Kaleidoscope and Tata Steel Partnership

In July 2011 Kaleidoscope became a partner of the largest industrial employer in South Wales - Tata Steel PLC.

Dave Chugg is the partnership worker, working two days a week for Kaleidoscope and three days for Tata Steel.  His role is to provide training for staff on drug and alcohol awareness, understanding issues that could affect them, their families and colleagues.

The steel works’ Drug and Alcohol Policy provides staff with any issues involving drugs or alcohol the freedom to come forward and seek help. This is looked at on a case-by-case basis because where staff are employed in a safety critical role re-deployment has to be considered. Staff who have accidents or are suspected of having alcohol or drugs in their body are required to take a test for drugs or alcohol.

Positive tests mean a case meeting involving the staff member, union representative and manager and a decision is taken how best to provide help. Dave’s involvement is to provide information and help about the type of drug and its effects, or alcohol levels. In almost all situations the employee is then offered a rehabilitation contract which will specify conditions s/he will be required to comply with.  This is voluntary but prevents disciplinary action. In alcohol cases this will mean zero when at work. With drugs it is dependent upon the type of drug found.

The occupation health consultant medical officer reviews all medical aspects and decides how often the employee will be tested. The employee will also be required to see either Dave or his colleagues for a full assessment and subsequent counselling which could involve attendance at a local project such as Kaleidoscope with occasional follow up between the staff member and Dave.

Dave also sees staff members referred to him for general anxiety, stress or areas such as anger management. He has helped staff with family issues around addiction and normally refers on to more specialist colleagues within DAFS or its equivalent in other areas.           

His general role is varied even within the work we carry out as an agency and is unique within South Wales and to some degree Wales. The project is in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and was central to the then Assembly Government Document on “Good Practice on the management of Drugs and Alcohol within the Workplace”.