2.1 Describe own responsibilities and accountability in relation to assisting with the administration of medication

This guide will help you answer 2.1 Describe own responsibilities and accountability in relation to assisting with the administration of medication.

Assisting with the administration of medication is a serious role in health and social care. It requires workers to understand their responsibilities and know exactly how they are accountable for their actions. This keeps people safe, ensures legal requirements are met, and builds trust with those receiving care.

Responsibilities are the duties you must carry out. Accountability means you are answerable for your actions and decisions. Both are guided by organisational policy, law, and professional expectations.

Key Responsibilities

When assisting with medication, your main responsibilities include:

• Following the organisational policies and procedures at all times
• Completing training and being assessed as competent before giving any medication
• Only assisting with medication if you are authorised and competent to do so
• Checking the identity of the individual every time before giving medication
• Carefully following the prescription or care plan
• Adhering to the ‘five rights’ of medication administration:
• Right person
• Right medicine
• Right dose
• Right time
• Right route
• Gaining consent from the person before helping them take medication
• Recording every instance of medication support on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) or relevant documentation
• Seeking immediate advice if you make an error or have a concern
• Keeping medication securely stored according to policy
• Maintaining confidentiality of personal and medication information
• Respecting the individual’s dignity, privacy, and choices
• Reporting any changes in the person’s condition or side effects from the medication
• Not giving medication out of your level of training or outside agreed agreements
• Handing over any concerns or incidents to a manager or senior team member without delay

Limits of Your Role

You must know what you can and cannot do:

• Do not administer medication unless you are trained and assessed as competent
• Do not make changes to medicine or doses yourself
• Never disguise medication in food or drink unless approved by a prescriber and organisational policy
• Avoid giving ‘as required’ (PRN) medication without clear instructions and appropriate authorisation
• Do not offer advice about medication which you are unqualified to provide
• Never use medication prescribed for someone else
• Never leave medication unattended in communal areas

If you are unclear about anything or asked to do something outside your role, you must seek guidance from a senior colleague.

Accountability

Being accountable means you are responsible for your actions at all times. In practice, this looks like:

• Taking personal responsibility for following policy and law
• Being honest and transparent about mistakes, omissions, or concerns
• Only acting within the limits of your role, training, and competence
• Recognising your accountability to the person you support, your employer, regulators, and yourself
• Keeping up to date with training and best practice
• Ensuring accurate and honest records are kept for every medication task
• Understanding that ignoring policy, making unsafe decisions, or covering up errors can lead to disciplinary action, dismissal, or legal investigation

Importance of Consent and Communication

You are responsible for seeking and recording consent before supporting with medication. This includes:

• Explaining what the medication is and why it is needed in a way the person understands
• Respecting the right of the individual to refuse medication and recording the refusal
• Informing senior staff of repeated refusals or any concerns
• Updating others involved in the person’s care if there are any changes or risks

Clear communication means letting managers know about errors, changes in condition, side effects, or concerns straight away.

Following Procedures

When you assist with administering medication, you must:

• Work in line with what you have learned in training
• Follow the organisation’s procedure as set out in the medication policy
• Use safe methods such as washing your hands and using gloves
• Keep all medication in its original packaging and check expiry dates
• Check that all information on labels matches the prescription or care plan
• Only prepare medication for one person at a time to avoid mix-ups
• Sign and date after each administration, never before
• Record missed or refused doses accurately, giving reasons

If you do not follow these procedures, you put individuals at risk and expose yourself and your employer to legal action.

Knowing When to Seek Help

It is your responsibility to ask for help or seek advice if:

• You are unsure about a medicine, dose, or method
• There is a change in a person’s condition
• You think a prescription is wrong, missing, or duplicated
• Medication appears damaged, out of date, or unlabelled
• You have made an error
• There is a safeguarding or safety concern

Reporting mistakes early and honestly helps protect the person and keeps you accountable.

Confidentiality

You must keep personal and medical information private and only share it with authorised staff. This means:

• Not discussing medication or medical details in public areas
• Keeping records safe and secure
• Only sharing information with colleagues who need to know for safe care
• Telling a manager if there is a breach in confidentiality

Failing to keep information confidential can lead to disciplinary or legal action.

Keeping Up With Training

Your responsibility does not end after your first training session. You must:

• Attend regular refresher training
• Ask for additional support if unsure about any part of the process
• Keep up to date with changes to organisational policy, guidance, or legislation
• Participate in competency assessments and supervision

Good practice means never being complacent or assuming knowledge is enough.

Leading by Example

Your actions show others how to work safely with medicines. Responsibility includes:

• Modelling good practice for colleagues
• Promptly challenging or reporting unsafe practice
• Supporting other team members to follow policy
• Being professional in attitude and appearance

Accountability means owning your role each time, every time, without exception.

Consequences of Not Meeting Responsibilities

If you do not meet your responsibilities or are not accountable, several things can happen:

• Harm to the person using the service
• Loss of trust from individuals and their families
• Disciplinary action by your employer
• Investigation by regulators such as the CQC
• Possible criminal charges if there is neglect or misconduct
• Loss of employment or professional registration

Every action you take should be safe, honest, and in line with policy.

Final Thoughts

You are answerable for your decisions and actions. This protects people using the service, builds trust, and maintains high standards in health and social care. By understanding and meeting these responsibilities, you make a direct difference to people’s lives and wellbeing.