Sober Check Training Ltd

Implementing Drug and Alcohol Testing at Work

Wondering where to begin? You’re not the only one. With widespread drug and alcohol use, many New Zealand businesses find workplace testing complex. Expert support is essential to meet legal obligations and safeguard your team.

How We Support You
At Sober Check, we partner with industry specialists, whether you’re launching a testing program or fine-tuning an existing policy. We’ll help you assess impairment risk, draft or update policy, design testing and disciplinary procedures and plan implementation. All while ensuring compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and Misuse of Drugs Act, plus help minimise cost and disruption. A strong policy enhances clarity, safety and operational efficiency.

In-House vs Outsourced Testing
In-House Testing is cost-effective for workplaces with frequent screening, however it does require certified personnel and strict procedures.
Urine Testing (AS/NZS 4308:2008 and 4308:2023)
We recommend collectors hold NZQA Unit Standards 25458 (specimen collection) and 25511 (screening), complying with AS/NZS 4308:2023. The urine drug testing standard is currently AS/NZS 4308:2008. This standard has been updated to AS/NZS 4308:2023, with a 36 month rollover period.

Contact details

Sober Check Ltd is a sub-contractor to Sober Check Training Ltd.

You can contact Sober Check Training’s Administration Manager about this course or enrolment by emailing training@sobercheck.co.nz or calling 0800 700 777.

Entry Requirements

Our courses have a theoretical element: a level of reading, writing and the ability to speak and comprehend English is required. If you have any concerns regarding this, require a reader/writer, or have a specific learning requirement, please contact us prior to the course to discuss options.

Your assessment must be submitted in English. If you would like to complete the assessment in Te Reo Maori, please give your Trainer adequate notice, usually at enrolment. You will need internet access and a computer with a microphone and a working camera.

Special Needs

Sober Check Training is committed to meeting the learning needs of each learner.

If you have any disabilities that may impair your ability to complete the course, please contact Sober Check on 0800 700 777 or training@sobercheck.co.nz and we will work with you to find a solution.

Community Support and Guidance available:

Assessment Appeals

Procedure:

1. All assessment material and practices are designed and reviewed to ensure they support equitable outcomes for all trainees;
2. Trainees are made aware of assessment requirements at enrolment and during orientation;
3. Trainees are well prepared for summative assessment and only assessed when the assessor is confident that the candidate has shown sufficient grasp of the new skills and knowledge during formative assessment;
4. Trainers and assessors will consider the following factors to determine authenticity of responses:
  - - Consistency in returned assessment materials, including between online and in-person responses
    - Trainee’s authentic voice in open-ended questions
    - Software security – trainees will have individual logins to the training, and won’t be able to access other trainee work
    - Trainee declaration that their submitted work is the work of themselves alone
5. If the trainer or assessor have any concerns about the authenticity of a trainee’s work during assessment, such as a discrepancy between their written and spoken responses, Trainees may be asked to resubmit a second attempt (using a different set of assessment tasks where possible);
6. If a trainee shows competence in most of a task or set of tasks but not all of it, the assessor can ask them to resubmit or resit only the necessary tasks (or part of the task) usually up to three times in order to demonstrate competence;
7. Where this work is in writing, any resubmission or resit attempt will use a different set of assessment tasks where possible (“assessment 2”, etc);
8. Trainees can submit a formal appeal to their trainer within 5 days post receiving their academic decision.
9. Any academic discipline that needs to be undertaken will be in accordance with the Discipline policy.

If you choose to appeal your assessment result, you must submit a written appeal to your Trainer within 5 days of receiving your academic decision. In the case a resolution isn’t met, you will be directed to the appropriate support.

Expected Conduct

Sober Check expects that all trainees will conduct themselves professionally at all times while participating in Sober Check training. Full attendance during the training is required in order to complete the assessments.

Click here to access our Trainee Handbook and read the Code of Conduct

Disciplinary Action

If you are caught or accused of misconduct, bullying, harassment, discrimination and/or serious misconduct, disciplinary action will be taken. If behaviour continues, your enrolment will be terminated.

Misconduct/Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination:

1. If a trainee is caught or accused of misconduct, bullying, harassment and/or discrimination;
2. The people involved are encouraged to resolve the alleged situation (all parties are permitted to have a support person present);
3. If the situation cannot be resolved without external support, an incident report is completed by the witness within 24 hours of the incident by sending an email to the Administration Manager;
4. The Administration Manager and General Manager investigate the alleged incident within 3 days of receiving the incident report;
5. The Administration Manager and General Manager meet with the person/s involved to discuss their findings and potential consequences that are agreed upon and monitored by the General Manager. The accused trainee has the opportunity to respond to the alleged incident at this point;
6. The alleged incident is recorded in the incidents register by the Administration Manager;
7. If no resolution is reached, further disciplinary action is explored.
8. Trainees can appeal any disciplinary action they consider unfair, as in the Trainee Appeals policy and procedure.

Serious misconduct/Repeated misconduct:

1. The procedure for misconduct is followed;
2. Law enforcement and legal aids are involved, if required;
3. Dismissal is considered

Termination of enrolment:

1. Termination of employment is used as a last case resort for employee disciplinary action;
2. Employees have the right to appeal the decision within 5 working days of the written termination notice;
3. If there is no resolution legal aid may be involved as required.

All reported incidents are recorded in the incidents register by the AM and are reported to the Board by the GM at least monthly.

Complaints

If you would like to make a formal complaint, you must submit it to the Administration Manager within 5 working days of the incident, and the situation will be investigated and a resolution determined. If the complaint is not able to be resolved, you can contact Study Complaints at 0800 00 8337, or contact NZQA at 0800 697 296.

Procedure:

1. Trainees are encouraged to resolve issues with the person/s involved;
2. In a case where a situation cannot be resolved trainees must submit their formal complaint to the Administration Manager within 5 working days post-incident;
3. The Administration Manager and General Manager investigate the situation within 5 working days, including discussions with those involved and asking all parties involved for their opportunity to respond to allegations (all parties are permitted to have a support person present);
4. Solutions are presented to the parties involved and a resolution is determined;
5. If a contractual or financial complaint is not able to be resolved internally, trainees are supported to contact Study Complaints, all other complaints can be referred to NZQA;
6. All formal complaints and their resolutions are recorded in the Record of Complaints, reported to the Board by the General Manager and appropriately documented and published by the Administration Manager.

Information Storage

Any information about you and your learning achievements is held in accordance with the Privacy Act. All records are stored in a secure filing system. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us on 0800 700 777.

Refunds and Withdrawals

Payment is due in full when signing up for this micro-credential when a business is paying for the training.

Within three days after signing up for the course, you may apply for a full refund if you are dissatisfied with the course or wish to withdraw for any reason.

Between three days and one week after signing up for the course, and before completing any practical skills assessments, you may apply for a full refund if you are dissatisfied with the course or wish to withdraw for any reason.

Between one week and one month after signing up for the course, and before completing any practical skills assessments, you may apply for a 50% refund if you wish to withdraw for any reason.

Courses are expected to take longer than 2 days but shorter than 5 weeks, with the start date being the date of enrolment.

Late substitution, late cancellation, or no show: full fee

Access to Course Workbook

Simply email training@sobercheck.co.nz with your full name and course date to access the Oral Fluid Drug Testing Course Workbook.