Litigation and Coroner’s Inquests

Course Description

This one-day virtual course is designed to familiarise delegates with the purpose of a Coroner’s Inquest and civil litigation and explain how patient safety investigation reports/other learning responses might be used by the Courts.

The course is interactive and includes role-play and case studies. We can work with clients to develop bespoke case studies.

Delegates will learn:

• The purpose of a Coroner’s Inquest
• The relationship between a safety action plan and Prevention of Future Death Reports (Regulation 28)
• The rules of disclosure and how investigation outputs and their supporting documents may be used at court
• How action plans or outcomes from an investigation could form part of wider improvements across an organisation or care system
• How to produce evidentially sound investigation reports:
  • The skills to scope an incident and gather evidence; what sort of evidence is required
  • How to deal with conflicting evidence
  • How to organise evidence
  • Critical analytical skills
• Evidential standards at Coroner’s Court and Civil Court
• Statement writing
• The processes and environments connected with litigation and/or Inquests
• How to prepare for court
• Courtroom skills

Timings

09.00am to 09.15am  Logon, housekeeping, overview and introductions

09.15am to 09.30am  The purpose of a Coroner’s Inquest, possible conclusions and reports to prevent future deaths

09.30am to 09.40am  How Coroners use investigation reports and how they approach the evidence base

09.40am to 10.00am  How to write a learning response report that will stand up to scrutiny

10.00am to 10.30am Producing evidentially sound investigation/learning response reports

10.30am to 10.45am  Coffee Break

10.45am to 11.45am  Recap. Organising evidence.

11.45am to 12.30pm   Dealing with conflicting evidence

12.30pm to 1.30pm   Lunch

1.30pm to 1.45pm      Understanding and being able to use critical analytical skills

1.45pm to 2.15pm      How to support staff to write statements that will withstand robust questioning

2.15pm to 2.30pm      The rules of disclosure at Coroner’s Court and in litigation proceedings, including what supporting documents may be used

2.30pm to 2.45pm      Tea Break

2.45pm to 2.55pm      The processes and environments connected with litigation and/or Coronial proceedings

2.55pm to 3.45pm       Preparing staff for giving evidence during coroner’s court and what to expect if you are a witness

3.45pm to 3.50pm      The relationship between an action plan and Prevention of Future Death Reports (Regulation 28)

3.45pm to 4.00pm      Summary, questions, conclusion and feedback