BRADFORD Council has become the first local authority in England to receive NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) endorsement for its Medication Support Guidance.

The Council with the support of partners (including local home support providers like the CQC, NICE, NHS CCG, CPWY and UKHCA) launched the Medication Support Guidance for Home Support providers last year.

The Medication Support Guidance covers medicine support for adults (aged 18 and over) who are receiving social care in the community.

The aim of the guidance is to ensure that people who receive social care are supported to take and look after their medicines effectively and safely at home. It also aims to promote and maintain the person’s rights, dignity and independence. It provides advice on assessing people who may need help managing their medicines, who should provide medicines support and how health and social care staff should work together.

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The booklet is aimed at home support (domiciliary) providers who offer medication support to people receiving care in the community. It is intended to be used by social care providers under contractual arrangements with the council. Other non-contractual providers are welcome to access the policy.

The Council applied to the NICE Endorsement Programme and was successful. It has been issued with an endorsement statement from NICE that confirms the booklet accurately reflects the recommendations in the NICE guideline on managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community. The endorsed booklet is to be used alongside the NICE guideline.

The Medication Support Guidance can now be accessed from the Council website and is also signposted in the ‘tools and resources’ section of the relevant NICE guideline and quality standard webpages and is listed on the NICE endorsement webpage.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: "This is fantastic news and just shows the value of the work we are doing with partners to support some of our most vulnerable residents in their own homes and communities. It is great that the guidance we have created has been recognised by one of the most respected and internationally recognised guideline producing organisations who have given us their seal of approval.”

Nicola Bent, Programme Director of the System Engagement Programme at NICE, said: “Medicines use can be complex, particularly when people have several long-term conditions and are taking multiple medicines. We’re therefore pleased to be able to endorse this medication support resource for social care providers which will help those who are receiving support in the community manage their medicines safely and effectively.”