Complaints and Employment Hearings and Investigations

Getting investigations and panel work right is an important and often high risk aspect of school and college governance. An improperly conducted investigation or poorly managed appeal process can leave your setting vulnerable to legal action where procedures were not followed correctly.

Botley Governance works independently and impartially, within your written procedures and policies, helping your school to de-escalate and resolve a broad range of issues at different stages as indicated below:

Parental Complaints: Panel Hearings

Many schools are experiencing increasing numbers of complaints from parents, carers and other members of the community, which are often complex and time consuming to resolve. I can support you in delivering your complaints procedure efficiently and fairly at the Panel hearing stage of the process; helping you to address and resolve conflict effectively and with full integrity.

As part of this consultancy service I manage all communications between parties, providing advice and guidance as required to ensure statutory compliance. I also manage all administrative requirements, including the coordination of the agenda and papers, the production of timely minutes and communication of the hearing outcome to all parties.

Staff Panel Hearings

I can facilitate the smooth running of an appeal process in the event of a staff diciplinary or grievance appeal panel hearing. I will guide panel members through the proceedings in line with your written procedure and perform all administrative tasks, including the cooridination of papers, timely production of meeting minutes and communication to all parties of the outcome to a very high standard.

Workplace Investigations

From time to time, it may be beneficial to your school or governing body to commission an independent investigation, which you can be assured will stand up to scrutiny. The types of investigation conducted by Botley Governance, and fully adhering to your school or college’s procedure, include:

  • Parent and carer complaints

  • Staff grievances

  • Potential staff disciplinary matters

  • Allegations against staff, for example bullying and harrassment

Folowing my appointment as an independent investigator, we will agree the terms of reference for the investigation and you can be assured of an objective and evidence based approach to establish the essential matters of fact and reach a robust conclusion on what did or did not happen.

For a confidential, no obligation conversation about how I can support your school, trust or college please get in touch via my contact page

Please note that panel hearing services are delivered onsite only. I am not able to offer this service on a remote access basis, unless requested by the complainant or in extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances.