Overview
With approximately 4-5% of UK hospital admissions caused by the incorrect use of medicines at an estimated cost of £466 million a year to the NHS, understanding how to handle medicines safely is crucial work anyone wishing to work in health and social care. If you think you’d like a career in this area, this nationally recognised RQF is a must!
Who should study the Safe Handling of Medication Level 2?
If you’re already employed in a health and social care role, then this course is ideal to further your own professional development, which could also lead to increased pay and responsibility.
On this NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines in social care, you’ll:
- Be introduced to the various medicines you are likely to encounter in a work environment
- Learn how the medication is supplied and administered, as well as the possible side effects
- Learn procedures for obtaining, storing and disposing of medicines and the legislation surrounding these three areas
- Discover the importance of the audit process and issues surrounding responsibility, accountability and confidentiality.
What you'll learn
In this unit, you’ll cover the different types of medication you may encounter in a health and social care environment, the different classification of medicines, as well as sources of information and guidance.
In the second unit, you’ll learn how to store, obtain, handle, and dispose of medication correctly. You’ll also gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of staff during these procedures.
Next, you’ll take a look at common side effects of medication, and what procedures to follow when problems occur. You’ll also learn how to safely monitor the effects of medication after administration.
Finally, you’ll gain an understanding of the records that must be maintained after medication is administered, the audit process, along with issues of confidentiality and responsibility.
Extra info
Awarding Body
CACHE stands for the Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education, and are the leading specialist Awarding Organisation for the Care and Education Sector.
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Course Outcome
At the end of this course, successful learners will receive the following qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines. This means that it is independently accredited at a level of learning equivalent to Level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NCFE CACHE has been developing courses in the childcare, education and healthcare sectors since 1945 and is one of the most reputable awarding bodies for qualifications in the UK and overseas. Practitioners working in these areas are much more employable having gained NCFE CACHE certification and many employers specifically ask for their qualifications when taking on members of staff.
How is this course assessed or examined?
Throughout this course, you may be expected to complete assignments, essays, research projects, presentations, video/audio recordings, and practical learning sessions to meet the requirements of your course. This information will be included in your study pack detailing exactly what you need to do to accomplish your goals as a student.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course, however, it is recommended that you have an intermediate ability to read and write English. There is a minimum study age of 18.
