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Controlled Drugs Management Policy

Policy Statement

Most people receiving care in their own homes are prescribed some form of medication at some time as part of their treatment, including controlled drugs.
Many clients are able to administer their medication safely themselves and require no help. However, others will require assistance, ranging from help collecting their medication, simple reminders to take their medication, and actual administration of medication.
In some cases, this might include the administration of Controlled Drugs.
This policy shows how Cavendish Homecare handles medicines that are classed as Controlled Drugs. Controlled drugs refer to those medications that have been identified as potentially addictive or hazardous and thus require special provisions if they are to be prescribed, kept and used.
Such drugs are covered under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, as amended, which classifies them into three separate categories according to their capacity for harm: Class A, Class B and Class C. The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 further classifies the drugs into five schedules relating to lawful possession and supply.
Cavendish Homecare recognises that the safe administration of medication is a vitally important area for clients and providers. While the majority of clients can, with the appropriate support, manage their medication effectively themselves, some may require their medication to be managed for them.

Legislation and Guidance

  • The policy and procedures which Cavendish Homecare has developed are in line with the applicable national standards for health and social care, relevant legislation and best practice guidance relating to the management and administration of medication in adult social care, including:
  • The Medicines Act 1968
  • The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
  • The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
  • The Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973
  • NG67 Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community (March 2017) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
  • QS171 Medicines management for people receiving social care in the community (July 2018) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
  • NG46 Controlled drugs: safe use and management (April 2016) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
  • The Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines (December 2018) Royal Pharmaceutical Society. (This is written primarily for healthcare settings. However, the RPS state that some of its content is applicable to adult social care settings and can be used to inform social care policies.)

Procedures

Needs Assessment

Any need for medication support, including support taking Controlled Drugs, should be identified at the needs assessment stage and recorded in the Client’s Care Plan.

Obtaining Controlled Drugs

If it is identified at the assessment stage that care staff will be responsible for helping with ordering prescriptions or for collecting medicines from the community pharmacy or dispensing GP practice, the arrangements must be fully documented in the Care Plan. Care staff collecting Controlled Drugs prescriptions from the pharmacy or dispensing practice should be prepared to provide personal identification if requested to do so. They should carry the drugs in a bag which disguises it and not stop anywhere else en-route to ensure the medication is not stolen or misplaced.

Management of Controlled Drugs in the Service User’s Home

Once a Controlled Drug is in the person’s own home, it should be treated the same as any other medication. Unless the Risk Assessment highlights a need, there is no legal requirement for Controlled Drugs to be treated differently or stored separately from other medicines. There is no requirement to keep a Controlled Drug cupboard in a person’s own home.

Clients should be encouraged to keep all medication safely and securely. All drugs, including Controlled Drugs, should be kept away from children and vulnerable people. Where there is an identified need for staff to actually administer medication, including Controlled Drugs, the consent of the client must be documented. If the person is unable to communicate informed consent, the prescriber must indicate formally that the treatment is in the best interest of the individual and comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act.

Controlled Drugs, as with all other medication, must only be administered by designated, appropriately trained members of staff.

There is no legal requirement for a second member of staff to witness and sign for the administration or support of Controlled Drugs in a person’s own home.

  • When administering medication, including Controlled Drugs, staff should always follow the agency’s written medication administration policies. They must always:
  • Check that the medication is written in the medical administration records (MAR) chart
  • Only administer medication from the original bottle or packet
  • Know the therapeutic use of the medication administered, its normal dose, side effects, precautions and the contra-indications of its use — this is particularly important where the service user is taking a Controlled Drug
  • Ensure that they follow any specified protocol agreed in the person’s Care Plan.

If a risk is identified during the needs assessment, then systems will be put in place to ensure that Controlled Drugs are managed safely. This may include locking Controlled Drugs away, either with the consent of the client or with a best interests’ decision.

Refusal or non-administration of prescribed Controlled Drugs and the reason for this must be recorded on the MAR sheet and in the client’s notes and reported to the line manager immediately. Any mistake or error in administering Controlled Drugs must be reported to Cavendish Homecare’s Manager without delay. Any adverse events, incidents, errors and near-misses involving Controlled Drugs should be thoroughly investigated.

Monitoring of Medication

Staff should always be aware of the nature of the medication being taken by individual clients including Controlled Drugs and should report any change in condition that might be due to the medication or its side effects. Reports should be made immediately to management and the GP.

Cavendish Homecare will work closely with community pharmacy services and with clients’ GPs to ensure that staff are provided with the appropriate support relating to Controlled Drugs.

Prescriptions for controlled Drugs are only valid for 28 days after the date of the prescription. The Department of Health and Social care strongly recommends that the maximum quantity of Controlled Drugs prescribed should not exceed 30 days. Staff must make sure that ordering processes are robust enough so that people do not run out of these medicines.

Medicinal and Food Grade Cannabis Products

Cannabis based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) are Controlled Drugs. This means they can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor who has specific knowledge and expertise and they must be on the specialist register of the General Medical Council. Food grade cannabis products which are bought over the counter are not medicines, however they may interact with prescribed medicines. If care staff are supporting people with food grade cannabis products for their own use Cavendish Homecare will risk assess this and involve the GP.

Topical Controlled Drugs

Detailed records must be kept if staff are involved in the administration of Controlled Drugs topically, eg patches. Records should include the site and frequency of application, and rotation of the site.

Disposal of Unwanted Medication

Unwanted Controlled Drugs must be disposed of in line with local procedures, which might involve contacting a licensed waste disposal service contracted to the local authority. Where necessary, the agency will seek advice from the supplying community pharmacist in order to follow the correct procedures. Care staff must never attempt to dispose of unwanted medication in an inappropriate way.

Implementation

The agency will ensure that the procedures contained within this policy are followed by all staff. The management will identify any areas of significant risk and take action to control this risk, promoting and demonstrating good practice associated with Controlled Drug use at all times.

All staff involved with the administration of medication must ensure they are familiar with this policy. They will be expected to follow correct procedures when undertaking any task involving Controlled Drugs and report any concerns relating to risks associated with Controlled Drugs to Cavendish Homecare’s management.

Training

All new staff will receive training as part of their induction covering basic information about common medicines and how to recognise and deal with medication problems. This will include information about Controlled Drugs and the procedures and necessary safeguards relating to them.

Those with specific duties and responsibilities for the administration of medicines will be expected to attend additional training and subsequent updates.

Care staff should never undertake any duties or roles relating to the administration of Controlled Drugs that they have not been trained to do or for which they do not feel competent. Staff may at any time request clarification or information relating to Controlled Drugs from management.

 

 

 

Date: January 2026

Version: 4 (Reviewed)

Source: CQC & Croner-i