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Lessons Learned Conducting 400+ Sexual Misconduct Investigations

Training Dates: Nov 26, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Sexual misconduct investigations demand a heightened level of sensitivity and professionalism. HR professionals and investigators are challenged with balancing empathy and professionalism, remaining neutral in highly charged situations and ensuring the well-being of all involved.

Without the right tools, the risk of re-traumatizing individuals or inadvertently causing emotional and harm is high. These cases can have a lasting impact on an organization’s reputation and, most importantly, people’s lives.

In our 60-minute webinar you’ll learn lessons from real case-studies and gain a well-rounded, actionable framework designed to ensure you achieve an effective investigation.

Backed by over 40 years of experience and lessons from over 400 sexual misconduct investigations, our expert team will help you:

  • Set Reasonable Boundaries:
    Learn how to build trust while maintaining professional distance, creating an empathetic environment without crossing lines that compromise your role.
  • Provide Trauma-Informed Care for All Parties:
    Understand trauma’s multifaceted impact and why a holistic, inclusive approach can make all the difference in sensitive cases.
  • Question with Care:
    Discover practical strategies for phrasing questions in a way that avoids retraumatization, ensuring that each step of the investigation is empathetic and respectful.
  • Create a Safe Space:
    Master techniques to establish both physical and psychological safety as a foundational element of your investigative approach.
  • Meet People Where They Are:
    Develop flexibility and adaptability in your approach, aligning with each individual’s unique situation and needs.

By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with trauma-informed, real-world strategies to adeptly handle the most complex cases. Feel confident in your ability to lead these investigations with care and professionalism.

Our Speakers

Laura Hutchinson, Co-CEO of Barker Hutchinson

As our Co-CEO, Laura is responsible for the firm’s operations, policy and process design, and ensuring our executive team has the tools they need to effectively lead our sophisticated team of investigators. She draws on her extensive investigative experience and healthcare knowledge to lead our team in empathetic, trauma-informed practices that look beyond the surface to the underlying issues of each matter.

Laura practised as a physiotherapist for nearly a decade, treating private clients and elite athletes alike, before she joined Barker Hutchinson. She understands the nuances of working with individuals facing high-stakes situations, and she stewards a team that centers the human beings at the heart of each investigation.

Alison Fung, Investigator at Barker Hutchinson

Alison is a thoughtful, analytical investigator dedicated to helping people feel heard and understood. She approaches each investigation with impartiality, curiosity, and a passionate pursuit of truth.

Alison draws on her background as a litigation associate with a prominent Toronto law firm and her education in biotechnology and biomedical science to approach each case with a strong foundation of scientific and legal knowledge.

Stephanie Grenke, Senior Investigator at Barker Hutchinson

Stephanie is an experienced regulatory investigator who navigates sensitive subjects with empathy and helps people feel heard. Her commitments to active listening and a rigorous pursuit of facts result in thorough, balanced, and impartial investigations.

Before joining Barker Hutchinson, Stephanie was a clinical investigator with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), and she practised as a registered nurse in both urban and rural settings in Eastern Canada, Northern Canada, and the United States.