Overview:

A practical awareness course designed to support care staff and healthcare workers to understand the principles of safe medication handling, administration procedures, responsibilities and best practice when supporting people with their medicines.

Full Description:

The Level 2 Award in Safe Handling of Medication provides learners with the essential knowledge required to safely support individuals with their medication needs within their role and organisational procedures. The course is designed for staff who are involved in the support, handling, recording or administration of medicines within health and social care environments, including domiciliary care settings.

Medication management is a key area of safe care delivery, requiring staff to understand their responsibilities, follow agreed procedures and recognise the importance of accuracy, accountability and person-centred support. This course introduces learners to relevant legislation, guidance, policies and procedures relating to medicines, alongside the roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in medication support.

Learners explore different types of medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, classifications, forms, names and routes of administration. The course also covers the principles of safe medication administration, including levels of support, medication systems, self-medication, recording requirements, refusal of medication, controlled drugs and responding appropriately to medication errors.

The programme highlights the importance of safe storage, receipt and disposal of medication, particularly within domiciliary care environments where staff may support individuals in their own homes. Learners develop an understanding of accountability, professional boundaries and the importance of following care plans, organisational procedures and seeking appropriate guidance when concerns arise.

This course does not train learners to prescribe medicines, make clinical decisions, alter medication regimes or undertake tasks outside their role and competence. Instead, it provides the knowledge and understanding required to support safe medication practices within the workplace.

Course Aim:

To provide learners with the knowledge and understanding required to safely support the handling, administration, recording and management of medication in accordance with legislation, organisational procedures and individual care requirements

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

• Understand the legislation, guidance, policies and procedures that support safe medication handling within health and social care settings.
• Understand the roles, responsibilities and accountability of individuals involved in supporting medication.
• Identify different types of medicines, including prescriptions, classifications, forms, names and routes of administration.
• Understand the principles of safe medication administration and the different levels of support that may be provided.
• Understand medication systems, self-medication arrangements and procedures for supporting individuals in domiciliary care settings.
• Recognise the importance of accurate medication records, including the completion and use of Medication Administration Records (MAR) and other relevant documentation.
• Understand how to respond appropriately when an individual refuses medication.
• Understand the safe handling and additional responsibilities associated with controlled drugs.
• Recognise the importance of reporting and responding appropriately to medication errors and concerns.
• Understand the safe receipt, storage and disposal of medicines.
• Recognise the importance of professional boundaries, accountability and working within agreed roles and competencies.
• Promote safe, person-centred medication support that respects dignity, choice and individual needs.
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Mapping / How it supports:

Supports safe medication practices within health and social care settings by developing staff understanding of medication responsibilities, risk management, documentation, accountability and person-centred support. The course supports organisations in meeting expectations relating to safe care delivery, staff competence, medicines management and quality assurance. Content aligns with relevant legislation, NICE guidance relating to medicines support, Care Quality Commission (CQC) expectations around safe care and treatment, and recognised good practice within health and social care medication management.