FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING

Workplace Investigations Training

Practical training for handling workplace concerns, complaints and allegations. This one-day, face-to-face course helps HR professionals, safeguarding leads, managers and investigating officers assess concerns, plan investigations, practise interviews, evaluate evidence and report findings.

  • Face to face Delivered by an Emmaus Safe trainer
  • One day 09:00–16:30
  • CPD accredited Includes a closing knowledge check
  • Up to 25 delegates Individual or dedicated group places

WHY THIS COURSE MATTERS

A clear, fair approach to workplace investigations

When a workplace concern is raised, the people handling it need to establish what has happened, decide who should be involved and follow a fair, consistent process.

This course helps delegates structure that process, recognise when to escalate, gather and evaluate evidence, and explain the reasons behind their decisions.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

For those responsible for workplace investigations

For people who assess, oversee, conduct or make decisions about internal investigations across public, private and voluntary organisations, including sport, live events, education, charities and faith settings.

  • HR leads and advisers

    Managing disciplinary and grievance procedures.

  • Safeguarding leads and designated officers

    Involved in concerns and allegations about staff or volunteers.

  • Department heads and line managers

    Commissioning investigations or hearing findings.

  • Senior leaders

    Providing oversight of serious or high-profile concerns.

  • Investigating officers

    Appointed to conduct internal investigations.

WHEN IT HELPS

Useful when concerns need a structured response

Designed for teams that need a consistent approach to handling complaints, allegations and workforce conduct matters.

  1. Assessing a new concern

    Deciding what information is required and whether to escalate.

  2. Planning an investigation

    Defining terms of reference, scope and milestones.

  3. Gathering reliable evidence

    Using fair interviews and recorded decisions.

  4. Learning from findings

    Writing reports and strengthening organisational practice.

COURSE OUTCOMES

What delegates will learn

Six practical outcomes at a glance, with the complete ten learning outcomes available below.

  1. Assess concerns and decide between informal resolution and a formal investigation.
  2. Identify responsibilities, escalation points and the need for external involvement.
  3. Set terms of reference and create an investigation plan.
  4. Use trauma-informed approaches and structured interview techniques.
  5. Evaluate evidence, recognise bias and record reasoned decisions.
  6. Write reports, communicate findings and identify lessons for the organisation.
View all learning outcomes
  1. Explain the principles of a robust, fair and reasonable investigation and the consequences of procedural failure.
  2. Define the roles of Human Resources, safeguarding and other stakeholders from the point of notification to case closure.
  3. Apply escalation triggers and the Gold, Silver and Bronze command model to investigation governance.
  4. Run a structured intake and assessment process and decide between informal resolution and a formal procedure.
  5. Make and record defensible decisions using the five-step Decision Making Model, recognising bias in their own reasoning.
  6. Work effectively with the Local Authority Designated Officer and manage an internal process alongside criminal proceedings.
  7. Plan an investigation with clear terms of reference, scope and milestones.
  8. Conduct trauma-informed interviews using the CLEAR framework, including with children and young people.
  9. Analyse and evaluate evidence lawfully and reach reasoned conclusions.
  10. Write a clear investigation report, communicate findings and feed lessons learned back into organisational procedures.

PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY

How the day works

One evolving workplace case study runs through four sessions, from first notification to a final report. The course is delivered face to face from 09:00 to 16:30.

Day timetable

Welcome, introductions and course objectives
Session 1: Principles, accountability and roles
Break
Session 2: Intake, assessment and defensible decision making
Lunch
Session 3: Conducting the investigation
Break
Session 4: Outcomes, complexity and improvement
Knowledge check, reflection and close

Practical, case-based learning

Delegates work in small groups as an initial workforce conduct concern develops into a matter requiring escalation, external agency involvement and a formal report.

  • Triage the concern.
  • Draft terms of reference.
  • Plan and practise interviews.
  • Evaluate evidence.
1. Principles, accountability and roles
Delegates establish what a robust investigation looks like and who is accountable for it within their organisation.
  • Principles and importance: conducting robust, fair and reasonable investigations.
  • Why investigations fail: procedural failures that lead to tribunal awards, the effect of the ACAS Code of Practice uplift of up to 25%, and the financial and reputational cost of getting it wrong.
  • Defining roles and responsibilities: the relationship between Human Resources, safeguarding and other stakeholders at the point of notification and throughout the case.
  • Escalation and command structures: triggers requiring senior oversight, and the Gold, Silver and Bronze model applied to investigation governance.
2. Intake, assessment and defensible decision making
Delegates build a consistent front door for concerns and learn to make decisions they can defend.
  • Structured intake and assessment: logging, initial assessment, and deciding between informal resolution and a formal procedure.
  • Interpreting and triaging information: determining the urgency, severity and scope of each issue.
  • Defensible decision making: the five-step Decision Making Model, professional curiosity, and the myth of objectivity covering heuristics, confirmation bias and satisficing.
  • Working with external agencies: the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer, and the effect of parallel criminal proceedings on an internal process.
3. Conducting the investigation
Delegates plan and carry out an investigation, practising interviews against the case study.
  • Preparing for an investigation: setting objectives, defining scope, agreeing terms of reference and establishing an investigation plan with milestones.
  • Managing witnesses and respondents: securing cooperation, maintaining confidentiality, handling reluctant witnesses and managing conflicts of interest.
  • Trauma-informed responses: handling cases with sensitivity and awareness of the impact on, and needs of, affected individuals, including interviewing children and young people.
  • Effective interview techniques: the CLEAR framework applied to planning and conducting witness and subject interviews to gather reliable, unbiased and accurate information.
  • Evidence analysis and evaluation: chain of custody, assessing credibility and reliability, identifying inconsistencies, obligations under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and reaching conclusions.
4. Outcomes, complexity and improvement
Delegates close the case well and turn its findings into stronger organisational practice.
  • Communication: report writing, presenting findings, and managing internal and external messaging, including media interest.
  • Review and continuous improvement: reflective practice, lessons learned, and using outcomes to strengthen organisational procedures and practices.

TRAINER & COURSE CREDIBILITY

Taught by experienced practitioners

The course is delivered face to face by an Emmaus Safe trainer with operational investigation experience across multiple sectors.

James Dyson

Emmaus Founder · Former Police Officer

Jim Dyson is Managing Director of Emmaus Global, the organisation behind Emmaus Safe. He works with organisations across sport, live events, education, charities, faith communities and the wider public and private sectors to strengthen safety, governance and their response to complex concerns.

His background combines a policing career spanning detective and senior command roles with UK and international consultancy. His experience includes major crime investigation, child and adult protection, multi-agency leadership, and safety and security planning for major sporting and international events.

Through his consultancy work, Jim supports organisations with investigations, case reviews, audits, policy development and practical training. He developed a workplace investigation course delivered to all EFL and Premier League clubs.

Jim holds a master’s degree in Policing and Leadership from Warwick Business School. His approach connects strategic oversight with the decisions people face in practice, helping organisations build clear processes, support their teams and respond with confidence.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Practical learning and take-home resources

The course includes hands-on learning activities, investigation templates and a closing knowledge check.

What delegates receive

Materials and tools to help delegates apply their learning back at work.

  • Course materials

    Practical content used throughout the one-day programme.

  • Investigation templates

    Intake logging, terms of reference and investigation planning.

  • Interview and report tools

    Interview planning and investigation report structure.

  • Knowledge check & certificate

    Delegates must attend the full day and complete the closing knowledge check to receive a certificate.

GOOD TO KNOW

Frequently asked questions

Who is the course for?
For people who assess, oversee, conduct or make decisions about internal workplace investigations, including HR professionals, safeguarding leads, department heads, line managers, senior leaders and appointed investigating officers. It is suitable across the public, private and voluntary sectors, including sport, events, education, charities and faith settings.
Is it face to face or online?
This is a one-day, face-to-face course running from 09:00 to 16:30.
What is included?
Course materials, a closing knowledge check, practical investigation templates and a certificate. The templates cover intake logging, terms of reference, investigation planning, interview planning and report structure. Delegates must attend the full day and complete the closing knowledge check.
Can we book training at our own venue?
Yes. Emmaus Safe offers dedicated face-to-face training for up to 25 delegates at your organisation’s venue. Enquire to discuss preferred dates, numbers and delivery arrangements.

BOOKING OPTIONS

Enquire to the in-person training

Choose individual places or arrange training for your organisation.

Individual places are £200 per delegate. A dedicated organisation cohort is £2,000 for up to 25 delegates at your venue. Confirmed dates, venue availability and final delivery arrangements are agreed before booking.

  • enquiries@emmausglobal.co.uk
  • One-day training · 09:00–16:30
  • Face-to-face training · Organisation cohorts at your venue
  • CPD-accredited training
  • Dedicated cohorts for up to 25 delegates
  • Course materials and practical templates included