Hearings and Public Sector Employee Investigations
Employee investigations and hearings are a regular challenge for HR professionals in the public sector.
These activities form a core element of our HR Consultancy practice.
To begin we ensure we focus on our client as an individual, because whatever the size of the organisation, the needs for HR support are always best initially served at personal level. We combine our expertise, genuine teamwork and client commitment into a blend of services that set us apart, and this is why we’re confident that we always deliver the most effective HR support to our public sector clients.
Investigations into complex grievances or disciplinary matters are invariably time consuming and take key people away from their core responsibilities. This is where we can step in and conduct investigation work, sensitively and efficiently.
We carry out investigations, interview witnesses, gather evidence and prepare investigation reports, attending resulting disciplinary and grievance hearings as the investigating officer, as the need arises.
If our clients have resourced the investigation in house, we can provide support with other stages of the process. We can provide on-site HR support and guidance to panels hearing grievance, disciplinary or capability issues. If it’s appropriate we can also act as a panel member, if this is needed because of the nature of the particular case.
It is important to understand ACAS guidance in carrying out investigations as these suggest that independent representation and involvement is important:
“Key points
- An investigation is a fact-finding exercise to collect all the relevant information on a matter.
- An investigator should be given clear guidance on what exactly they are required to investigate, and how their findings should be reported.
- Whenever possible the investigator should not be involved in the issue being investigated.
- The investigator should gather and document what the issues of the matter are, consider what evidence may be available and relevant, and how it may be collected.”
Creative, pragmatic and professional are the words we’d use to describe our style. If this resonates and you have a current or upcoming challenge that would benefit from impartial, professional HR support, please get in touch.
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