COVID-19 Medicines Training Support
We've put together the information you need to allow you to successfully train your Managers and staff effectively and safely.
Click on the buttons below to find out more.
Skills for Care have recently published guidance advising that medicines training is 'essential training'.
CQC have reinforced the message saying care providers are to 'make every effort to ensure staff are competent, confident and skilled in providing safe care to the people using their service'.
Skills for Care have said that organisations must stop face to face training, and use digital training solutions instead.
E-Learning 
Virtual Learning 
Distance Learning Workbooks 
Online Competency Assessments What’s the Plan?
To help you decide the best way forward, we’ve put together a Contingency Training Plan for you to download, outlining key steps and training options available.
The 3-Point Plan set out in the document can be used to quickly and effectively train staff to be able to assist with and/or administer medicines in your organisation.
Who Needs Medicines Training?
Changes to frontline staff during the COVID-19 pandemic have meant more staff are being called up.
CQC have advised that organisations are to 'make every effort to ensure staff are competent, confident and skilled in providing safe care to the people using their service'.
Staff you need to train may include:
Agency staff
New or inexperienced staff
Staff with expiring certificates
Redeployed staff
It is also important to train Managers and people taking on more senior roles, to ensure they are able to assess competence within your organisation.
Managers
Senior Staff
During the pandemic, it is vital that staff and Managers are trained without undertaking face to face training of any kind and, ideally, without having to travel.
Digital/ self-study training options available include:
E-learning
Online medicines training allows your redeployed, new or untrained staff to undertake our accredited medicines foundation courses, specifically tailored to their care setting.
Virtual Learning
To enable our customers to continue to receive training directly from our team of expert Pharmacist trainers, we have developed 'Virtual Opus' - interactive face to face training delivered by way of video conference.
Online Competency Assessments
Online competency assessments can be used to evidence competence of staff to the Regulator whilst providing you with peace of mind that skills learnt during foundation training can be applied in practice.
Distance Learning Workbooks
We have distance learning workbooks that can be posted to you within 24 hours for staff to complete in their own time, from anywhere.
Assessments can be sent back to us electronically to avoid any unnecessary trips to the post office.
Administering from Original Packs for Care Homes
Administering from Original Packs for Homecare & Reablement
Delegating Medicines Administration: Info Sheet
Training Pathway for Care Staff
Training Pathway for Senior Staff
Training Contingency Plan
CD Legislation Changes During the Pandemic
Care Homes Medicines Management Checklist
Domiciliary Medicines Management Checklist
Procedure for the Disposal of Unwanted Medicines
Use of PPE when Administering Medicines
Introduction & Summary
Checklist
Form 1 - Letter to Residents re Re-Used Medicines
Form 2 - High Level Risk Assessment
Form 3 - Assessment for Re-Use
Form 4 - Log of Re-Used Medicines
Procedure for Running a Medicines Re-Use Scheme
Procedure for the Storage of Re-Used Medicines
Procedure for the Handling of Controlled Drugs for Re-use
Procedure for Administering and Recording Re-Used Medicines
Full Resource Pack
Knowledgeable
Opus training reflects the experience, knowledge and expertise of our highly qualified Pharmacist team.
Trusted Partners
We work together with our customers to understand their values and what is important to them, to offer guidance and training that really makes a difference in their care setting.
Ongoing Support
Our friendly team are available on an ongoing basis to support you- from easy booking options to answering medicines questions and queries, the Opus team is here to help.