Independent investigations and panel chairing

James Anderson takes appointments as an independent investigating officer and as an independent stage 3 panel chair under the Children Act 1989 complaints procedure. This work sits outside Resolution Ready.

An investigating officer has to be independent of the authority and of anyone advising it. For that reason he does not take an appointment from any authority Resolution Ready has worked with, and any other connection to the authority, the complainant or the staff involved is declared before he accepts.

At stage 2 the investigating officer agrees the statement of complaint with the complainant, reads the record, interviews the staff involved, and reports on what happened with a finding on each complaint. At stage 3 the chair runs the panel hearing, makes sure the complainant and the authority are both heard, and produces the panel's report. Some authorities also commission an independent investigation at stage 1.

He has completed more than 75 investigations and chaired more than 40 stage 3 panels for local authorities and children's trusts across England.

To discuss an appointment, email james@resolutionready.org.uk with the stage, the broad subject of the complaint and your timescale.