Medication Management
About the course
Effective medication management is a fundamental responsibility for care managers, ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks while promoting patient safety and quality care. This course provides a comprehensive exploration of medication management within health and social care settings, focusing on compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, safe administration practices, risk management, and continuous quality improvement.
Managers will gain essential knowledge of regulatory obligations, digital medication management tools, error prevention strategies, and communication protocols essential for effective oversight. By integrating evidence-based interventions, cross-sector collaboration, and auditing processes, learners will develop the skills needed to uphold high standards in medication safety and governance.
This course is designed for care managers, senior staff, and healthcare professionals responsible for medication administration and compliance in residential, domiciliary, and community care settings.
What will you learn
Regulatory Framework & Management Responsibilities
Gain an in-depth understanding of UK legislation, CQC guidelines, and managerial obligations in medication management.
- CQC Legislation and Regulatory Guidelines
Understand the Health and Social Care Act (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and the role of the CQC in monitoring compliance, enforcing safety, and ensuring patient-centred medication practices. - Management Responsibilities and Employer Obligations
Learn how to develop robust medication policies, ensure staff competency, and conduct risk assessments to maintain high standards of medication management. - Ethical and Legal Considerations
Explore key ethical issues such as duty of care, informed consent, and the Mental Capacity Act, ensuring medication is administered legally and appropriately.
Digital Tools, Technologies, and Evidence-Based Interventions
Discover how digital innovations and evidence-based interventions improve accuracy, safety, and efficiency in medication administration.
- Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR)
Learn how eMAR systems improve medication tracking, reduce errors, and ensure real-time alerts for missed doses. - PINCER Intervention
Understand the Pharmacist-led Information Technology Intervention (PINCER) strategy for reducing medication errors and promoting safe prescribing. - Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS)
Explore how CDSS alerts prevent drug interactions, dosage errors, and allergic reactions, supporting informed clinical decision-making. - Data Security and Compliance
Understand GDPR regulations, CQC compliance, and best practices in secure digital medication record-keeping.
Communication, Collaboration, and Error Management
Develop effective communication and collaborative strategies to minimise medication errors and promote a culture of accountability.
- Medicines-Related Communication Systems
Learn how care homes and home care providers communicate medication changes with GPs, pharmacists, and hospitals, ensuring continuity of care. - Medicines Reconciliation
Understand the process of verifying medication accuracy during admissions, discharges, and routine reviews, preventing duplication and errors. - Handling Medication Errors
Explore different types of medication errors, root cause analysis, and best practices in incident reporting and corrective action planning. - Duty of Candour
Learn about the legal obligation to be transparent about medication errors, including communicating with families and ensuring compliance with CQC standards.
Continuous Improvement & Self-Management
Discover strategies for quality improvement, self-management plans, and integrating emerging technologies in medication management.
- Medication Review Processes
Understand how structured medication reviews optimise therapy, reduce adverse drug reactions, and prevent unnecessary prescribing. - Self-Management Plans
Learn how to support service users in managing their own medications safely, promoting autonomy and adherence. - Cross-Sector Collaboration
Explore best practices in multi-agency working, ensuring seamless medication transitions between hospitals, care homes, and community settings. - Auditing, Benchmarking, and Future Developments
Develop skills in medication audits, benchmarking practices, and leveraging emerging technologies such as AI-driven prescribing, remote monitoring, and smart medication dispensers.
This course equips care managers with practical tools, regulatory knowledge, and leadership skills to oversee medication safety, compliance, and service excellence.
Course Content
References
References
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.(2014). UK Legislation on Regulated Activities in Health and Social Care. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111117613
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) Fundamental Standards.(2023). Guidance on Fundamental Standards for Providers. Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/regulations-enforcement/regulations-service-providers-managers
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.(2001). UK Legislation on Controlled Drugs and Their Use. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3998/contents/made
- Mental Capacity Act 2005.(2005). Legislation on Decision-Making for Individuals Lacking Capacity. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) – Mental Capacity Act 2005.(2005). Guidance on DoLS Framework. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/deprivation-of-liberty-safeguards-forms-and-guidance
- Duty of Candour – CQC Guidance.(2023). CQC Guidance on Transparency and Accountability. Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/all-services/duty-candour
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines NG5: Medicines Optimisation.(2015). Guidance on Safe and Effective Use of Medicines. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng5
- Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) – NHS Digital.(2023). Guidance on Digital Prescription and Medication Records. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/electronic-prescription-service
- Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) in Medication Safety.(2022). NICE Guidance on Digital Decision Support for Medication Safety. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng217
- PINCER Intervention – NHS England.(2021). A Pharmacist-Led Intervention for Medication Safety. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-optimisation/pincer/
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Medication Records.(2018). Guidance on Data Protection in Medication Management. Available at: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/
- Caldicott Principles for Confidentiality in Healthcare.(2023). Principles for Confidentiality and Information Sharing in Healthcare. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-caldicott-principles
- National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) – Medication Errors.(2023). System for Reporting and Learning from Medication Errors. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/report-patient-safety-incident/
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in Medication Errors – NHS Improvement.(2022). Framework for Investigating Medication Errors. Available at: https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/root-cause-analysis/
- Competency Standards for Medicines Administration – Skills for Care.(2023). Guidance on Competency and Training for Medicines Administration. Available at: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Topics/Medicines/Medicines.aspx
- Mandatory Training for Care Staff in Medication Management – CQC.(2023). CQC Guidance on Required Training for Safe Medicines Handling. Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/adult-social-care/medicines-management
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs).(2023). CQC’s Key Areas of Assessment for Health and Social Care Services. Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/key-lines-enquiry
- Emerging Technologies in Medication Management – NHS Digital.(2023). Use of Digital Innovations in Medication Safety. Available at: https://transform.england.nhs.uk/key-tools-and-info/digital-medication-safety/
- Automated Medication Dispensing and AI Alerts – NICE.(2023). Guidance on AI and Automation in Medicines Management. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng218
- Benchmarking Medication Management Practices – NHS England.(2023). Guidance on Best Practices and Benchmarking in Medication Safety. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-optimisation/

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