Summary
This Medicines Management Guide is a reference tool for managers of community residential and facility-based respite services in the disability, mental health and addiction sectors. These organisations rely on a mostly non-regulated workforce to support people to live in the community.
As the focus is on ‘home-like’ residential services, this guide does not apply to hospital-level care.
The guidance is based on current good practice, legislation, best available evidence and published guidelines. It is consistent with the New Zealand medicines strategy, Actioning Medicines New Zealand (Associate Minister of Health and Minister of Health 2010).
The guide is designed to support good practice and policy development. It does not replace sound clinical judgement, organisation-specific policies and procedures, or current legislation. The appendices include resources that may be useful for operational staff and for people taking medication.
The Guide may be referenced in audits and evaluations of services for which it was developed.