RESEARCH / VERSION 1.1 / 16 OCTOBER 2026
Probation Board for Northern Ireland
Provides treatment support, case-specific relapse review and consideration of suitable alternative duties.
| Field | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Reference period | 2019-02-22 board approval; implemented 2019-03-01 (version 0.3) |
| Coverage | Northern Ireland |
| Status | Published document examined; internal operation unconfirmed |
| Source-check date | 2026-10-14 |
| Document | Probation Board for Northern Ireland — Substance Abuse Policy and Procedure |
| Confidentiality | Presence: explicit; conditions: condition or scope recorded. Confidentiality limited by unlawful activity and essential internal information sharing. [Source: 5; 11.3] |
| Voluntary disclosure | Presence: explicit; conditions: not separately assessed. Voluntary help through manager, union or HR encouraged. [Source: 5] |
| Treatment leave | Presence: explicit; conditions: condition or scope recorded. Reasonable appointment time may be granted outside six-appointment cap; longer treatment recorded as sickness. [Source: 12] |
| Relapse | Presence: explicit; conditions: condition or scope recorded. Further treatment considered individually; support cannot continue indefinitely. [Source: 12.2] |
| Return to work | Presence: explicit; conditions: condition or scope recorded. Previous role sought; alternatives considered where fitness prevents it. [Source: 12.1] |
| Impairment and safety | Presence: explicit; conditions: not separately assessed. Dependency normally not disciplinary; impairment and serious conduct can trigger action. [Source: 11.3; 13] |
| Occupational health | Presence: explicit; conditions: not separately assessed. Referral for treatment advice and review provided. [Source: 12] |
| Treatment-time routes | appointments, sickness absence |
| Treatment pay | not stated — Appointment time may be granted; longer treatment recorded as sickness. |
| Treatment-pay check scope | Structured recode of v1.0 source-linked descriptions; not a fresh source check. |
| Currency | Public availability does not confirm that this is the current operative HR policy. |
Presence and conditions
| Provision | Presence | Conditions / scope |
|---|---|---|
| confidentiality | explicit | Confidentiality limited by unlawful activity and essential internal information sharing. |
| voluntary disclosure | explicit | not separately assessed |
| treatment leave | explicit | Reasonable appointment time may be granted outside six-appointment cap; longer treatment recorded as sickness. |
| relapse | explicit | Further treatment considered individually; support cannot continue indefinitely. |
| return to work | explicit | Previous role sought; alternatives considered where fitness prevents it. |
| impairment safety | explicit | not separately assessed |
| occupational health | explicit | not separately assessed |
Interpretation limits
Review due February 2023; website publishes this version. NI framework. Written provisions, not verified practice.
Sources
- Substance Abuse Policy and Procedure — See provision-level section locators.
Cite this record
Civil Liberties Action (2026). Recovery at work: Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Record wp-pbni, version 1.1, 2026-10-16. https://cla-political-finance.copperchime4.chatgpt.site/databases/releases/2026-10-16-v1.1/records/workplace/wp-pbni.html
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