Investigation Plan and Report (UK) (Acas)
This template suite from Acas provides a structured framework for conducting disciplinary or grievance investigations, guiding you through defining the scope and issues, planning evidence gathering, scheduling interviews, drafting a report (with findings, witness statements, and recommendations), and managing the overall process transparently and consistently.
Investigation Plan
Investigator | |
Terms of reference | |
Provisional time-frame | |
Policies and procedures to review and follow | |
Issues that need to be explored/clarified | |
Sources of evidence to be collected | |
Persons to be interviewed | |
Investigation meetings further arrangements | |
Persons to supply own statement | |
Investigation meetings to be completed by | |
Collection of evidence to have been completed by | |
Further considerations |
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About this template
What is this template?
This document is a formal record-keeping template for planning and tracking a workplace investigation. It contains specific fields for listing interviewees, evidence sources, and procedural deadlines that are not found in general meeting notes. It is not an employment contract or a final settlement agreement.
When should you use it?
Use this template when an employee raises a grievance or a disciplinary issue is identified that requires a formal fact-finding exercise. The nearest alternative would be an Investigation Report, which records the findings after this plan has been executed.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Table 1 | Investigation Details | Records the Investigator name, terms of reference, and the provisional time-frame for the investigation process. |
| Table 1 | Evidence and Interviews | Lists the persons to be interviewed, the planned order of interviews, and specific sources of evidence to be collected. |
| Table 1 | Scheduling | Sets deadlines for the completion of investigation meetings and the final collection of all relevant evidence. |
Who it's for
- a UK employer conducting a formal internal investigation into a grievance or disciplinary matter
- an appointed investigator requiring a structured framework to record terms of reference and evidence sources
- HR professionals ensuring compliance with Acas guidance during workplace dispute resolutions
How long it runs and how it's signed
England & Wales note
This version is drafted for England & Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ on some points — for example notice periods and tribunal procedure. Tell GitLaw where you hire and it adjusts the draft.
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