“Trauma-informed” has become a buzzword. But in the world of workplace investigations, it isn’t just a trend – it’s a critical strategy for conducting fair, thorough and defensible investigations.
At Barker Hutchinson, we’ve built trauma-awareness into every stage of the investigation process: from intake to final report. That shift leads to better investigations, clearer evidence, and safer workplaces.
The 5 Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Investigations
We use a five-part framework to ensure our investigations are trauma-informed:
- Safety – We create psychologically and physically safe environments through respectful and empathetic communication and minimizing uncertainty in the process.
- Choice – Participants are given autonomy where possible throughout the process including how frequently they want communication and when, where, and how interviews are conducted.
- Collaboration – We treat participants as partners in the process—by collaborating we minimize the inherent power differentials that exist in an investigation.
- Trustworthiness – We are transparent about process, timelines, and our role. Surprises erode trust.
- Empowerment – We help participants feel respected and heard throughout the process which allows them to engage.
Explore Part 1 of our blog series: What Is a Trauma-Informed Investigation?
How This Approach Improves the Outcome of Investigations
A trauma-informed approach recognizes the impact of trauma on memory and behaviour and creates environments that promote memory retrieval and engagement. It leads to:
- More accurate and complete witness statements
- Greater trust in the process
- Reduced fear, avoidance, or hostility during interviews
- Stronger organizational reputation for psychological safety
Explore Part 2: What Trauma-Informed Looks Like in Practice
New Download: Field Guide for Difficult Conversations
Even the best-planned investigations don’t always go smoothly.
Participants may cry, shut down, get angry, or bring up past trauma during interviews. These moments can either cause harm or build trust, depending on how they’re handled.
That’s why we created the Trauma-Informed Interview Scenarios & Scripts Field Guide. It’s a practical resource for HR professionals who want to lead fair, thoughtful, and responsive investigations—even when things go off-script.
You’ll learn:
- How to respond when a complainant becomes overwhelmed or disengaged
- What to say when someone wants to withdraw their complaint or insists on anonymity
- How to navigate delays, strong emotions, and unexpected disclosures
- Empathetic scripts that preserve neutrality and psychological safety
Whether you’re new to trauma-informed practices or looking for a better way to handle challenging interviews, this resource gives you language, structure, and confidence in the moments that matter most.
HRPA Overview of Trauma Informed Practices
Following her popular Trauma Informed Training with the HRPA, our Co-CEO, Laura Hutchinson, shared some key takeaways from the webinar. In this video, she shares:
- How to address inconsistencies in a trauma-informed interview
- How to manage your own triggers when a witness is outside their window of tolerance
Media Feature: Interview with Greg Hutchinson on HR Acuity
Barker Hutchinson Co-CEO Greg Hutchinson sat down with Deb Muller, CEO of HR Acuity, to explore what trauma-informed investigations look like in the real world. The conversation covers:
- The risks of traditional approaches
- Why neutrality and empathy aren’t opposites
- Concrete examples from investigations in healthcare and regulated workplaces
Watch the 5 minute Interview
Get The Trauma Informed Toolkit
We’ve built a guide to managing the intake of sensitive investigations and achieving the best outcomes. Backed by proven strategies and insights from hundreds of successful investigations.
Want to Strengthen Your Team’s Skills in This Area?
Our training programs go beyond theory. We help HR professionals, legal teams, and regulators learn how to integrate trauma-informed practices into everyday investigation processes, without sacrificing rigour or neutrality.
