Disciplinary and Grievance Handling

This course is draws heavily upon the ACAS codes of practice and the organisation’s policies and procedures. Its aim is to equip Managers to be able to advise their staff on the purposes of these procedures and to know when and how to invoke them.

It is designed, additionally, to give Investigating Officers the confidence to carry out comprehensive and fair investigations assessing alleged complaints against the organisation’s standards and to ensure that Hearing Officers receive the documentation they require to conduct a hearing and reach an appropriate and fair conclusion.

This one day course aims to provide Managers with a mixture of information and practical experience to benefit the organisation, its workers and indirectly, service users.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the course participants should have an understanding of:

• Why an organisation and its staff need a grievance and a disciplinary procedure
• Grievance procedures:
        - the purpose
        - how and when can it be invoked
        - stages of the procedure (this will be delivered with reference to the organisation’s policy)
• The role of the disciplinary procedure: what sort of issues can be addressed using it and stages of the procedure
  (this will be delivered with reference to the organisation’s policy)
• The investigation process:
        -Stages of an investigation
        -Why it is so important to follow the stages
        -The ways in which an investigation can go wrong
• Writing an investigation plan
• Determining the standards applicable
• Conducting an investigation including:
        - interviewing witnesses
        - reviewing documentary evidence
        - supporting the complainant and alleged perpetrator
• The importance of procedural fairness and of recording
• Writing an investigation report/management statement of case
• Misconduct outside of work

Reference will be made to relevant legislation/best practice throughout the day

Training methods:

• Trainer presentations
• Small group work
• Debate and reflection
• Word shower method
• Simulation exercises
• Talk and chalk
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Handouts

CP34/5.9