following the instructions on the original pharmacy packaging. Compliance aids can only be supported by care staff if they are filled by the pharmacy.

Procedure

In the interests of safety for all parties you must follow the instruction in your Medication Training and within this policy, by adhering to the list below.

Care Workers may:

  • Prompt, assist and administer medication as trained to do so.  
  • Provide assistance with medication as long as the degree of assistance required is clearly established, agreed in advance, customer consent obtained and instructions clearly set down on the care and support plan.  No irregular or extra-ordinary medication can be accepted unless this has been agreed in advance and the risks satisfactorily assessed.
  • Manage medicines which are either in manufacturers packaging, pharmacy packaging bearing the customer’s name and drug regime or in a compliance aid made up by a pharmacist.
  • Collect and return medications from pharmacies or dispensing GP surgeries.  

Care Workers may not:

  • Give any medicines other than by mouth or externally unless agreed in advance and specific training has been undertaken.  
  • Give any medicines against their customer’s wishes or without their knowledge.
  • Give injections.
  • Administer homely remedies or any medication not identified and agreed on the care plan.
  • Change dressings.
  • Insert or withdraw catheters or administer any medications via the catheter (although they can change catheter bags and empty them)
  • Insert or withdraw PEG/PEJ feeding tubes (although we can attach the food on a PEG & RIG system)
  • Make up, add to or dispense medication from a family filled ‘dosset’ box or any other secondary dispensing device.  
  • Collect prescriptions or return medications to pharmacies without it being agreed in advance and with the customer's consent.
  • Carry individual customer’s prescriptions in their car between customers.
  • Undertake any task they do not feel competent or are happy to do and the care manager must be informed of this.  
  • Advice on health related matters as care workers are not qualified to do this, and may not be insured, and all such requests for assistance should be politely declined.  Such requests and the subsequent reaction should be noted in the log book.

Care Workers must:

  • Always gain consent from the customer before assisting or administering medication.
  • Always check the care plan and the medication administration record in the customer’s home and only assist or administer the medication as identified on those documents.  
  • If there is any doubt or confusion regarding medication, the care worker must alert the care manager (or the nominated person ‘on call’) to seek instruction and/or guidance and medication not given until that guidance is given.
  • Always record the identity, dosage and timing of any assistance with medicines on the medication administration record.
  • Wear gloves and aprons where appropriate and as indicated on the care plan.  
  • Report any incidents such as reactions to medications or medication errors immediately to the care manager or their deputy.
  • Whilst it is recognised that it is not possible to be absolutely sure that a customer has taken their medication, care workers should do their best to make sure that this has occurred.
  • When collecting medication from a pharmacy they must take the prescription straight to the customer’s home.  
  • When returning medication to a pharmacist this must be taken straight from the customer’s home to the pharmacist and proof of return evidenced on the appropriate document, then filed in the customer’s notes.

Reviewed April 2025 by Fay Townsend-Jackson