Medication administration
Safe handling, administration, recording and error reporting for staff assessed as competent to give medication.
- Who receives it
- Staff with medication duties
- Frequency
- Annual
- Delivery
- Accredited provider
- Evidence recorded
- Competency assessment
Learning outcomes
- Apply the six rights of medication administration
- Complete a MAR chart accurately with no gaps
- Store and dispose of medication, including controlled drugs, correctly
- Report errors and refusals openly and immediately
Module 1 of 3
The six rights
Before every administration confirm the right child, right medication, right dose, right route, right time and right documentation. Check each one against the MAR chart and the dispensing label, not from memory.
Only staff who have completed accredited training and been signed off as competent may administer. Competency is reassessed annually and after any error.
Remember
- Never administer medication dispensed for another child
- Never crush or alter a tablet without written pharmacy advice
- Sign the MAR chart immediately after administration, never before
Module 2 of 3
Recording and refusals
A gap on a MAR chart is treated as an error because there is no evidence the medication was given. Use the correct code for a refusal, an omission, a hospital visit or a home leave, and add a note explaining it.
If a child refuses, do not conceal medication in food or drink. Record the refusal, explain the importance calmly, offer again a short time later, and contact the GP or prescriber where the medication is critical.
Module 3 of 3
Storage, controlled drugs and errors
Medication is stored in a locked cabinet, with controlled drugs in a separate secured cabinet and a bound register. Controlled drugs require two signatures for administration and a running balance check at each shift handover.
Errors happen. Report them immediately to your manager, seek medical advice via 111 or the GP, complete an incident record and notify the placing authority. Open reporting protects the child. Concealing an error is a disciplinary matter.
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