The Residential Care Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Health and welfare of residents

13.—(1) The registered person shall ensure that the residential care home is conducted so as –

(a) to promote and make proper provision for the health and welfare of residents;

(b) to make proper provision for the care and where appropriate, treatment and supervision of residents.

(2) The registered person shall so far as practicable enable residents to make decisions with respect to the care they are to receive and their health and welfare.

(3) The registered person shall, for the purpose of providing care to residents, and making proper provision for their health and welfare, so far as practicable, ascertain and take into account their wishes and feelings.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) the registered person shall make suitable arrangements for the ordering, storage, recording, handling, safe keeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines used in or for the purposes of the home to ensure that –

(a) any medicine which is kept in a home is stored in a secure place; and

(b) medicine which is prescribed is administered as prescribed to the resident for whom it is prescribed, and to no other resident; and

(c) a written record is kept of the administration of any medicine to a resident.

(5) Paragraph (4) does not apply to medicine which –

(a) is stored by the individual for whom it is provided in such a way that others are prevented from using it; and

(b) may be safely self-administered by that individual.

(6) In this regulation, “prescribed” means –

(a) ordered for a resident for provision to him under Part VI of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972(1); or

(b) prescribed for a resident under section 58 of the Medicines Act 1968(2).

(7) The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to minimise the risk of infection and toxic conditions and the spread of infection between residents and staff.

(8) The registered person shall make suitable arrangements to ensure that the home is conducted –

(a) in a manner which respects the privacy and dignity of residents;

(b) with due regard to the sex, religious persuasion, ethnic origin, and cultural and linguistic background and any disability of residents.

(9) The registered provider and registered manager (if any) shall, in relation to the conduct of the home –

(a) maintain good personal and professional relationships with each other and with residents and staff; and

(b) encourage and assist staff to maintain good personal and professional relationships with residents.

(1)

S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14)

(2)

1968 c. 67; as amended by paragraph 7 of Part II of Schedule 2 to the Medicines (Specified Articles and Substances) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/968)