This informal CPD article ‘The Importance of Safeguarding Children and Young People’, was provided by Rachel Webb of Phoenix-Kaw Care Consultancy, a health and social care training and consultancy organisation dedicated to improving standards of care across the sector.
Medication management is a crucial part of promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people living in residential care. Within children’s homes, the safe handling of medication is both a regulatory duty and a moral responsibility. The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (1), the Ofsted Social Care Common Inspection Framework (3) (SCCIF), and NICE guidance (4) (SC1 (4) and NG5 (5)) set clear expectations for how medicines should be managed to protect children from harm and promote positive outcomes.
Building a Culture of Safety
Medication errors are one of the most common risks across health and social care. In a children’s home, even a small error can have serious consequences. Regulation 23 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (1) requires that medicines are received, stored, administered, and disposed of safely.
However, compliance alone does not guarantee safety. A genuine culture of safety depends on staff competence, reflective practice, and accountability. The SCCIF asks a simple but important question: “What is it like to live in this home?” Safe medication practices contribute directly to a child’s lived experience ensuring timely treatment, trust in carers, and opportunities for independence.
Consent, Capacity, and Children’s Rights
Children must be actively involved in decisions about their medication. For younger children, this involves explaining treatment in a way they can understand. For adolescents, Gillick (7) competence and Fraser guidelines (8) remain essential when assessing whether they can consent independently to treatment.
For 16–17-year-olds, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (6) applies. When capacity is lacking, decisions must be made in the child’s best interests, considering their wishes, feelings, and rights. In rare, life-threatening circumstances, courts may intervene under their inherent jurisdiction to protect a child’s welfare. Understanding these legal frameworks helps ensure medication is administered ethically and lawfully.
Learning from Incidents
Guidance from NICE NG5 (5) highlights that organisations should learn from medication errors and near misses. Open reporting culture is not enough in children’s homes staff should review patterns of incidents, identify training needs, and update policies accordingly.
Using systems such as medication error logs or incident dashboards can help identify recurring issues, prompting reflective supervision and continuous improvement. This proactive approach prevents repetition of mistakes and strengthens staff confidence.
Promoting Independence and Health Literacy
Regulation 10 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 (1) requires that staff promote children’s health and wellbeing. Encouraging young people to manage their own medication, where appropriate, is an important part of preparing them for independence.
Self-administration should always be supported by clear risk assessments, safe storage arrangements, and regular review. Involving young people in this process builds trust, confidence, and essential life skills for adulthood.
Conclusion
Medication management is about far more than compliance it is about safeguarding, empowerment, and promoting trust. By embedding good practice into everyday routines, staff not only meet legal standards but also enhance children’s lived experiences.
Training, reflection, and supervision ensure that staff remain competent and confident. A home that manages medication well demonstrates a culture of learning, care, and respect — qualities that Ofsted recognises, and children deserve.
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REFERENCES
(1) Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015. Statutory Instrument 2015 No. 541. London: The Stationery Office.
(2) Department for Education (2015). Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations Including the Quality Standards. London: DfE.
(3) Ofsted (2023). Social Care Common Inspection Framework (SCCIF): Children’s Homes. Manchester: Ofsted.
(4) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2014). SC1: Managing Medicines in Care Homes. London: NICE.
(5) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2015). NG5: Medicines Optimisation: The Safe and Effective Use of Medicines to Enable the Best Possible Outcomes. London: NICE.
(6) Mental Capacity Act 2005. London: The Stationery Office.
(7) Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority [1985] 3 All ER 402 (HL).
(8) Fraser Guidelines (1985). Derived from Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority, applied in best practice for children’s consent to medical treatment.
