Applying safeguarding learning to practice

Pharmacy type

Closed

Pharmacy context

Thepharmacy is an NHS distance selling pharmacy. It delivers all of its pharmacyservices from a distance.

Relevant standards

• 1.8 - Children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded

Why this is notable practice

Pharmacy team members engage in training related to identifying and reporting safeguarding concerns. They have a good understanding of the many types of safeguarding concerns which they may come across. And they act to manage these types of concerns appropriately to help protect vulnerable people. The pharmacy works with other safeguarding agencies to help promote awareness of key safeguarding issues.

How the pharmacy did this

The pharmacy had procedures to help support its team members in identifying and reporting concerns about vulnerable adults and children. All of the pharmacy professionals had completed level two safeguarding training. And all team members had engaged in other safeguarding training. This included dementia awareness and mental health awareness training. Pharmacy team members could easily identify and show how they used this learning to inform their practice. They were confident at identifying and reporting safeguarding concerns. And they could access up-to-date contact information for safeguarding teams.

In addition to acute concerns, the pharmacy had placed an emphasis on monitoring the dispensing frequency of higher risk medicines subject to misuse or abuse. Where necessary, the pharmacist had contacted the prescriber and had spoken with the patient. The pharmacy team recorded these interventions on people’s medication records. This had allowed the team to monitor the frequency of dispensing and monitor the interventions made. The pharmacy had also considered a person’s individual needs and circumstances. And provided examples of working with a care team to support the delivery of medicines to a vulnerable person.

The pharmacy had worked with other organisations to promote key messages to help to keep people safe. This included some recent work with a local police force to raise awareness of fraud. This campaign was in response to increasing reports of telephone, text, and email fraud. Another recent campaign had promoted awareness of modern slavery and exploitation. The pharmacy spread these messages by sending information leaflets published by the relevant third party agency to people with their medicine delivery.

What difference this made to patients

People using the pharmacy’s services receive a person-centred experience from a knowledgeable team that have their best interests and welfare in mind. And who are dedicated to help protect vulnerable people. The team keeps people informed through leaflet campaigns of how to keep themselves, their friends, and their family safe from potential financial, mental, and physical harm.