Care Home Medication Audit Checklist™
Download a practical medication governance checklist to help review medication management systems, reduce risk and strengthen compliance across your care home.
What’s Included
8 Medication Governance Areas Covered
A comprehensive audit checklist covering every critical area of medication management in UK care homes.
Medication Storage
Controlled Drugs
MAR Chart Reviews
PRN Medication
Medication Errors
Near Miss Reporting
Medication Competency
Audit & Governance
Who Is It For?
Designed for UK Care Professionals
This checklist supports everyone responsible for medication governance in CQC-regulated care settings.
Registered Managers
Clinical Leads
Senior Carers
Nurses
Medication Champions
Quality Managers
Why Download It?
Four Reasons to Use This Checklist
Practical, actionable and aligned to CQC medication governance expectations.
Strengthen Medication Governance
Systematically review your medication management systems against CQC expectations and best practice standards.
Identify Documentation Gaps
Spot missing or incomplete MAR charts, PRN protocols, controlled drug records and competency assessments before an inspection.
Improve Audit Readiness
Use as a structured pre-inspection audit tool to ensure your medication governance evidence is complete and inspection-ready.
Support Safer Resident Care
Reduce medication errors and near misses by embedding a consistent audit process across your care home.
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✅ Download ChecklistFrequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
Everything you need to know about the Care Home Medication Audit Checklist™.
What is a medication audit?
A medication audit is a structured review of a care home’s medication management systems, processes and documentation. It assesses compliance with CQC requirements, NICE guidance and best practice standards covering storage, administration, MAR charts, controlled drugs and staff competency.
How often should medication audits be completed?
CQC expects care homes to conduct regular medication audits as part of their governance framework. Most providers complete a full medication audit monthly, with targeted spot checks more frequently. The frequency should be documented in your medication management SOP and governance schedule.
Who should complete a medication audit?
Medication audits are typically completed by the Registered Manager, Clinical Lead, Medication Champion or a senior nurse. The auditor should be trained in medication management and have a clear understanding of CQC expectations and your home’s medication policies.
Does this checklist cover controlled drugs?
Yes. The Care Home Medication Audit Checklist™ includes a dedicated section on controlled drugs, covering storage, stock reconciliation, administration records, witness signatures and disposal procedures in line with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.
Is this checklist free?
Yes — the Care Home Medication Audit Checklist™ is completely free to download. No registration or payment is required. Simply click the Download button above to access the PDF immediately.
Complete Your Care Home Medication Governance
Pair this free checklist with our enterprise Medication Management SOP Template for a complete, CQC-aligned medication governance framework.
View Medication Management SOP →
