Issue - meetings

(i)       to note that officers would be undertaking work on the accompanying guidance, and that Trade Union colleagues were to be invited to participate in that work;

(ii)       to approve the revised Managing Substance Misuse Policy; and

(iii)      to instruct the Interim Chief Officer – People and Organisational Development to ensure that managers had access to the required guidance, training and support to allow them to support employees through the process with confidence.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Customer Services which presented the revised Managing Substance Misuse Policy for consideration and approval.  The report advised of the process which had been undertaken during the review, and set out the proposed changes to the policy.

During the discussion, Mr Willis expressed concern as to whether there was a meaningful resource within the Council for employees to access.  Officers advised that while there was no in-house support, employees were directed to a wide range of external support.  They noted that there was still work to be done around the supporting guidance for the policy and invited the Trade Unions to participate in that work.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the revised Managing Substance Misuse Policy; and

(b)      instruct the Interim Chief Officer – People and Organisational Development to ensure that managers had access to the required guidance, training and support to allow them to support employees through the process with confidence.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would be undertaking work on the accompanying guidance, and that Trade Union colleagues were to be invited to participate in that work; and

(ii)       to approve the recommendations.