Promote and implement health and safety in health and social care

Understand health and safety in social care settings

Handout 14: Procedures for handling medication

4229 Learning Outcome 10 Assessment Criteria 10.1, 10.2, 10.3

Only staff who have had specialist training should handle or administer medication
Whatever role staff have in relation to medication, they have received training so that they can carry out this role competently and safely. This is because if errors are made, or staff are not aware of the risks involved, individuals could be harmed.
Training varies depending on the care worker’s role in supporting individuals with their medication needs. The following options are examples of training for different responsibilities.
  • Medication awareness – usually provided for all care workers at induction to raise awareness of the risks involved.
  • Assisting with medication – for careworkers who support individuals to take their own medication. Although the individual is able to take them regularly, they may need prompting or assistance with opening packaging.
  • Administeringmedication – for more experienced care workers who take responsibility for administering medication to individuals with their consent. Staff who carry out this role need a good understanding about different medicines and how they should be administered safely, and they also need to be passed as competent.
  • Administration using specialised techniques –more specialised techniques such as injections are usually administered only by nurses or health professionals. Occasionally, in some situations, care workers may be given additional training to do this for specific individuals.
Training given should meet the requirements of the care worker’s role in relation to handling or administering medication. You should never carry out any work activity involving medication unless you have been trained.
Main procedures for administering medication
1. Medication should be stored securely according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In a group setting, it has to be locked away, and should never be left unattended. In any setting, it should be stored out of reach of children.
2. Medication is potentially hazardous and should only be handled using a non-touch technique or using gloves.
3. Infection control precautions should be followed when handling medicines – hand washing and non-touch technique.
4. Records must be kept of all medication administered, received and returned from any care setting.
5. Medication should never be disposed of as with ordinary waste, nor should it be flushed down the sink or toilet. In most social care settings, it is disposed of by returning it to the pharmacy that supplied it.

It is a legal requirement that individuals should be supported to manage their own medication as far as possible. If individuals are unable to do this, trained care staff will assist them appropriately so that their medication needs are met.

In all settings, staff have specific responsibilities for handling medication. These responsibilities include:

  • administering
  • recording and checking in medication or returning unused medication to the pharmacy.