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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Medication Administration and Management Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Medication Administration and Management Policy is to ensure that all temporary workers employed by {{org_field_name}}, including registered nurses (RNs) and healthcare assistants (HCAs), administer and manage medications safely, effectively, and in accordance with legal and professional requirements. Medication management is a critical component of safe and effective healthcare, especially when providing services to vulnerable adults and older people in care homes and residential settings. This policy aims to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of service users, promote good practice, comply with English legislation, and provide clear guidance to temporary workers, client organisations, and regulatory bodies. {{org_field_name}} recognises its responsibility under the Medicines Act 1968, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, and relevant guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to ensure that temporary workers understand and follow safe medication administration practices. This policy also outlines how the director will effectively manage, monitor, and improve medication-related practices within the organisation.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All temporary workers, including registered nurses and healthcare assistants, employed by {{org_field_name}} under zero-hours or casual contracts
• All care settings where temporary workers are placed, including nursing homes, residential care homes, and healthcare facilities
• Directors, office staff, and any other personnel involved in coordinating placements or providing support to temporary workers This policy does not replace the policies and procedures of client organisations. Temporary workers must also adhere to the medication policies of the service where they are working.

3. Related Policies

• Code of Conduct for Temporary Workers
• Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Incident Reporting and Management Policy
• Record Keeping and Confidentiality Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Disciplinary Policy

4. Legal and Professional Framework

All temporary workers must follow:

• The Medicines Act 1968
• The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
• The NICE Guidelines on Managing Medicines in Care Homes (SC1)
• The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for Medicines Management (for registered nurses)
• The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) guidance where relevant
• Local policies of client organisations

5. Medication Administration Principles

5.1 Responsibilities of Temporary Workers

All temporary workers must:

• Only administer medication if they have received appropriate training and are deemed competent by both {{org_field_name}} and the client organisation
• Work within their role boundaries, skills, and competence
• Follow the “Five Rights” of medication administration: the right person, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time
• Check for allergies, contraindications, and previous adverse reactions before administering any medication
• Document administration accurately and contemporaneously in the appropriate records
• Immediately report and record medication errors, near misses, or concerns following both {{org_field_name}}’s Incident Reporting and Management Policy and the client’s procedures
• Seek guidance from a registered nurse or responsible clinician if uncertain

Healthcare assistants may only assist with medication administration where permitted by the client and only after receiving specific training. They must not administer controlled drugs or medications via invasive routes (e.g., injections) unless specifically authorised and competent.

5.2 Types of Medications Covered

This policy applies to:

• Prescription-only medicines (POMs)
• Controlled drugs (CDs) under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• Pharmacy medicines (P)
• Over-the-counter medications
• Homely remedies as per the client’s protocol

Temporary workers must comply with the client’s homely remedies protocol where applicable and never administer medications without prior authorisation.

6. Medication Storage and Security

Temporary workers must:

• Ensure that all medications are stored securely following the client organisation’s procedures
• Follow all instructions regarding the safe storage of controlled drugs, including use of locked controlled drug cupboards
• Never leave medication unattended, unsecured, or accessible to unauthorised persons
• Report any discrepancies or concerns regarding medication storage immediately Temporary workers are responsible for ensuring that medication trolleys, cupboards, and fridges (if used) are secured at all times during their shift.

7. Controlled Drugs

Temporary workers must:

• Handle controlled drugs with extreme care and follow all legal requirements under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
• Ensure controlled drugs are administered by two authorised persons where required
• Accurately record controlled drug administration in the client’s controlled drug register
• Promptly report any discrepancies, suspected diversion, or incidents involving controlled drugs to both {{org_field_name}} and the client

8. Consent and Capacity

Temporary workers must:

• Obtain valid consent prior to administering any medication in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Respect the service user’s right to refuse medication, documenting and reporting all refusals according to the client’s procedure
• Seek advice from the client’s senior staff or healthcare professional when a service user lacks capacity to consent
• Follow best interest decision-making processes when administering medication to people lacking capacity

9. Record Keeping

Temporary workers must:

• Maintain accurate, clear, and contemporaneous records of all medications administered, omitted, refused, or wasted
• Ensure that all entries are signed, dated, and, where applicable, countersigned as required (e.g., for controlled drugs)
• Report and document any medication errors, omissions, or incidents immediately
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR

Records must include the service user’s name, the name and dose of the medication, the time of administration, the route, and any relevant observations.

10. Training and Competence

{{org_field_name}} will:

• Provide all temporary workers involved in medication administration with appropriate training, including initial induction and regular refresher training
• Verify competency through documented assessments before allowing workers to undertake medication-related tasks
• Record all completed training and competency assessments in the worker’s file
• Support client organisations to verify and confirm the competency of temporary workers assigned to them

Temporary workers who fail to complete or maintain required medication training will not be assigned to roles requiring medication administration.

11. Medication Errors and Incident Reporting

Temporary workers must:

• Immediately report any medication error, near miss, or incident to the client organisation and {{org_field_name}}
• Follow the procedures outlined in the Incident Reporting and Management Policy
• Participate fully in any investigation into medication errors
• Reflect on incidents as part of continuing professional development and learning

Directors will ensure that lessons learnt from incidents are incorporated into training and shared with client organisations where appropriate.

12. Director’s Responsibilities and Oversight

Since {{org_field_name}} does not have a registered manager, the director will assume full responsibility for medication policy oversight. The director will:

• Ensure that this policy is reviewed annually or earlier if there are changes in legislation, guidance, or best practice
• Ensure that all temporary workers receive required medication training and competency checks
• Review all medication-related incidents, complaints, and audits to identify trends and areas for improvement
• Liaise with client organisations regarding worker performance and compliance with medication procedures
• Act immediately where there are concerns about a worker’s competence, including removing them from assignments if necessary
• Foster a culture of openness, safety, and learning regarding medication administration

13. Working with Clients

{{org_field_name}} will:

• Ensure that all temporary workers adhere to the medication policies of client organisations
• Cooperate fully with client audits, investigations, and regulatory inspections concerning medication practices
• Communicate any changes to medication-related policies, training, or legislation to client organisations
• Support clients in identifying and resolving medication-related concerns

14. Safe Disposal of Medicines

Temporary workers must:

• Follow client procedures for the safe disposal of expired, damaged, or wasted medicines
• Never dispose of medicines without appropriate authorisation
• Document disposal processes in line with client and regulatory requirements

15. Continuous Improvement

The director will:

• Review this policy annually or when necessary due to changes in law or best practice
• Engage in regular consultation with clients, temporary workers, and external stakeholders
• Seek feedback from incidents, audits, and inspections to drive improvement
• Ensure training materials and processes are updated regularly to reflect current standards

16. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually or sooner if required by changes in legislation, regulatory guidance, or operational needs. The review will be undertaken by the director, who will ensure that any updates are communicated to all temporary workers and client organisations without delay.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.