Senior Carer/Medication Lead
Great Wheatley Nursing Home
Hours: Full-time | 40 hours per week
Employment type: Permanent
Salary: £36,000–£38,000 per year, depending on experience
About the Role
Great Wheatley Nursing Home is looking for an experienced, organised and knowledgeable Medication Lead to join our team and take responsibility for the safe, effective and person-centred management of medicines across the home, with particular attention to the complex needs of older people and residents living with dementia.
This is a key role within the nursing home, working closely with the Home Manager, nurses, senior care staff, GPs, pharmacies and other healthcare professionals. The Medication Lead will provide day-to-day leadership, operational oversight and medicines-management guidance to nurses and other authorised staff, while respecting each regulated professional's clinical accountability and ensuring medication processes are safe, compliant, accurately recorded and consistently followed.
The successful candidate will have strong knowledge of medication management within a care-home environment and will be confident supporting staff, identifying areas for improvement and maintaining high standards of medication safety.
Key Responsibilities
· Take the lead on medication management and medication-related processes within the nursing home.
· Ensure medicines are administered, stored, recorded and managed safely and in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
· Carry out regular medication audits and checks, identifying and addressing any discrepancies or areas of concern.
· Monitor MAR charts, medication records, controlled drugs and other medication documentation.
· Support the ordering, receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.
· Liaise with pharmacies, GPs, community nurses and other healthcare professionals regarding residents’ medication.
· Support the safe management of controlled drugs and ensure appropriate records are maintained.
· Monitor medication errors, incidents and near misses and support appropriate follow-up and learning.
· Ensure PRN medication protocols and records are appropriately maintained and reviewed.
· Ensure PRN protocols for pain, anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbance and other common symptoms include clear indications, non-drug measures, maximum doses, review arrangements and outcome monitoring.
· Promote the least restrictive and person-centred use of medicines for residents living with dementia, including close monitoring of sedating, anticholinergic and psychotropic medicines and prompt referral where benefits, side effects or ongoing need are unclear.
· Support best-interest and multidisciplinary processes for covert administration, confirming that appropriate capacity assessments, authorisation, medication-specific guidance and regular reviews are in place before covert medicines are given.
· Identify and escalate dementia-related medication risks, including swallowing difficulties, refusal, altered presentation of pain or adverse effects, dehydration, poor nutrition, falls, constipation, delirium and changes in behaviour.
· Support medication reviews and ensure changes to medication are accurately communicated and recorded.
· Use resident observations, incident trends and feedback from nurses, care staff and relatives to prepare meaningful information for medication reviews and multidisciplinary discussions.
· Review medication arrangements following hospital admission or discharge, GP visits, falls, significant health changes or safeguarding concerns, ensuring reconciliation is completed and discrepancies are resolved without delay.
· Work with residents and, where appropriate, relatives or representatives to explain medication arrangements, respond to concerns and uphold consent, capacity, best-interest and choice requirements.
· Provide guidance, support and training to staff involved in medication administration.
· Provide visible day-to-day oversight of nurses and authorised care staff involved in medicines management, ensuring concerns, omissions and unsafe practice are addressed and escalated promptly.
· Plan, coordinate and document medication competency assessments, refresher training and supervised practice for authorised staff, in line with the home's policies. Any assessment of a registered nurse's clinical practice must be completed with the Home Manager or an appropriately registered clinical professional and must not replace the nurse's own professional accountability.
· Coach staff on safe administration techniques, accurate documentation, professional accountability and person-centred approaches for residents who may be distressed, resistant or unable to communicate their needs clearly.
· Assist with the induction and competency assessment of staff in relation to medication management, where appropriate.
· Keep medication policies, procedures and guidance up to date and ensure staff are aware of relevant changes.
· Promote good medication practices and a strong culture of safety throughout the home.
· Work closely with the Home Manager and clinical team to identify risks and implement improvements.
· Analyse medication errors, refusals, omissions, stock issues and recurring audit findings; agree corrective actions, monitor completion and share learning with the nursing and care teams.
· Support inspections and quality-assurance activity by maintaining clear evidence of audits, competencies, action plans, medication reviews and improvements in practice.
· Maintain effective governance for high-risk medicines, including anticoagulants, insulin, opioids, antiepileptics and medicines requiring time-critical administration or clinical monitoring.
· Maintain confidentiality and ensure residents’ dignity, choice and independence are respected at all times.
About You
We are looking for someone who is responsible, organised, knowledgeable and passionate about medication safety.
You should have substantial medication-management experience gained in a nursing home, residential care, community, hospital or pharmacy setting in the UK or overseas. You must also have a clear understanding of UK care-home medicines management, or be able to demonstrate how you will apply your transferable pharmacy knowledge safely within this framework. You will be confident working independently within the agreed scope of the role and providing credible operational leadership, support and guidance to the care team.
Applications are welcomed from people who obtained their pharmacy qualification outside Great Britain. GPhC registration is not required for appointment as Medication Lead because this is not an appointment to practise as a pharmacist. A person who is not registered with the GPhC must not present themselves as a pharmacist in Great Britain or undertake activities reserved for an appropriately registered professional. Clinical decisions, prescribing, dispensing, formal clinical medication reviews and matters outside the postholder's competence must be referred to the appropriate GP, supplying pharmacy or registered healthcare professional.
You will need to be able to identify potential medication risks, investigate discrepancies appropriately and ensure that concerns are escalated promptly.
Excellent communication and organisational skills are essential, together with a strong attention to detail.
Essential Skills & Experience
· A recognised pharmacy degree or professional pharmacy qualification obtained in the UK or overseas. Overseas qualifications and any relevant registration or professional standing will be verified as part of the recruitment process.
· Substantial experience handling, reviewing or supporting the safe use of medicines in a pharmacy, hospital, primary-care, community, nursing-home or residential-care setting in the UK or overseas.
· Relevant experience may include medication reconciliation, prescription review, clinical screening, medicines optimisation, audits, stock control, care-home support or advising healthcare teams. Applicants without UK care-home experience must demonstrate transferable knowledge and a willingness to complete all required UK care-home medicines training and competency assessments before working independently.
· Experience providing medication-related leadership, operational guidance, supervision, coaching or competency support to staff responsible for managing or administering medicines, while recognising when advice or sign-off is required from a UK-registered healthcare professional.
· Experience supporting older people with polypharmacy, frailty and dementia, including recognition of adverse effects, interactions, adherence difficulties and changes in cognition, behaviour or swallowing.
· Experience contributing to multidisciplinary medication reviews and communicating recommendations clearly to prescribers, nurses, residents and relatives.
· Good knowledge of medication administration, storage, ordering and record keeping.
· Experience using MAR charts and maintaining accurate medication records.
· Understanding of medication safety, including PRN medication and controlled drugs.
· Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, best-interest decision-making and the safeguards required for covert administration.
· Understanding of the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medicines in dementia care, including the importance of non-drug approaches and regular review.
Further Skills & Experience
· Ability to review prescriptions, clinical information and monitoring requirements within the agreed scope of the role, recognise potential interactions or inappropriate therapy, and promptly escalate observations and recommendations to the appropriate prescriber, supplying pharmacy or registered clinician.
· Experience carrying out medication audits and identifying discrepancies or risks.
· Good understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and residents’ rights.
· Excellent attention to detail and accurate record-keeping skills.
· Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively with residents, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals.
· Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and take responsibility for medication-related tasks.
· Commitment to maintaining high standards of care, safety and compliance.
What We Offer
· Competitive salary based on experience.
· Permanent, full-time position.
· Key role within a supportive nursing-home environment.
· Opportunity to take ownership of medication management and quality.
· Ongoing training and professional development.
· Support from the Home Manager and wider clinical team.
· Pension scheme.
How to Apply
If you have relevant medication-management experience and are looking for a responsible role where you can make a real difference to medication safety and the quality of care provided to residents, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Please submit your CV through Indeed, outlining your relevant experience in medication management, medication administration, auditing and care home practice.
All appointments are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including references, right-to-work checks, verification of qualifications and overseas professional registration or good standing where applicable, and DBS checks. The successful candidate must complete the home's induction, medicines training and role-specific competency assessment before working independently.
Work Location: In person
Location: Great Wheatley Nursing Home
Pay: £36,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
