INVESTIGATIONS

Training Programs

Investigations and Training Programs

	Course Title	Length	Class Size
	Introduction to Investigations	1 day	30
	Conducting Serious Incident Investigations	3 days	30
	Advanced Course in Investigations	2 days	15
	Weighing Evidence	1 day	20
	Writing Final Investigative Reports	1 day	20
	Understanding Serious Incident Investigations	1/2 day	15
	Conducting Investigations: Refresher Course	1 day	30
	Interviewing Persons with Disabilities	1/2 day	30

Introduction to Investigations

This is a one-day overview of the investigations function as well as the relationship between the
investigator's work and the responsibilities of unit and program supervisors. return to index

 

Outline

 

I. Introduction of Program and Participants

II. Identification of Common Problems Associated with Investigations

small group discussion

class discussion

III. Important Definitions: Types and Forms of Evidence

lecture

class discussion

IV. Values of a REAL Investigation: Speed, Thoroughness, Objectivity

small group discussion

class discussion

V. Rules for Collecting Evidence

small group discussion

class discussion

demonstrations

VI. Organization of an Investigation

lecture

class discussion

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Conducting Serious Incident Investigations

Students attending this 3 day course will learn fundamental principles of investigation, including:

1. The role of speed, thoroughness and objectivity in the conduct of a real investigation;
2. Fundamental definitions, such as relevance, types of evidence and forms in which evidence is collected;
3. The conduct of successful interviews, including SLICING THE BOLOGNA when asking questions;
4. Proper methodologies in developing written statements and other documentary records associated with the interview process;
5. The collection and preservation of physical evidence; and,
6. Reconciling conflicting evidence.

All those attending the course will receive a 60 page Investigations Manual prepared for this curriculum.
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Outline

Day 1

I. Introduction of Program and Participants

II. Identification of Common Problems Associated with the Conduct of Incident Investigations

small group discussion

class discussion

III. The Investigative Process

lecture

class discussion

IV. Critical Concepts Associated with a REAL Investigation: Speed, Thoroughness, Objectivity

small group discussion

class discussion

V. Rules for Collecting Various Forms of Evidence when Conducting a REAL Investigation

small group discussion

class discussion

demonstration

Day 2

VI. Understanding Evidence: Additional Information on Definitions Associated with Investigations, and Practice Using the Definitions

lecture

small group discussion

class discussion

VII. Interviewing Cooperative Witnesses

lecture

small group discussion

role plays

class discussion

VIII. Inteviewing Cooperative Witnesses: How to Add Organization and Detail to an Interview

lecture

demonstration

small group discussion

role plays

class discussion

IX. Inteviewing Consumers

small group discussion

class discussion

X. Organizing an Investigation

small group discussion

class discussion

Day 3

XI. Collecting Physical Evidence

small group discussion

demonstration (optional)

class discussion

XII. Interviewing Uncooperative and Antagonistic Witnesses

small group discussion

role plays

class discussion

XIII. Taking Written Statements

lecture

demonstration

practice exercise

class discussion

XIV. Reconciling Conflicting Evidence

practice exercise

lecture

class discussion

XV. Summary and Evaluation

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Advanced Course in Investigations

This course is limited in registration to those who have already attended the course, Conducting Serious Incident Investigations. Class size is limited to 15 persons. Participants will practice various tasks learned in the three-day program and will be required to perform competency-based exercises about which they will receive written feedback from the instructor. The class will also spend considerable time learning to write final reports. Also, each participant will receive handout materials which will help in developing self-assessment capabilities. return to index

Outline

Day 1

I. Introduction of Program and Participants

II. Review of the Types and Forms of Evidence

class discussion

individual exercise

small group discussion

class discussion

III. Review of Investigative Procedures and the Collection of Evidence

small group discussion

class discussion

IV. Conducting an Incident Interview

class discussion

demonstration

V. Slicing the Bologna

role play [video taped]

class discussion

VI. Review of Statement Taking Procedures

class discussion

demonstration

VII. Written Statements

small group discussion

class discussion

VIII. Evaluating Written Statements

small group discussion

class discussion

IX. Tape Recording Statements

class discussion

X. Final Investigative Report

class discussion

small group discussion

class discussion

Day 2

XI. Conducting Exploratory Interviews

class discussion

small group discussion

class discussion

XII. Conducting Follow-up Interviews

class discussion

small group discussion

class discussion

role play

class discussion

XIII. Writing a Final Reports

small group discussion

class discussion

small group discussion

class discussion

XIV. Individual Role Plays and Statement Taking

During the balance of day #2, participants will complete individual assignments which the instructor will evaluate. Each participant will be asked to take a written statement and turn it in to the instructor. The instructor will send via mail a written evaluation of the effort.

Also, each person will conduct an interview on video tape with just the instructor present, after which the instructor will review and provide feedback to the participant. return to index

Weighing Evidence

This course is limited in registration to those who have already attended the course, Conducting Serious Incident Investigations. The course provides information regarding how to perform one of the most difficult aspects of conducting an investigation: analyzing the evidence and reaching a conclusion. This program addresses the following issues related to determine what "really" happened in an analytical manner:

1. What does the phrase, "burden of proof," mean? What are the appropriate standards in cases involving civil investigations of abuse and neglect?
2. How does the quality of the investigative process affect the ability of an agency to reach appropriate conclusions?
3. What factors assist an agency in reconciling differences among competing possibilities about what occurred and why it occurred in the context of a serious incident investigation?
4. What internal administrative processes will help organizations routinely arrive at valid investigatory conclusions. return to index

Outline

I. Introduction of Program and Participants

II. Investigatory Questions

short lecture

small group discussion

class discussion

III. Investigatory Errors

small group discussion

class discussion

IV. Dealing with Circumstantial Evidence Cases: Exclusive Opportunity

small group discussion

class discussion

V. Standards of Proof

small group discussion

class discussion

small group discussion

class discussion

VI. Drawing Conclusions

small group discussion

class discussion

small group discussion

class discussion

VII. Summary and Evaluation

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Writing Final Reports

This is a one-day program designed to help investigators write final investigations reports that clearly and concisely communicate to those with a need to know what evidence was collected and how it was collected. return to index

Outline

I. Introduction of Program and Participants

II. The Investigative Report: Its Form and Function

small group discussion

class discussion

III: Recording Investigative Activities

Part 1: Introduction

Individual Activity

class discussion

Part 2, A&B: Physical and Demonstrative Evidence

Individual Activity

class discussion

Part 2, C: Testimonial Evidence

Individual Activity

class discussion

Part 2, D: Documentary Evidence

Individual Activity

class discussion

IV: Summarizing Evidence

small group discussion

class discussion

V: Findings and Analysis

Individual Activity

class discussion

VI: Summary and Evaluation

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Understanding Serious Incident Investigations

This one-day program provides information to direct care employees about the conduct of serious incident investigations. return to index

I. Introduction of Program and Participants

II. Why Conduct an Investigation?

small group discussion

class discussion

III. What is a REAL Investigation?

short lecture

IV. Rules Governing a REAL Investigation

small group discussion

class discussion

 

V. Role of Direct Care Staff

small group discussion

class discussion

VI. Summary and Evaluation

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