Investigations Training and Staff Development

At Forensix, we’re focused on developing and delivering workplace training for the real world. Training developed in consultation with you, to meet your needs.

That’s our point of difference.

Our specialist workplace trainers determine your training needs and develop programs specific for both your organisation and your industry. We don’t roll out ‘off the shelf’ training because we believe each organisation, each industry, each participant is different and has different needs.

Our approach

We’ll find out what you need, what your problems/issues are and your objectives. We’ll give you options and outline all the key learning objectives for your specialised program. Training not just to ‘tick the box’ but to deliver real skills to your employees.

Once your enquiry is received, our Training Manager will meet with you (in person or via phone) and obtain details about your organisation, staff and your specific objectives. From there we’ll

• Provide a training proposal, including learning objectives, training length and costs
• Organise appropriate training dates
• Start gathering company specific information, particularly identified issues, experiences and problems

Once the training is scheduled, we’ll maintain communication with you. Participants will be provided with comprehensive workbooks (specific for you organisation) and other relevant material. At the completion of the training, we’ll provide you with a detailed report on feedback.

We invite you to look at our range of workplace-specific courses that can all be developed to suit your needs.

Workplace Investigation Fundamentals

This two-day workshop has been designed specifically for managers, supervisors and team leaders who may be responsible for planning, initiating and conducting workplace investigations. Participants will learn the key concepts of conducting fair, objective and unbiased investigations into workplace misconduct and breaches of policy.

Workplace investigations are a specialist area with specific requirements, both procedurally and legally. The ability to conduct procedurally fair and transparent investigations into employee misconduct is essential to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act, industrial legislation and your company’s own policies and procedures. Additionally, OHS/WHS considerations are a key factor in mitigating risk.

Participants will learn:

• Understanding HR & workplace investigations
• Different types of internal investigations
• Initiating and effective investigation planning
• Taking statements and collecting evidence
• Effective investigative interviewing
• The importance of procedural fairness
• Analysis, findings and investigation report writing

View the brochure

Managing Aggressive and Difficult Subjects (MADS)

This very popular course focuses on staff who have contact with the public, stakeholders and customers. It has been specifically designed to help people deal with those who are aggressive, anger or just difficult. The course teaches real-world skills and techniques to keep staff safe and gain voluntary compliance.

The ability to use effective verbal communication to de-escalate hostile, violent or aggressive situations is a vital skill for any contact professional, including (but not limited to):

• Government compliance officers (local government, state government and federal)
• Contact professionals (government and private)
• Educators (teachers and other educators)
• Customer service personnel (including call centre staff)

Understanding anger, the reasons behind it and the cycle that underpins it is essential to keep employees safe from harm. In an environment where unpredictability is common, recognizing threats and having plans to deal with them can make a big difference.

Recognising the signs of aggression and taking proactive steps – including self-protection and diffusion strategies –  are important facets of this program. Knowing what to say, and when, can mean the difference between a disaster and successful outcome. Simple things can make a real difference.

It is reported that 10% of conflicts are due to difference in opinion. 90% are due to wrong tone of voice.

For the employer, it also addresses needs under relevant WHS/OHS requirements. Better prepared employees making better decisions.

Also available are specialist programs:

• Managing Aggressive and Difficult Subjects (MADS) in Education
•  Managing Aggressive and Difficult Subjects (MADS) in Health
•  Managing Aggressive and Difficult Subjects (MADS) in Local Government

Participants will learn:

• The cycle of anger and an understanding of aggression
• The types of anger and aggression and how to recognise it
• Verbal and non-verbal strategies for dealing with aggressive people
• Some essential skills and verbal communication techniques
• All about ‘tactical communication’ including techniques to de-escalate violent situations (verbal judo)
• Simple things to say (and not say) and do
• Practical techniques to keep them and their colleague’s safe, including real-life scenarios aimed at reinforcing the learnt material.

View the brochure

Situational Awareness

Stay alert. Stay aware. Stay alive.

This popular one-day program introduces participants to the concept of situational awareness, and why it is so important.

With client aggression and unpredictable behaviour on the increase, having the ability to recognise threats and minimise harm can go a long way towards a safer employee, and safer workplace.

Situational Awareness is a concept applied to the ongoing risk assessment of safety and danger. A common trait amongst law enforcement and military personnel, the skills and attributes required are equally important today to the local council or state government compliance officer. In an environment where unpredictability is common, recognising threats and having plans to deal with them can often be the difference between life and death.

Today’s modern workplace is filled with threats and risks that need to be managed. From aggressive customers and hostile environments to occupational hazards and health and safety risks, situational awareness is a key attribute for employees to have.

But, isn’t it just common sense?  Well, yes and no. Being able to identify risks, establish and monitor baseline behaviour and knowing the techniques and tips on dealing with threats can go a long way towards a safer, healthier and more productive workplace.

For an employer, it also addresses needs under relevant WHS/OHS requirements. Better prepared employees making better decisions.

Participants will learn:

• The reasons and theory behind situational awareness
• How to apply the models to everyday working life
• Types of threats and emergencies
• Threat identification techniques and risk-assessment planning
• How to establish baselines and identify human behaviour
• Behavioral threat clusters
• Practical techniques to keep them and their colleague’s safe, including real-life scenarios aimed at reinforcing the learnt material.

View the brochure

Robbery Awareness and prevention

This workshop has been designed specifically for customer service, compliance and investigative personnel who are exposed to clients that can sometimes pose risks. Participants will learn the traits and skills to recognise threats and keep themselves and their colleagues’ safe.

Client aggression and unpredictable behaviour is on the increase. Would you like your staff to have the skills and traits to recognise threats and minimize the risk of harm?

Unfortunately, the risk of robbery and violence offences against staff is higher in organisations that provide services, such as local government compliance officers, Centrelink staff and those industries where emotion and money are part of their business. It is more important than ever for employers to review personal security risk and to provide high-risk employees with appropriate training.

Participants will learn:

• Situational Awareness for service professionals
• Managing Aggressive and Difficult subjects
• Types of threats and emergencies
• How to apply preventative robbery and violence management methods
• What to do in the event of a violent incident
• Crime scene preservation and being a good witness
• Dealing with the trauma

Investigation Fundamentals

Investigation fundamentals can be developed as a one- or two-day program that introduces participants to the investigative process, including the key concepts of

• Planning an investigation
• Conducting an investigation
• Finalising an investigation

Investigation methodology is a key feature of this course that can be applied to any investigation (including workplace investigations, private investigations, government compliance).

Participants will learn:

• When and why an investigation needs to take place
• How to initiate an investigation, including preliminary enquiry
• Planning an investigation, including resources and methodology (including factual and surveillance techniques)
• Interviewing and gathering evidence
• Report writing

Investigative Interviewing

This interviewing program can be developed as a one or two day course that addressed the interviewing needs of participants with respect to both witnesses, complainants (victims) and persons of interest (suspects).

The investigative interviewing course utilises the PEACE Model of interviewing, a renowned interviewing method used across both law enforcement and the private sector across the world.

Participants will learn:

• How to manage witnesses and their information
• The psychology of witness evidence
• How to effectively take a witness statement and facilitate witness recall
• The PEACE Model of interviewing and how it is used
• To put into practice learnt methodology in real life scenarios designed to optimise the learning experience

View the brochure

Giving Evidence

This half day workshop introduces participants to the role of a being a witness in court (or before an administrative tribunal). It has been specifically designed to address the needs of compliance officers across all fields and all industries, including relevant government departments.

Giving evidence in a court or tribunal is the ultimate test of an investigator’s job, and a task that can be both daunting and stressful for an officer. More importantly, it is a test of an investigator’s professionalism, integrity and competence. The success of failure of a prosecution can be dependent on the quality of evidence given. This workshop prepares participants to give evidence competently and includes scenario-based methods to add practicality and increase confidence.

Participants will learn:

• An understanding of the court/tribunal system and the role of an investigator
• How to effectively managing witnesses through the court process
• The role of experts
• Techniques and methods to give competent evidence in court
• Practical skills and exercises to improve confidence

Preparing a brief of evidence (including report writing)

This half day workshop introduces participants to the process of putting a brief of evidence together, once an investigation is finalised. The course is an ideal accompaniment to the ‘giving evidence’ workshop.’

Participants will gather the relevant skills and knowledge required to identify and analyse evidence, write reports and elementise offences.

Elementisation

This half day workshop goes perfectly with ‘Preparing a brief of evidence’ and introduces participants to the concept of elementisation and its usefulness to investigators.

This session shows students how to break the elements of  an offence (or breach) down, determine the ‘proofs’ and establish relevant evidence. It also develops skills in research and analysis.

Soft skills Courses

Training Forensix can develop and deliver a large range of soft skill courses dependent on your needs. All of these courses can be specifically tailored to your

• Problem/issue at hand (usually following an investigation where needs are identified),
• As a result of another identified training need, or
• As part of your training strategy

Our Soft Skills Library