Trauma-informed Workplace Investigations and Interviewing

In this half-day workshop, you will learn what a trauma-informed investigation approach means and the practicalities of implementing such an approach with objectivity and empathy.

National Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty, state-based Codes of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards and other workplace directives and policies expect:

professionals engaged to conduct investigations are technically competent and trauma and culturally aware
investigation processes to be conducted in a fair, objective and timely manner, according to trauma-informed principles and practices.

Trauma can deeply affect any individual, so it is important for investigators to approach their work with an understanding of how to apply trauma-informed techniques. These techniques will help all stakeholders in an investigation to obtain accurate information from participants, while minimising the risk of the investigation causing harm.

This will be a practical workshop where we will model and discuss trauma-informed techniques and approaches through a case study. The course is best suited to those who are already familiar with the fundamental principles of workplace investigations.

In this workshop you will:

Learn how to apply trauma-informed practices from the initial receipt of a complaint, conducting the investigation, and ultimately to making findings.
Reflect on effective ways to communicate with participants to foster safety and trust in the process.
Explore ways to ask difficult and sensitive questions in a trauma-informed way.
Navigate competing principles to balance the wishes of an impacted person with procedural fairness.
Understand how to navigate emotional interviews in a trauma-informed way, while remaining impartial.
Discuss the importance of self-care practices such as peer support.

This half-day workshop will be facilitated by one of our senior investigators. We have run this workshop in-house for clients who found the training to be an insightful and valuable resource to strengthen their skills in managing and investigating all misconduct complaints.

"Very deftly covered the content. Style was engaging and both presenters showed they were extremely knowledgeable.
The way trauma was dealt with was the best I have seen".

Q Workplace Training participant, 2024