Workplace Investigations Training for Managers and HR: The Neurodiversity-Informed Approach
Workplace investigation training that goes beyond compliance. Equip your investigating officers to handle complex cases, including those involving neurodivergent employees, fairly and with confidence.
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 investigation training teaches you the process. But what happens when the employee being investigated has ADHD? When autistic communication differences affect a witness statement? When you need to tell the difference between dyslexia-related errors and a genuine performance issue? That is where most training leaves you on your own.
This workplace investigation training gives managers and HR professionals the complete skill set today’s diverse workplaces need. You will master the full investigation process, from scoping and gathering evidence to interviewing witnesses and presenting your findings, with the neurodiversity guidance most courses overlook. Whether you are investigating a grievance, a harassment complaint or a performance concern, you will have the confidence to handle every case fairly and lawfully.
Getting an investigation right matters more than ever. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025 the margin for a flawed process has narrowed and a weak investigation is where many tribunal claims begin. Every session is delivered personally by Jenefer, our founder, a Chartered HR practitioner and neurodiversity specialist, never a random associate. On-site dates are limited, so get in touch early to secure yours.
Why investigations involving neurodivergent employees need specialist knowledge
When you are investigating a grievance, a harassment complaint or a performance concern involving a neurodivergent employee, you face challenges that standard investigation training never covers:
- Telling disability-related behaviour from misconduct: knowing when behaviour stems from ADHD, autism, dyslexia or other neurodivergent characteristics and when it is a conduct issue
- Reasonable adjustments during the investigation itself: knowing what support a neurodivergent employee should be offered at each stage of an investigation
- When communication differences affect the evidence: adapting your interview technique so witness statements are fair and accurate
- Reaching outcomes that do not discriminate: conclusions that account for neurodivergent characteristics while still holding people accountable
This is the part of investigation training that protects you most. It is also the part almost everyone else leaves out.
What your managers will learn:
This workplace investigation training goes deep into the detail of carrying out an investigation properly. We break down the whole process, what you can do, what you cannot and, crucially, how. You work it like a real case.
The day is built around a single case study that you take all the way through, from the first response to a grievance, through the overlap between grievance and disciplinary, into planning and running the investigation and finally weighing up the possible outcomes.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Run an investigation that stands up: a fair, ACAS-compliant process from scoping to findings because you know what the Code requires and why
- Act with authority as the investigating officer: clear on your duties, your ethical obligations and the limits of the role, so you stay impartial throughout
- Get to the facts: gather the right evidence, test it critically and spot evidence that may have been AI-generated or AI-altered
- Get reliable answers from witnesses: run investigation interviews that produce detailed, accurate statements you can depend on
- Investigate fairly when neurodivergence is involved: see how ADHD, autism, dyslexia and other neurodivergent characteristics can affect behaviour, communication and the evidence itself. Adjust your approach without lowering the bar
- Tell disability from misconduct: make the call confidently on when behaviour is disability-related and when it is a genuine conduct issue
- Offer the right adjustments at the right time: know what a neurodivergent employee should be offered at each stage of the investigation
- Write findings nobody can pick apart: present a clear, unbiased investigation report that holds up to scrutiny
Put simply, you leave able to run a real investigation from first report to final findings, not just describe how one works.
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?
Give the people who run your investigations the skill to handle a process that is fair to everyone involved, genuinely thorough and far less likely to end up at tribunal.
A well-run investigation does more than reach the right outcome. It is the foundation any later disciplinary or grievance decision stands on. It is also what protects your organisation if that decision is ever challenged. This course gives your investigating officers the tools to carry out impartial, complete investigations with confidence.
It also works through a harassment case study, so your team can investigate a complaint properly and you can evidence the reasonable steps you are taking to prevent sexual harassment. We have delivered this training for managers and HR teams at organisations from small employers to corporate clients from insurance to retail.
If your team also needs to run the hearing and decide the outcome, Disciplinary and Grievance in Practice is the natural next step.
Facing a complex investigation right now?
Book a free consultation → or email us (jenefer@silkhelix.co.uk) if you would rather not get on a call.
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.
Who should take this course?
This course is for the people who actually carry out investigations: managers appointed as investigating officers, team leaders who may have to handle a grievance or disciplinary investigation and HR professionals who are newer to running investigations. You will leave able to run an investigation from first report to final findings, with the judgement to handle the complex cases as well as the straightforward ones.
If you have an experienced HR team, this course is likely to be pitched too low for them. Speak to Jenefer about a bespoke investigation course built around the cases your team actually handles.
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?
Every Silk Helix session is delivered by me, Jenefer, in person. Not an associate, not a stand-in, not a recording. I keep on-site training to around 30 days a year so every group gets my full attention and the most current examples from the consultancy work I am doing that same week. Training is the one thing I will never outsource. When you book Silk Helix training, you get me.
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.
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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
- 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.
- 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.
Yes.
We are a registered provider with The CPD Certification Service- Every session is delivered in person by Jenefer Livings, our founder. Chartered CIPD, a Postgraduate Certificate in Neurodiversity, a qualified Workplace Needs Assessor, 20 years in HR and neurodivergent herself. Training is never outsourced to an associate.
- If 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.