Workplace Investigations Training for Managers and HR: The Neurodiversity-Informed Approach
Professional investigation training that goes beyond compliance. Learn to handle complex cases, including those involving neurodivergent employees, with confidence and fairness.
This level of training should be compulsory for any leader, not only does it increase skillsets but it helps to improve the general experience of our direct reports and build the right culture. Excellent. Paced well, using case studies really made it resonate. Discussing the actual case study and being able to question Jenefer as we went through meant that we organically spent more time where we needed to. Thank you!
Standard investigations training teaches you process. But what happens when the employee being investigated has ADHD? When autistic communication differences affect witness statements? When you need to distinguish between dyslexia-related errors and performance issues?
This Investigation Training Course provides the comprehensive skills managers and HR professionals need for today’s diverse workplaces. You’ll master the complete investigation process, from evidence gathering to presenting findings, with specialist guidance on neurodiversity considerations that most training overlooks. Whether you’re investigating harassment, grievances or performance concerns, you’ll gain the confidence to handle every case fairly and legally.
Using a case study with lots of discussion really helped to embed the skills and knowledge needed. Time went really quickly and I was keen to find out what would happen next! I’ve not yet been involved with investigations here but now feel equipped to be involved. Loved the section on critical reading to see what were facts. Thought that it was really helpful to hear everyone’s viewpoints through all the training.
Why Investigations Involving Neurodivergent Employees Require Specialist Knowledge
When investigating grievances, harassment claims or performance concerns involving neurodivergent employees, managers and HR professionals face unique challenges that require specialist knowledge:
- Distinguishing between disability-related behaviour and misconduct – understanding when behaviour stems from ADHD, autism, dyslexia or other neurodivergent characteristics versus a conduct issue
- Understanding reasonable adjustments during the investigation process – knowing what support neurodivergent employees should be offered throughout an investigation
- Recognising when communication differences impact evidence gathering – adapting interview techniques to ensure fair and accurate witness statements
- Ensuring fair outcomes that don’t discriminate – reaching conclusions that properly account for neurodivergent characteristics while maintaining accountability
This training equips you to handle these complexities with confidence, ensuring investigations are both legally compliant and genuinely fair.
What You’ll Learn:
In this investigation training course we’ll dive into the detail of carrying out investigations in the workplace. We’ll break down the process, cover what you can and can’t do and crucially how. In this course we deep dive into a case study taking it right through the investigation process from responding to an initial grievance to considering the intersection between grievance and disciplinary, planning and carrying out the investigation before finally considering possible outcomes.
Our Investigation Training course covers the entire scope of the investigative process. You will learn:
- Understanding the ACAS Code of Practice: Get to grips with the ACAS guidelines on disciplinary and grievance procedures and why following them is essential for a fair and compliant process.
- The Purpose of Workplace Investigations: Learn why a thorough investigation is the cornerstone of a successful disciplinary and grievance process.
- Defining Your Role as an Investigating Officer: Understand your duties, ethical obligations, and boundaries as an Investigating Officer.
- Gathering & Evaluating Evidence: Learn what types of evidence can be used, how to collect it, and the techniques to assess it critically.
- Conducting Effective Interviews: Develop skills for conducting investigation interviews and taking detailed, reliable witness statements.
- Neurodiversity Considerations in Investigations: Understand how ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions may affect behaviour, communication and evidence evaluation.
- Distinguishing Disability from Misconduct: Learn to identify when behaviour is disability-related versus a conduct issue.
- Adjustments During Investigations: Know what reasonable adjustments to offer neurodivergent employees during the investigation process.
- Presenting Findings with Confidence: Master the art of organising and presenting your findings in a clear, unbiased report.
Course Introduction
In this video Jenefer introduces the course and explains a little bit about how she approaches training delivery. Towards the end of the video we include a number of course reviews from those who have attended training sessions with Jenefer.
Why Invest in Investigation Training?
Equip those investigating with the skills to operate a process that is fair to all employees, is rigorously thorough and avoids costly employment tribunals.
A well-executed investigation not only ensures fair outcomes but also protects your organisation from potential legal repercussions. With this training, you’ll gain the tools to carry out impartial and complete investigations that strengthen your organisation’s disciplinary and grievance procedures.
This course will also help you to demonstrate your reasonable steps to preventing sexual harassment, the case study takes a look at the complexities of a harassment case and ensures your team have the training to handle this and many other types of investigation.
On-site Training
£2,250
- One Day - in-house, at your workplace
- Maximum of 14 delegates
- Interactive workshop
- Comprehensive workbook for each participant
- CPD certification for all attendees
- Plenty of opportunity to discuss your real life experiences and cases with our expert trainer
All prices are exclusive of VAT.
Prices are correct for courses delivered on your site in Essex, Kent, London and Suffolk. Courses can be delivered outside these areas, please call 01245 910500 for a quote.
Good training exercises, the case studies were really helpful to walk through the process.
Who Should Take This Course?
If your role involves conducting investigations, managing disciplinary processes, or working within HR, this course is essential. Equip yourself to handle investigations with precision, ensuring a fair process for all parties involved.
All our courses, whether live or recorded, are delivered by Jenefer Livings who has 20 years experience in HR, having designed and delivered training on the whole range of HR topics for organisations across industry sectors. As Jenefer also provides hands-on consultancy work with her clients she maintains an up to date knowledge and experience that shines through with engaging stories in her training.
With our in-person course we'll work through case studies and discuss real life examples to ensure your managers get learning relating to the types of cases they'll be dealing with.
Why Silk Helix?
All our training is prepared and delivered by me, Jenefer, because you're not getting someone who just reads you the slides. You're getting stories, passion, my energy and engaging discussion. I don't deliver long lectures and use a range of activities to encourage everyone to engage with small and whole group discussions, this is how I ensure your business reality is reflected in everything we do.
My promise to you! There will be no role plays, no embarrassing icebreakers where you have to reveal information about yourself and no one is picked on to speak. In my experience these are the things people dread about training and I see the collective sigh of relief when I start the session with this promise.
I recognise that to get discussion going you need an inviting environment. For in-person training this means a room set up, which includes a supply of fidgets and sweets, usually this in itself creates instant discussion as people enter the room. This sets people at ease and creates an ice breaker of its own.
You get a little hint of my style on our YouTube channel. In-person training is like that just with lots of interaction interspersed. And if you're looking at my webinars or digital courses, they're just like my YouTube channel but with a lot more specific detail and backed up by examples, templates and guides. Webinar sessions also include discussion and interaction to encourage everyone to get involved.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If anyone attending our training sessions has a specific need we should be accommodating we ask that you tell us in advance so that we can plan the training accordingly. We will do our best to accommodate any need for whatever reason that need exists.
There are also some common ways we develop our training to take into account the wide variety of learning styles and needs. We know learning styles are not limited to visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinesthetic. Learning is impacted by a whole variety of things, including underlying medical conditions (diagnosed and not), comfort/ safety in your environment and your past experiences of learning. Our training by design takes this into account, including:
- a welcoming environment for learners to enter
- stress balls or other fidget resources
- workbooks with place for personal notes if the learner wishes
- minimal need to read long pieces of text
- noone is called out or picked on (even to go first)
- no icebreakers that require you to reveal personal information (we do use activities but always related to the learning and with a specific goal)
- no role plays (we find for too many people the issues around acting get in the way of learning)
- regular breaks
- no lengthy period of lectures by the trainer - it's about discussion of your real life cases or activities that make you think or develop skills
Whilst our webinar/lunch and learn sessions cannot provide all of the physical support we’ll still do everything we can to accommodate. We encourage individuals to access their own supports, join the session from somewhere they are comfortable, use their own fidget tools or take notes and camera on or off is a personal preference.
Yes, we've worked with many clients where we've delivered multiple courses to allow everyone to attend. We don't recommend more people in the session for many of the reasons listed above, our courses are designed to be interactive and a safe place to discuss real life situations. Once the groups get much bigger than 14 it starts to become difficult for everyone to participate in these discussions.
With webinar sessions the different nature means we can accommodate much more than 14 people. We still suggest 30 to allow people space to ask questions and join in the chat, however, it is more flexible for these sessions. In managers sessions we do suggest a smaller group to help with discussion.
Yes, we're happy to adapt and design sessions to suit your needs. Book a FREE, no obligation, consultation to discuss your needs and get a quote for bespoke training.
Yes, our in-person training is provided at your venue. Some clients use meeting rooms in their buildings, others book venues. There are a couple of things to consider - we need space in the room to move around. We won't get you running about but being able to move into smaller groups for discussion, sometimes brainstorming around a large piece of paper are examples of the activities that need space.
In addition, our trainer will need parking as training comes with a lot of kit, plus somewhere to plug a laptop in and either a screen or projector. We don't use loads of slides (Jenefer isn't a fan or either producing them or remembering to switch slides) but there are a few occasions where a diagramme or video for example help make the point.
Our full day sessions are 6 hours, including 30 minutes for lunch and 2 coffee breaks. Our half day sessions are 3 hours with a coffee break. Exact times may vary slightly, training courses are interactive with plenty of opportunities for discussion built into the day, this can impact the end timing slightly.
Most of our webinar sessions are designed to be an hour in length, except the managers sessions which are 2 hours. However, we will stay on line to answer questions beyond this point if needed.
Yes.
We are a registered provider with The CPD Certification ServiceIf you're ready to go ahead then either book a consultation or email training@silkhelix.co.uk with your requirements and we'll get dates booked in.