“If universities were being expected to investigate murder, everyone would accept that was completely ridiculous, but now they are regularly expected to investigate serious cases that equate to rape.”

Rose Stephenson, Higher Education Policy Institute

The OfS define sexual misconduct as “any unwanted or attempted unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape”.

This presents quite a unique challenge, investigating misconduct that might breach policy and codes to the civil standard, balance of probabilities, that in any other context might be investigated as serious criminal offences to the higher standard, beyond reasonable doubt.

This is a proposal for Higher Education to deliver on the requirement to prevent and address harassment and sexual misconduct by outsourcing investigation services to the team at Intersol.

Read on to see how Intersol can support and help you address the challenges of investigating serious misconduct that might otherwise amount to criminality:

We operate a hybrid model that trains and qualifies university staff to investigate those low- risk volume breaches of conduct more effectively, while investigating those more serious and complex breaches for them applying world-leading investigation competencies proportionately and relevantly in the civil context. Importantly, those competencies comply with Human Rights and recognise and apply the principles and spirit of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA), such that we can be your ‘safe pair of hands’.

Intersol have now supported over 50 universities with investigator and discipline panel training, investigations, and mediation (where appropriate).

The benefits of commissioning Intersol include:

‣  impartiality, capacity, consistency, and capability
‣  professional, qualified, and trauma-informed specialist investigators
‣  national coverage that is flexible, diverse, and responsive
‣  ALL staff are employees, NOT associate consultants
‣  free advice and investigation planning by the team that advised UUK
‣  secure case management platform, (Symplicity Advocate)
‣  ISO 9001 and BS 102000 accredited ‣  leaving staff free to focus on their core teaching/ management responsibilities

Delivering a range of invaluable outcomes, including:

‣ improved health and well-being of ALL stakeholders, staff, and students
‣ increased retention of students and successful completion of their course
‣ cost savings
‣ improved performance of staff
‣ improved reputational and risk management
‣ compliance with OfS regulatory requirement

If you want access to a UK-wide diverse team of 25 qualified, external and experienced investigators contact the team at Intersol Global here: info@intersolglobal.com