Internal Investigation Training and Education Services
Strategic Management provides training on conducting an internal investigation, using some of the most experienced and respected investigators in the country. All are not only experts in their own right in conducting investigations, but have extensive experience in training others in the best practices of doing the same. Our consultants have provided training at the FBI Academy and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for new Special Agents and those going through refresher courses.
The internal investigation training courses stress the practical, not theoretically aspects of investigations. A number of procedures are included within the training courses to give “hands on” experience in different scenario settings. Courses range from one (1) and two (2) hour webinars to two (2) or three (3) days in person facilitated training.
Internal Investigation Training Program
Our investigation training programs are designed to provide the knowledge of how to properly conduct internal investigations to minimize legal liability and reduce employee complaints, following a step-by-step process that can be applied in all types of investigations. The trainers draw upon decades of practical experience that are able to assist organizations with how to:
- Identify situations that require employers to conduct internal investigations.
- Gather documentary and physical evidence prior to witness interviewing.
- Establish a chain of custody and a confidential retention process.
- Prepare questions for witness interviews.
- Select appropriate interviewing locations.
- Develop a standard format for documenting investigative findings.
- Implement best practices in handling disciplinary actions.
Importance of Internal Investigation Education
Improperly trained investigators may aggravate matters and create new liability problems. Properly trained internal investigators can reduce the exposure to lawsuits, litigation, and government adverse actions. The following are examples of the work place issues that may result in an internal investigation:
- Violations of Laws/Regulations
- Unlawful Harassment
- Discrimination
- Fraud or Theft
- HIPAA Privacy/Security Violations
- Conflicts of Interest
- Drug or Alcohol Abuse
- Patient Abuse
- Safety Violations
- Violations of the Code/Policies
Internal investigations training should extend to the Compliance Office, Human Resource Management, Privacy, Security, and Safety Offices, Legal Counsel, Internal Audit, etc. Relatively few of people charged with determining potential wrongdoing or liability have had any formal training in how to conduct internal investigations. This deficiency can represent a serious organization weakness that will permit or create liabilities.
To prevent individuals reporting externally, it is critical to have a credible response and investigative response to information received, regardless of the source. Failure here may mean initiation of legal civil action, or a report to a local media outlet about a potential problem. Courses offer modules that address a variety of issues. The modules can be provided individually or in combination. Examples of these include:
- Types of problems your organization is likely to investigate.
- Identify what is needed to predicate an investigation.
- Describe steps to follow upon receiving complaints and allegations.
- Methods to follow in debriefing someone filing a complaint be debriefed?
- Identify best-practices for getting accurate information about the allegation.
- Step by steps to in interviewing witnesses and subjects of an investigation.
- Explain when and how to conduct an investigation under direction of legal counsel.
- Methods and training on how to detect deception and read body language.
- Guidance on the proper preparation of reports of interviews.
- Training on the proper preparation of a case report.
- Identifying proper methods to collect, manage, store, evidence from investigations.
- Steps to follow to limit liability with an investigative program.
A complaint to any one of the federal or state enforcement agencies noted below can bring significant problems:
- DHHS Office of Inspector General (OIG): Fraud Against the Government, Kickbacks
- Department of Justice (DOJ)/Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Fraud Against the Government
- DHHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR): HIPAA Privacy/Security Violations
- Center for Medicare& Medicaid Services (CMS): Violations of Conditions of Participation/Stark Laws
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Workplace Discrimination, Harassment
- Department of Labor (DOL): Fair Labors Standards Act
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Workplace Safety
- Local Law Enforcement: Theft, Embezzlement, Violence, Illegal Drugs
Participants in the Strategic Management Internal Investigations Training Program receive a certificate that identifies the subject matter addressed in the program.
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