Alison Elliott is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire and Programme Lead: Offender Personality Disorder Programme.

Karen M. Wright is Professor Emerita at the University of Central Lancashire, practicing psychotherapist, Chair of an NHS research Ethics Committee, and registered nurse.

Acknowledgements

Table of figures

Editors & Contributors

Foreword

Introduction

PART 1. Principles of investigation

1: Understanding and Avoiding Unconscious Bias

2: To Debrief or not to Debrief

3: The Theoretical and legal principles of formal investigations

4: Family engagement - why it matters

PART 2: Conducting the investigation.

5: Planning Investigations

6. Individual investigative Interviews

7: Managing Interpersonal dynamics, and issues with group interviews

8: Processing, reviewing and analysing material

PART 3 : Investigating in diverse environments.

9: Managing Diversity and Vulnerability

10: Serious incident investigations involving children and young people

11: Investigations in the custodial setting - practical advice

12: Investigating within the military context

13: Fitness to Practice Investigations

14: Managing Organisational Dynamics

PART 4: Post- investigation reporting, learning & development

15: Approaches to managing information post investigation

16: How to present a report & the executive summary

17: 'Cautionary tales: investigations - the effects on staff involved'

18: The coroner's inquest and attendance to an inquest hearing

19: Closing the loop: Creating learning from the incident

Glossary of Terms.