National level 6
Core modules:
Research Skills (20 credits)
Gain an understanding of essential academic reading, writing and referencing skills and knowledge of research methods and how they can be applied to a research problem. Identify an area of investigative practice and articulate the current state of research and the need for further study. Learn the major conceptual, theoretical and practical issues relevant to your specific work role and have the ability to present a clearly defined plan for conducting a research project.
Work Based Research Project in Applied Investigation (60 credits)
Identify a key area of operation within investigative procedure that requires further reflection and analysis, and produce a research proposal in your area of interest. Gain an ability to critically evaluate existing research and professional practice, the skills to select and summarise sources of information and effectively present information to a professional audience.
Optional modules (choose one):
Extending Professional Competence (40 credits)
Learn critical reflection and how to deploy your professional skills and strategies, developing the flexibility to meet changing needs within investigations. Demonstrate an understanding of the personal development process and apply an individual negotiated approach to self-development, producing a personal plan to foster, promote and enhance these needs through workplace learning.
Specialist Suspect Interviewing (40 credits)
In this module, you’ll focus on planning, conducting, and evaluating suspect interviews for serious, complex, and major investigations. You’ll consider the elements required for planning for the interview, including analysing information and forming a written interview plan. You’ll explore the factors necessary to conduct an effective interview, including engaging with the suspect and utilising appropriate techniques. You’ll examine post-interview procedures and ways of evaluating the interview in respect of the overall investigation and your own performance. You’ll also explore the practicalities of the role and others with who you’ll need to engage during the process.
Management and Coordination of Investigative Interviews (40 credits)
This module will allow you to learn how to deliver strategic advice on interview processes, as well as coordinate, monitor, and evaluate an interview process for a major or complex investigation. To do this, you’ll examine the role and responsibilities of the interview adviser and the structure of a strategy document. You’ll explore the considerations for both witness and suspect interviews, learning how to conduct a pre-interview briefing and evaluate investigative material, interview products, and interviewer performance.
Management and Coordination of Family Liaison (40 credits)
In this module, you’ll explore the role and responsibilities of the family liaison coordinator and adviser, examining the structure of both a deployment strategy and risk assessment document. You’ll take into consideration the welfare of both the families and family liaison officers, as well as the partnerships involved in family liaison deployments. You’ll also evaluate deployment material, ensuring accurate records of family engagement are maintained. This will all enable you to deliver strategic advice on family liaison deployment, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating in relation to complex investigations or major incidents.
Investigative Interviews with Vulnerable Victims and Witnesses (40 credits)
This module will give you the opportunity to learn the role and responsibilities of the specialist interviewer by conducting victim and witness assessments, considering the impact of trauma and the role of registered intermediaries in the process. You’ll discover how to plan interviews, the role of others at an interview, interview structure, and how to manage and mitigate any limitations on a victim’s or witness’s communication. As well as this, you’ll explore what’s involved in preparing witnesses for interviews, how to support people during interviews, techniques and questioning style, and the evaluation of investigative material.
Initial Triage Classification of Firearms and Ammunition (40 credits)
The completion of this module will allow you to advise a line of enquiry for an investigation involving firearms and ammunition, determining whether further action is required, such as an examination by an appropriately accredited Forensic Service Provider. You’ll explore the benefits of early triage and learn how to set up a process for conducting it, covering topics such as the Crown Prosecution Service guidance to charge firearms, firearms legislation, and the classification of firearms and ammunition.
Investigations of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) (40 credits)
This module will allow you to understand how to coordinate, manage, and evaluate the complexities of a Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) investigation. To achieve this, you’ll explore the impact of attrition, the issues of consent, and the considerations of rape myths and their impact on investigations. You’ll learn how to take a victim-focused approach, considering social attitude and culture to rape and offender profiling. You’ll discover how to effectively interview victims and suspects within RASSO investigations, planning and preparing for difficulties and taking considerations of juries and judgement into account.