The delivery of safe, effective health and social care services across Wales depends on a confident, competent workforce with the knowledge and skills required to support individuals with their medicines safely. As the needs of our population become increasingly complex, it is essential that support workers are equipped with a clear and consistent understanding of medicines management and their responsibilities within this area.
This consultation seeks views on the draft All-Wales Medicines Training Curriculum for Support Workers, which defines the knowledge and skills that should be included within medicines training programmes. As illustrated in Figure 1, the curriculum sits within a wider suite of national medicines management and training resources, including the All Wales Guidance to Support Integrated Medicines Management in Community Settings and All Wales Policy for Medicines Administration, Recording, Review, Storage and Disposal (MARRS).
The All-Wales Guidance for Medicines Training and Education for Support Workers in Health and Social Care, which is currently progressing through the national ratification process with planned consideration for AWMSG endorsement in October 2026, sets out how medicines training should be governed, delivered, quality assured and competency assessed.
The All-Wales Medicines Training Curriculum for Support Workers, which is the subject of this consultation, sets out what support workers should know and be able to do and be able to do to support safe medicines practice.
The curriculum is structured around three training groups, reflecting different levels of medicines-related responsibility and practice. It covers core principles such as medicines safety, legal and professional responsibilities, person-centred care, medicines administration, record keeping, incident reporting, medicines optimisation, and specialist or delegated medicines-related activities. It aims to promote consistent standards of training while allowing organisations the flexibility to deliver learning in ways that best meet local needs.
By establishing a standardised curriculum, we aim to strengthen medicines safety, support workforce development, and ensure that individuals receiving care can be confident that staff have the appropriate knowledge and competence to provide safe medicines support.
This consultation (orange box) seeks views on a new training curriculum created by bringing together existing guidance (blue and purple boxes) into a single all-Wales resource (green box).
The aim is to support a consistent minimum standard for educating and training support workers in the safe administration of medicines, where appropriate to their role.
Figure 1: Position of the All-Wales Medicines Training Curriculum within the wider medicines management guidance
The aim of this consultation is to share the proposed All-Wales Medicines Training Curriculum for Support Workers and invite comments from stakeholders across health and social care to inform its final development and publication.
The consultation seeks to gather feedback on:
Whether the curriculum content is comprehensive and appropriate to support safe medicines practice across Wales.
Whether the three-group structure (Groups A, B and C) appropriately reflects the differing levels of responsibility within medicines support roles.
Whether the proposed curriculum content is fit for purpose and aligned to current practice in health and social care settings.
The suitability of the proposed delivery methods, learning approaches and competency expectations.
Any omissions, areas for improvement, or additional content that should be considered.
Potential implementation opportunities and challenges.
Any other comments relating to the draft curriculum and its supporting guidance.
Feedback received through this consultation will help ensure that the final curriculum reflects the needs of the workforce, supports safe and effective medicines practice, and provides a consistent all-Wales approach to medicines training and education for support workers.
We would welcome your comments on the draft document entitled "All-Wales Medicines Training Curriculum for Support Workers".
The draft curriculum and consultation documents are available on the HEIW Work-Based Learning webpage. Respondents may provide feedback through one or more of the methods outlined below.
Respondents may provide feedback through one or more of the methods outlined below.
Complete the questionnaire
The consultation questionnaire is available on the HEIW Work-Based Learning webpage under Consultation Events. This provides an opportunity to share your views and feedback on the draft document and highlight any areas for consideration. All-Wales Medicines Training Curriculum for Support Workers – Fill in form
Submit comments on the draft curriculum
A consultation pro forma is available for respondents who wish to provide detailed comments on specific sections of the curriculum. Completed pro formas should be returned to heiwblapprenticeships@wales.nhs.uk using the subject line:
Medicines Training Curriculum Consultation
Respondents are welcome to complete both the questionnaire and the consultation pro forma.
Attend a consultation workshop
A series of consultation workshops will be held between 14 -20 October. These sessions will provide an opportunity for more focused discussion and feedback on the curriculum. The first workshop will take place on 14th October. To book a place at any of the workshops, please visit Y Ty Dysgu
Places may be limited. Where possible, organisations are encouraged to nominate a representative to attend and provide feedback on behalf of their team, service or network.
Request a dedicated stakeholder workshop
If you would like us to facilitate a workshop with your professional group, team, network, or organisation, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss arrangements. Email: heiw.wblapprenticeships@wales.nhs.uk