07543 735000
Investigation Training and Services in London, the south east & beyond
COURSE OVERVIEW
Duration: 1 Day
Level: Practitioner
Delivery: In-person or virtual
This one‑day training course teaches professionals how to conduct effective interviews and take clear, accurate statements. Through practical, hands‑on learning, delegates build core skills in questioning techniques, active listening, and structured statement writing.
You’ll learn how to take a statement that reflects the person’s account accurately, includes appropriate detail, and meets evidential standards. The course also introduces key legal considerations to help you produce statements that are fair, defensible, and fit for internal or external use.
Whether you're handling workplace incidents, complaints, or safeguarding concerns, this training builds confidence in interviewing and documenting information clearly.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This course is ideal for anyone who needs to interview people and record their accounts clearly and accurately. It’s suitable for professionals who want to build confidence in questioning techniques, information gathering, and writing evidential statements.
Typical attendees include:
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HR professionals handling workplace conversations, concerns, or incidents
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Managers and team leaders who need to gather information from staff
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Safeguarding and pastoral roles who take initial accounts
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Complaints and customer‑relations teams
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Investigation, case‑handling, or problem‑solving roles
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Compliance, quality, or audit professionals
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Anyone new to interviewing or statement taking who wants structured, practical training
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
By the end of this one‑day course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to:
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Conduct structured interviews that support clear, accurate statement taking
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Use effective questioning techniques to gather relevant information
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Recognise and manage common challenges during interviews
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Write evidential statements that reflect the person’s account in their own words
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Include appropriate detail while maintaining neutrality and clarity
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Understand key legal pointers that influence how statements are taken and used
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Apply a consistent structure to your statements for internal or external use
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Build confidence in documenting sensitive or complex conversation
COURSE FORMAT
This is a one‑day, in‑person(or virtual) training course designed to be practical, structured, and highly interactive. Delegates will take part in guided discussions, short exercises, and realistic scenarios that build confidence in interviewing and statement writing.
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The course includes:
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Trainer‑led input on interviewing techniques and statement structure
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Group discussion and reflection on real‑world challenges
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Practical exercises in questioning and note‑taking
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A step‑by‑step walkthrough of how to write an evidential statement
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Legal pointers and best practice guidance
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Optional peer review and feedback on written statement
No prior experience is required — just a willingness to learn and participate.
Module 1: Introduction to Statement Taking
This opening module lays the foundation for effective statement taking. We explore why statements matter, how they are used, and what makes them clear, accurate, and reliable. We introduce the essential principles that underpin good practice, helping participants understand the difference between a well‑constructed statement and one that risks confusion or challenge. Through practical examples, we also highlight common pitfalls — such as assumptions, leading language, or missing detail — and show how to avoid them from the very start of the process.
Module 2: Preparing for the Interview
This module explores the essential steps required to prepare for an effective, well‑structured interview. We learn how to plan with purpose, identifying the context of the interview and the key issues that need to be explored. We look at how to develop a clear interview strategy that supports accurate information gathering, including how to sequence questions and anticipate potential challenges. The module also covers how to create the right environment — one that is calm, private, and supportive — and how to consider the individual needs of the interviewee. By building strong preparation habits, participants set the foundations for interviews that lead to clearer, more reliable statements.
Module 3: Interviewing Techniques
In this module, delegates develop the practical interviewing techniques needed to gather clear, accurate information. We explore how to use open, probing, and clarifying questions to encourage fuller, more reliable accounts, and how to manage the natural flow of an interview — including pauses, silence, and emotional responses. We learn how to gather relevant detail without leading or influencing the interviewee, and how to navigate common challenges such as inconsistencies, uncertainty, or limited recall. By strengthening these core interviewing skills, delegates build the confidence to conduct fair, structured, and effective interviews that support high‑quality statement taking.
Module 4: Taking and Recording the Account
This module focuses on how to capture the interviewee’s account accurately, clearly, and in their own words. Delegates learn practical techniques for recording information during or after the interview, ensuring that notes are structured, factual, and easy to follow. We explore how to maintain clarity, accuracy, and completeness while avoiding assumptions or interpretation. By strengthening these core recording skills, participants build the foundation needed to produce reliable, defensible statements that reflect the person’s account faithfully.
Module 5: Writing an Evidential Statement
This module brings together the skills developed throughout the day and shows delegates how to turn interview notes into a clear, structured, and defensible evidential statement. We break down the component parts of a well‑written statement and explore what should be included — and what should be left out — to maintain accuracy and fairness. Participants learn how to write in a neutral, factual style that reflects the interviewee’s account in their own words, while ensuring the statement is coherent, complete, and suitable for internal or external use. By the end of this module, delegates will feel confident in producing statements that stand up to scrutiny.
Module 6: Practical Application and Review
This final module gives delegates the opportunity to put their learning into practice through realistic, scenario‑based exercises. Participants work through interview situations and statement‑writing tasks that mirror real‑world challenges, helping them apply the techniques developed throughout the day. With supportive peer or trainer feedback, delegates refine the structure, clarity, and accuracy of their statements and strengthen their overall interviewing approach. The module closes with a focused review to consolidate learning, build confidence, and ensure each participant leaves with practical, usable skills they can apply immediately.