Medication
Community Micro-providers are able to assist with medicines under the direction of the person receiving care or their legal representative providing their customer:
- Put this request in writing and sign an authorisation form.
- Check whether any specialist training is needed to deliver the medication.
- Set down in writing exactly what they are asking a Micro-provider to do and sign that request to allow consent
(e.g. take inhaler from fridge at 12 noon and assist in using the inhaler by pressing down the button while the person breathes in). This should be attached to the Service Agreement.
- The Micro-provider completes MAR (Medication Administration Records)
If a person or their legal representative, ask a Micro-provider to administer invasive medication e.g. an insulin injection; Valium suppository:
- Micro-providers should follow the general guidance outlined above, and in addition, and even if a Micro-provider has been trained to administer invasive medication, they can only administer this medication under the supervision of a community health professional. This means that a community health professional has trained a Micro-provider in the use of this particular medication and is responsible for checking the correct administration. For further information please see: Delegation of healthcare tasks to personal assistants within personal health budgets and Integrated Personal Commissioning
- You should talk to your insurance adviser about whether you will need extra cover because you are assisting with medication.
For further information please see: Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community NICE guideline [NG67]
Q & A
Q) What happens if there are concerns about the quality of the service being provided by a Micro-Provider who is part of the programme?
A) Please complete the Micro-provider: Service Quality Feedback Form we take poor practice very seriously and reserve the right to remove providers who do not meet the Community Micro-enterprise Programme ‘Doing it Right’ Quality Standards
Q) What training do I need?
A) The training you need will depend on the services you provide. We would not expect you to provide any activities that you are not trained, competent and confident in. Your insurance will also likely be invalid if you are performing activities that you are not trained in.
Q) How can I update my training?
A) Please click on the link and select ‘training’ – Micro-Providers (somersetprovidernetwork.org.uk) You may also have qualified trainers offering courses in your Network group.
Q) How do I register as self-employed?
A) Please access the HMRC website here: Set up as a sole trader – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Q) Who do I contact if my listing is incorrect in the online directory?
A) Please email communityenterprise@somerset.gov.uk with the details you would like amended
Q) How do I get my Enhanced DBS certificate updated?
A) Please contact Grahame at Anagram People using this link: Anagram People
Q) If my customer doesn’t pay me, what can I do?
A) As a self-employed provider, you must ensure you have clauses written into your terms of service (contract/agreement) about the consequences of not paying you. Ultimately, your only course of action would be to seek recompense via small claims court, but please contact us so we can offer some advice and guidance before taking that route. We can offer assistance if your customer is funded by SCC (Direct Payment Client) and sign post you to the right person if they are funded via a personal health budget (PHB).
