All of our staff receive training on the administration of medication both at induction, at annual updates and are regularly supervised to ensure their competence and confidence. They are aware that they must follow the doctor’s instructions, accurately record all support on a Medication Administration Record (MAR) sheet and immediately report and record any concerns with medication.

There are three points of law which relate particularly to giving medicines to other people:

1. Anyone can give a prescription only medicine to another person as long as they follow the doctor’s instructions (not injections)
2. Medicines given on prescription to a person belong to that person only and are only for their use
3. You must not give a person more or less of their medicine unless the doctor says so

Assistance with medication administration can only be supported when the medication is in its original packaging or a pharmacy filled dosset box. Administration of medication cannot be supported if the dosset boxes are filled by the client or clients’ family.

Lauriem follows a ‘traffic light’ system, following KCC guidelines, which is a list of medication related tasks that staff may assist with as a matter of course, tasks which are not allowed and must be undertaken by a medical professional and those which require specialist training. A copy of these guidelines is included in each service users’ contact book as a point of reference for service users, their families and others involved with the service users’ care plan.

Should you have more complex medication needs, our staff undertake specialist training with the district nursing team to enable them to support you to take your medication safely. For example, this may be the use of nebulisers, controlled drugs for pain relief or blood sugar monitoring.

Prescription Collection

If medication is not delivered from the pharmacy, we are able to collect prescriptions from the GP, take to the pharmacy and delivered to you and this would be documented in your care plan.