Date: ...........Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 October 2005
Registration: $575.00 (includes gst) (8.30-4.30)
Includes: .....All day catering, comprenhensive reference manual, templates and sample documents, certificate and free parking.

Download registration form.

Program Description:

We teach principles and protocol to properly investigate matters that have the potential to become external matters to legal or commission proceedings including EOC, HREOC, IRC, PSSC and other review processes.
This course covers the theory and practice of investigation, and will prepare you for undertaking a range of investigations involving behaviour matters including harassment, bullying, victimisation, code of conduct and related matters. Participants will gain skills in planning, conducting, analysing and documenting investigations.
We will teach you what you need to know to investigate the types of workplace matters described. You will receive an excellent thorough practitioner’s manual to guide you through the most likely scenarios encountered in your work. Highly evaluated by practitioners and managers.

Learning Methods:
The course is an intensive mix of theory and practice, with an opportunity to participate in a mock investigation. There will be a homework exercise between days and an assignment to be completed for those wishing to undertake the optional assessment.

Competency in the inquiry/investigation role includes the ability to:
- clearly understand the ethics, requirements and boundaries of your role
- understand legal and related requirements including natural justice, confidentiality, qualified privilege and victimisation;
- accurately assess the matter to be investigated and select the most suitable approach
- identify the legislative and procedural frameworks within which the investigation is to be undertaken
- develop an investigative brief;
- develop an investigation plan;
- identify information required and suitable avenues of inquiry;- identify types and sources of evidence;
- plan and conduct interviews (complainants/respondents/witnesses and relevant others)
- identify appropriate use of records of interview and formal statements (or both)
- demonstrate a range of questioning techniques designed to elicit information being sought
- understand the principles and practices of voluntariness
- avoid any behaviour likely to lead to claims of bias or coercion
- understand the types of confessional evidence and ethical handling in the investigation context
- set out statements using correct format and declarations
- identify the relevant facts of the matter
- weigh and balance the evidence in accordance with the requirements for civil matters (balance of probabilities)
- understand five different levels of balance of probability substantiation and apply to findings
- select the most suitable method of documenting and reporting;
- produce a logical and professional report free from assumption, bias and other common deficiencies

Pre-requisites:
Previous experience in grievance management, working knowledge of organisational policies
under which investigations will be directed, clear verbal and written communication skills;
experience in information gathering interviews and report writing.

The program manual contains invaluable material in the form of tools, templates and sample documents:

- Role description of workplace investigators
- A user-friendly one pager clarifying your role, obligations and boundaries.
- Inquiry or Investigation?
- Describes the difference between investigation and inquiry and helps you select the most suitable process for the matter.

Constructing a Brief
If you’ve ever wondered how to write a professional inquiry or investigation brief, we’ve saved you the hard work. You will receive sample briefs for the investigation of –
- Harassment and unlawful discrimination
- Code of Conduct breaches
- Workplace bullying

Planning an Investigation - Checklist
A comprehensive checklist format that is a ‘must’ for keeping the process on track and ethically, industrially and legally sound.So You’re Involved in a Workplace Investigation.
A user-friendly leaflet for complainants, respondents and witnesses briefly outlining what to expect and what is expected of them. Addresses aspects of process in user-friendly terms. Provides answers to most common FAQs.

Investigating Without Complainants
Have you ever wondered how you can undertake an investigation without identifying individual complainants. We will teach you when this option is useful and how it can be done, and we will provide you with a framework for turning your complainants into witnesses.

Crafting Allegations Correctly
Many investigations fail a review process because the allegations have been poorly written. Don’t run the risk of your investigation procedure or report being rejected due to allegations being poorly constructed.

Specifics of Allegations
Ensure the specifics of allegations meet the requirements for natural justice purposes. Avoid allegations being rejected as being inaccurate or incomplete.

Letters and Correspondence Documents
Templates for letters notifying investigation to complainant, respondent, witnesses and template for notifying complainant and respondent of outcomes of investigation.

Notes of Interview and Formal Statements
Receive samples of statements in correct format. Identify the correct declaration to be used and choose from our examples.

Investigation Report Templates
Select the most suitable report format for the matter. Choose from our ‘simple format’ report or out ‘extended format’ report. Identify the advantages of a ‘split’ report or ‘attorney-client privilege’ reports for freedom-of-information and discovery purposes.

Ph: (618) 9370 4014 Fax (618) 9370 1722
info@jetson.net.au

PO Box 243 Mt Lawley Western Australia 6929
ABN 24 075 290 130