Managing Medicines in Social Care Course

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The Managing Medicines in Social Care Course covers the safe and effective use of medicines, person-centred decision-making, mental capacity, medicines reconciliation, medication reviews, ordering, storage, administration, PRN medicines and covert administration. Designed for social care professionals, it supports safer medicines practice, accurate record keeping and compliance with workplace policies, NICE guidance and relevant care regulations.

Managing Medicines in Social Care Course Summary

Course Name: Managing Medicines in Social Care Course
Duration: 1 Hour
Delivery: Online Training Course
Certificate Included: Instant Digital Certificate
Accreditation: CPD Accredited – 1 CPD Point
Suitable For: Care workers, support workers, healthcare assistants, care home staff, managers, supervisors, care coordinators and professionals involved in medicines support
Assessment: Online Multiple Choice Test
Access: Instant Access

Duration

1 hour

CPD Points

1

Last Updated:

25 Jul 2026

What is Managing Medicines in Social Care training?

Managing Medicines in Social Care training teaches care professionals how medicines should be managed safely and effectively while protecting each person’s rights, choices and wellbeing.

The course follows the medicines journey through social care, including informed decision-making, mental capacity, sharing information, medicines reconciliation, medication reviews, ordering, receiving, storing, administering and disposing of medicines. Learners also explore safeguarding, medication-related incidents, PRN medicines and circumstances where covert administration may be considered.

The training reflects established NICE guidance on managing medicines in care homes and supports the principles underpinning CQC Regulation 12, which requires registered providers in England to ensure the proper and safe management of medicines.

It provides underpinning knowledge that employers can combine with workplace procedures, supervision and competency assessment.

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Who Is This Course For?

The Managing Medicines in Social Care Course is suitable for people who work with or have responsibilities relating to medicines within social care services.

This includes care workers, senior care workers, support workers, healthcare assistants, care home staff, nurses working within social care, team leaders, supervisors, registered managers, care coordinators and other professionals responsible for medicines systems or medicines support.

It is particularly relevant to residential care homes and nursing homes, including services supporting older people, adults with disabilities or complex needs, young people and children where appropriate.

The course can be used for induction, refresher training, knowledge development and continuing professional development. Staff who administer or manage medicines must also receive appropriate workplace training and be assessed as competent for the responsibilities they undertake.

Key Benefits

✓ Understand the complete medicines management process in social care
✓ Support safe, person-centred decisions about medicines
✓ Reduce medication errors through safer recording and administration practices
✓ Recognise medicines-related safeguarding concerns and incidents
✓ Apply good practice to ordering, receiving, storing and disposing of medicines
✓ Strengthen knowledge supporting safe practice, competency and regulatory compliance

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Learning Outcomes

Learner Outcome                                                                                                                     Covered
Explain the principles of safe and effective medicines management in social care
Apply person-centred principles when supporting people with their medicines
Describe how to support residents to make informed decisions about medicines
Explain how mental capacity affects decisions about medicines
Identify the information that should be shared when medicines or care arrangements change
Describe how accurate medicines records support safe care
Recognise medicines-related problems, incidents and safeguarding concerns
Explain the purpose of medicines reconciliation during transfers of care
Describe the purpose and importance of medication reviews
Explain safe processes for ordering and receiving medicines
Identify good practice for storing and disposing of medicines
Describe how residents can be supported to manage their own medicines safely
Explain key principles for safe medicines administration
Describe appropriate management and recording of PRN medicines
Explain when covert administration may be considered and the safeguards required

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What Our Learners Say?

“Clear, practical and very relevant to medication rounds and record keeping in our care home.”

Sarah M

Senior Care Assistant

“The sections on capacity, PRN medicines and covert administration were particularly useful.”

Daniel R

Support Worker

“A useful refresher that explains medicines management responsibilities in straightforward language.”

Priya S

Care Home Team Leader

4.88/5 from 904+ learners

Why Is Managing Medicines in Social Care training important?

Medicines can improve health, manage symptoms and support quality of life, but errors in ordering, storage, administration, recording or communication can expose people to avoidable harm.

Effective medicines management therefore requires clear procedures, competent staff, accurate records and person-centred decision-making. NICE guidance addresses the entire medicines pathway in care homes, including medicines reconciliation, reviews, ordering, storage, administration, safeguarding and covert administration.

Training also helps staff recognise when something has gone wrong. For example, an omitted dose, unexplained discrepancy, incorrect MAR entry or suspected adverse effect should be identified and escalated through the appropriate workplace procedure.

For regulated adult social care providers in England, strong medicines management also supports compliance with CQC expectations, including Regulation 12 on safe care and treatment and Regulation 17 on accurate records and good governance.

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Is Managing Medicines in Social Caretraining a legal requirement in the UK?

There is not one UK law stating that every social care employee must complete a course with this exact title. However, employers and regulated providers have significant legal responsibilities for ensuring medicines are managed safely and staff are competent for their roles.

In England, Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires the proper and safe management of medicines. CQC guidance states that staff responsible for managing and administering medication must be suitably trained and competent, with competence kept under review.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is also particularly relevant where a person may lack capacity to make a specific decision about medication, including decisions involving covert administration.

Online training can provide essential underpinning knowledge, but employers should also provide role-specific instruction, supervision and practical competency assessment where staff administer medicines.

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Managing Medicines in Social Care training FAQ?

Managing Medicines in Social Care training teaches staff the principles and processes needed to support medicines safely. It covers person-centred care, capacity, records, safeguarding, medicines reconciliation, medication reviews, ordering, storage, administration, PRN medicines and covert administration. The aim is to reduce medicines-related risks while protecting people’s rights, choices and independence.

The course is suitable for care workers, support workers, healthcare assistants, senior carers, nurses working in social care, care coordinators, supervisors and managers whose roles involve medicines or oversight of medicines systems. The level and type of additional workplace training required will depend on each employee’s responsibilities and the medicines support they provide.

There is no single law requiring every worker to complete a course with this specific title. However, regulated providers have legal duties concerning safe medicines management. In England, CQC Regulation 12 requires proper and safe management of medicines and expects staff responsible for managing or administering medication to be appropriately trained and competent.

The Caredemy Managing Medicines in Social Care Course takes approximately 1 hour to complete. It is delivered online, allowing learners to work through the material flexibly. After completing the course and successfully passing the online assessment, learners receive an instant digital CPD-accredited certificate.

There is no single statutory refresher interval applying to every social care worker. Employers should determine refresher training according to the employee’s role, competency, organisational policy, risk assessment and changes in practice or guidance. Staff responsible for medicines should have their competence kept under review and receive additional training where a learning or competency need is identified.

A Medicines Administration Record, commonly called a MAR, records medicines administered or supported by care staff. Accurate MAR records help demonstrate what was given, when it was given and, where applicable, why a medicine was not administered. CQC states that adult social care providers must maintain secure, accurate and up-to-date medicines records for people receiving medicines support.

PRN or “when required” medicines are prescribed to be taken when needed rather than routinely at fixed times. Staff need clear instructions covering why the medicine may be given, the dose, minimum interval between doses, expected effect and relevant maximum dose. Administration and outcomes should be recorded according to the person’s care plan, MAR and organisational procedure.

Covert administration means giving medicine in a disguised form without the person’s knowledge. It must not be used simply because someone refuses medication. Where an adult lacks capacity for the specific decision, any covert administration must follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and appropriate best-interests processes, with proper assessment, multidisciplinary involvement, documentation and review.

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Managing Medicines in Social Care Course