Medication Competency Assessment This is the assessment that all staff who support people with their medication must complete to a satisfactory level each year. Assessment is based on a series of of administering and managing the medication of a person they are supporting. If any of the criteria are not met, then a comment must be included, along with completion of the action plan indicating support to help achieve the required standard. Name Assessor... Location of assessment... Prescription Ordering Yes No Comments Date of Orders are done on time each month Correctly completes repeat slip, all items required are ticked. Re-order MARR always used. A copy sent to surgery and keeps a copy of order. Notes all changes to medication from last month on order including any new items to make sure sufficient supply.
Informs surgery & pharmacy of all discontinued items. Where appropriate, requests that medication is synchronised within the 28 day cycle for all people living in the home. Reviews PRN medication, short dated meds, dressing, liquids, food supplements, appliances etc & orders if appropriate Ensures no stock piling & unnecessary waste Receiving & Checking in Medication Yes No Comments Date of Receives medication from driver delivered and signs for it Checks new MARR sheet with previous MARR sheet and record of order Checks labels on each container and compares with new MARR sheet, noting Person s name Name of medication Strength and dose Administration instructions Expiry date
Checks, records and signs for quantity of medication received on MARR sheet. Communicates and documents any discrepancies or errors with pharmacy immediately, and records the outcomes of communication Stores medication securely and appropriately, including items to be stored in the fridge or controlled drugs. Checks packaging for storage instructions. Highlights on MARR sheet the time each medication is to be administered and puts a line through times it must not be administered. On first day of new medication cycle, removes previous MARR sheet from folder, archives it and replaces it with current sheet. Non-monthly medication Yes No Comments Date of Informs pharmacy that medication is needed and request additional MARR sheet If urgent and not available, takes the prescription to another pharmacy
Accurately handwrites item(s) on current MARR sheet (if new printed MARR is not available) noting Name of medication Product form Strength & dose Times of administration On receipt of medication, checks it, same as for monthly medication supply. Storage of medication Yes No Comments Date of Medicines are stored in a secure cool, dry place and not left unattended. Dates of opening of drops, creams etc are recorded on an additional label. Temperatures of storage cabinets and fridges are checked daily. Does not secondary dispense medication
Administration of medication Preparation prior to administration Yes No Comments Date of Check service diary for notes of any changes Check medication file and medication support plan Inform the person that medication is due, ensuring they are willing and ready to take it. Ensure the person is in an appropriate place to receive their medication, noting any needs for privacy. Gather all equipment including MARR charts Medication pots Spoons /oral syringes Drink of waters (or alternative drink) Black pen Bags and labels for disposal of spoilt medication Washes hands Reduces distractions and disturbances during the administration
Administering the medication Yes No Comments Administers medication to only one person at a time Checks the identity of the person taking the medication Encourages the person s involvement in taking their medication, promoting independence wherever possible Checks the MARR chart to confirm which medication is due to be administered and that it has not already been signed as taken. Only takes out the medication due to be taken, one at a time and does not leave any medication unattended at any time. Check the label of each medication container to ensure that it is the same as on the MARR chart, including the 5 Rights Right person Right medication Right dose Right route Right time and date Checks expiry date and/or date of opening label
Checks the instructions for administration of any PRN medication Puts one medication at a time into a pot using a non-touch technique and immediately offers to the person to take with a drink, in accordance with their support plan, and ensuring consent. Encourages the person to either sit upright or stand to aid swallowing of medication Check the person has taken the medication Immediately signs the MARR chart for that medication Repeat the above 4 steps for each medication due at that time Liquid medication (optional) Uses appropriate clean measuring equipment to measure dose Pours the medicine into pot away from the label Measure liquid medication correctly (reading bottom of the meniscus) Cleans the medicine bottle of any spillages and ensure label in still in tact
Topical medication (optional) Records date of opening on additional label on cream, ointment lotion etc Washes hands and then wears gloves to apply creams, ointments, lotions etc. Correct amount applied (e.g. fingertip units for steroid Removes gloves and washes hands once finished application Inhalers (optional) Checks the order in which inhalers should be taken e.g. reliever (blue) to be administered before preventer (brown) Demonstrates correct inhaler technique and use of any aids (e.g. spacer) Leaves 30 seconds between puffs Cleans inhaler and equipment after use Drops (optional) Records date of opening on additional label on eye/ear/ nasal drops Washes hands and then wears gloves to apply drops.
Uses correct technique to instill drops into eye/ears/nose Removes gloves and washes hands once finished application PRN medication Has a good understanding of the instructions for the administration for each PRN medication Offers PRN medication in accordance with specific instructions including:- Dose to be administered Frequency of dose Records exact time and dose administered on the MARR sheet Reports administration in accordance with specific instructions Monitors the effectiveness of the medication Controlled drugs (optional) Identifies Controlled Drugs on receipt from driver Completes a full check of Controlled Drugs received in presence of driver and signs records (and also with second person) Stores Controlled Drugs in Controlled Drugs Cabinet
Completes Controlled Drugs Register with separate page for each person, and for each type/form/strength of medication. Ensures Controlled Drugs are administered by two trained people Signs Controlled Drugs Register and MARR sheet for each administration Records and signs Controlled Drugs Register for return of Controlled drugs to pharmacy. Self medication (optional) Provides appropriate support, advice or supervision for people managing their own medication in accordance with their support plan. After the medication has been taken Yes No Comments Medicine bottles and containers, pots and spoons are cleaned and returned to storage. All medication is stored tidily and securely in locked cabinet. Keys to medication cabinet are returned to safe storage MARR charts are checked and returned to secure storage
Any changes or updates are noted in the person s records Record and reports any problems (e.g. refusal, swallowing difficulties, spoilt medication) Monitor the person for effectiveness of medication, and also any side effects or adverse reactions Identifies medication administration errors and and reports them immediately. Non-administration of medication Yes No Comments Date of Gives the person the right to refuse, not forcing or coercing them into taking it Disguised medication is only administered in accordance with that person s Covert Administration Risk Assessment Reports refusal in accordance with medication support plan Non-administration is recorded on the MARR sheet using the correct code
Disposes of any spoilt or unused medication into labelled bag. Medication for disposal is returned to the pharmacy as soon as possible Highlight regular refusal to GP Record keeping & Stock checks Yes No Comments Date of Completes and signs all medication records Records any additional information on the back of the MARR sheet Returns discontinued /unused or spoilt medication to the pharmacy as soon as possible and signs returns book Completes accurate daily balance check of stock of each medication Identifies medication errors in stock balance and reports them immediately
Action Plan Action Person responsible date Progress comments