Investigation Training and Services in London, the south east & beyond

INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING SKILLS

A practical two‑day course for professionals who need to conduct fair, structured interviews in cases of misconduct and complaints.

This course gives professionals the practical skills and confidence to carry out fair, structured investigative interviews in cases of misconduct, complaints, and allegations. Delegates learn how to plan and manage interviews effectively, gather reliable information, and handle challenging behaviours in a way that supports robust and defensible decision‑making.

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COURSE OVERVIEW

Duration: 2 Days
Level: Practitioner
Delivery: In-person or virtual

Investigative Interviewing Skills is a practical two‑day course designed to build confidence and capability in interviewing individuals involved in workplace misconduct, complaints, or allegations.

The programme provides a clear, structured approach to planning and conducting investigative interviews, helping professionals gather reliable information while maintaining fairness and procedural integrity. Delegates learn how to prepare effectively, manage challenging behaviours, explore inconsistencies, and ask questions that support a thorough and defensible investigation.

Through guided practice and realistic scenarios, participants develop the skills needed to conduct interviews that stand up to scrutiny and support sound organisational decision‑making.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This course is ideal for anyone responsible for carrying out investigative interviews as part of workplace misconduct, complaints, or internal investigations. It is particularly valuable for professionals who need to interview individuals accused of wrongdoing and require a structured, fair, and defensible approach.

Typical attendees include:

HR and Employee Relations professionals
Line managers and supervisors
Safeguarding and welfare leads
Compliance, risk, and audit teams
Investigators and case handlers
Union or staff representatives involved in formal processes
Anyone tasked with gathering information during internal investigations

Whether you are new to investigative interviewing or looking to strengthen existing skills, this course provides practical, confidence‑building techniques that can be applied immediately.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

By the end of this two‑day course, delegates will have the skills and confidence to conduct fair, structured investigative interviews in cases of misconduct, complaints, and allegations.

Participants will learn how to:

Prepare effectively for an investigative interview, including planning, strategy, and evidence review
Build rapport and create an environment that supports open, accurate information‑sharing
Use effective questioning techniques to explore accounts, clarify detail, and test explanations
Manage challenging behaviours, including defensiveness, avoidance, or emotional responses
Explore inconsistencies and gaps in information in a fair, ethical, and non‑leading way
Keep interviews focused, structured, and aligned with organisational policies and expectations
Record, evaluate, and reflect on interview outcomes to support robust decision‑making

These skills can be applied immediately to workplace investigations, HR processes, safeguarding concerns, and any situation where reliable information is essential.

COURSE FORMAT

This is a two‑day, in‑person (or virtual) training course designed to be practical, structured, and highly interactive. Delegates take part in guided discussions, focused skills practice, and realistic interview scenarios that build confidence in planning and conducting investigative interviews. The course blends trainer‑led input with hands‑on exercises to ensure participants can apply the techniques immediately in real‑world cases of misconduct and complaints.

The course includes:

Trainer‑led input on investigative interviewing techniques and interview structure
Group discussion and reflection on common challenges in misconduct and complaint interviews
Practical exercises in questioning, probing, and managing difficult behaviours
Interview planning activities, including strategy development and evidence review
Realistic role‑play scenarios to practise conducting investigative interviews
Constructive feedback from the trainer (and optional peer review) to refine technique
Best‑practice guidance on fairness, neutrality, and defensible decision‑making

No prior investigative interviewing experience is required — just a willingness to learn, participate, and build confidence in a supportive environment.

Module 1: The Role of Investigative Interviewing

An introduction to the purpose and principles of investigative interviewing in cases of misconduct and complaints. Delegates explore why interviews matter, how they fit into internal investigation processes, and the importance of fairness, neutrality, and procedural integrity. This module sets the foundation for a structured, defensible approach.

Module 2: Planning and Preparing for the Interview

Effective interviews start long before the conversation begins. This module covers how to plan an investigative interview, review available information, identify key lines of enquiry, and develop an interview strategy. Delegates learn how to structure their approach, anticipate challenges, and create an environment that supports accurate information‑gathering.

Module 3: Building Rapport and Managing the Interview Environment

A well‑managed interview environment helps individuals provide clearer, more reliable accounts. This module explores rapport‑building, setting expectations, and creating the most conducive environment for an interview. Delegates learn how to manage the tone, pace, and flow of the interview to support open communication.

Module 4: Questioning Techniques for Investigative Interviews

Delegates learn how to use effective questioning to explore accounts, clarify detail, and test explanations without leading or influencing the interviewee. This module covers open, probing, and specific questioning techniques, as well as how to explore inconsistencies or gaps in a fair and ethical way.

Module 5: Conducting the Investigative Interview

Bringing the skills together, this module walks delegates through the structure of a full investigative interview from start to finish. Participants learn how to open the interview, guide the conversation, explore key issues, and close the interview in a clear and professional way. The focus is on consistency, fairness, and defensibility.

Module 6: Managing Challenging Behaviours and Difficult Conversations

Investigative interviews often involve defensiveness, avoidance, emotional responses, or attempts to control the conversation. This module provides practical strategies for managing challenging behaviours and challenging inconsistencies, while keeping the interview focused, respectful, and productive.

Module 7: Closure, evaluation and presenting the Interview

This module covers how to record interview information accurately, evaluate the reliability of accounts, and reflect on interview performance. Delegates learn how to identify next steps, assess whether further enquiries are needed, and ensure their interview contributes effectively to the overall investigation.

Module 8: Practical Application and Scenario‑Based Interviews

The course concludes with realistic, scenario‑based interview practice. Delegates plan and conduct investigative interviews, receive structured feedback, and refine their approach. This module consolidates learning and builds confidence in applying the techniques to real workplace cases.