Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the POL Police Training Package.

This unit describes the skills required to coordinate multi-agency investigations including the strategic planning and coordination of multi-agency investigations budgets and other resources. It also includes identifying and providing operational security of an investigation, and post-investigation evaluation of the outcomes of a collaborative investigative exercise.

This unit applies to those working as a police officer in a designated investigation role, in a complex police operating environment where multi-agency cooperation is essential to performing a criminal investigation. The working environment would be highly sensitive to multiple risks to operations, participants and assets deployed in the investigation.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to, particularly those related to case management, work health and safety (WHS), information management, collaborative relationships, inter-agency contractual arrangements, operational security, financial and people resource management, authority delegations and communications and presentations.

Those undertaking this unit would work autonomously in the management of complex investigations, while collaborating with others in an investigation team. They would be required to possess strong decision making and problem solving skills, leadership abilities and robust communicative competence. They would perform sophisticated tasks in a range of highly sensitive contexts.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.

Not applicable.

Investigation

Not applicable.

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Plan multi-agency investigations 

1.1 

Determine external agencies relevant to investigations to inform planning

1.2 

Negotiate with external agencies and stakeholders to determine scope, direction, capabilities and roles within investigations

1.3 

Determine investigation objectives and scope to maintain operational focus

1.4 

Develop investigation plans with identified objectives, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders

1.5 

Confirm inter-agency agreements to formalise communication channels and promote shared understanding

1.6 

Address cross-agency enquiries to facilitate coordination

2 

Plan multi-agency budget and resource allocation 

2.1 

Determine, document and budget for resources required for planning purposes

2.2 

Identify access strategies to obtain resources available from external agencies

2.3 

Negotiate with decision makers to access workforce and deployment resources

2.4 

Develop resource management plan to guide multi-agency investigations

3 

Coordinate multi-agencies in crime investigations 

3.1 

Formalise communication channels between agencies to facilitate flow of information during investigation

3.2 

Formalise command structures, roles and areas of responsibility to facilitate control and coordination of investigations

3.3 

Implement strategies to ensure consistent approaches during investigations

3.4 

Inform agencies of their roles, responsibilities and required outcomes to achieve investigative objectives

3.5 

Manage inter-agency conflicts to achieve investigative objectives

3.6 

Review resource allocations and usage to maximise benefits and agency accountability

3.7 

Monitor expenditure and resource usage throughout investigations to maximise investigative objectives

4 

Implement operational security requirements 

4.1 

Assess and review risks regularly to protect individuals, own organisation and external agencies

4.2 

Determine organisational security requirements for planning purposes

4.3 

Implement security arrangements to protect multi-agency interests and assets

4.4 

Monitor and adjust security arrangements in accordance with changing circumstances and requirements

5 

Review multi-agency investigations 

5.1 

Evaluate inter-agency agreements to identify areas of improvement

5.2 

Assess outcomes of multi-agency investigations to determine effectiveness

5.3 

Evaluate flow of information to identify impacting factors

5.4 

Identify performance challenges to improve future multi-agency investigations

5.5 

Document and communicate review findings to stakeholders in accordance with multi-agency protocols and procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the POL Police Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to POLINV005 Coordinate multi-agency investigations.

Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the POL Police Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

• accessing multi-agency resources to implement an investigation
• communicating with stakeholders and participants in a multi-agency investigation using techniques and tools
• conducting, constantly reviewing and reporting on a risk analysis of a multi-agency investigation
• coordinating multi-agency personnel to complete an investigation, including adjustment methods to accommodate changing circumstances
• delivering reports, presentations and plans within a multi-agency context in accordance with multi-agency protocols and procedures
• demonstrating strategic and operational leadership to complete an investigation
• designing a multi-agency investigation plan for disclosure to partner agencies
• evaluating the effectiveness of a multi-agency investigation
• identifying and resolving issues to prevent the disruption of a multi-agency investigation
• managing a multi-agency investigation budget
• managing multi-agency information, manually and electronically, in a structured manner for access by all cooperating agencies
• negotiating and documenting multi-agency engagement in an investigation
• planning and organising work in a multi-agency investigation environment.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• advanced communication principles and methods
• advanced interpersonal skills including dispute resolution methodology
• advanced investigation planning theory and methods
• advanced project management methods and techniques
• complex decision making theory and methods
• cross jurisdictional legislation that impacts upon the conduct of investigations
• duty of care and workplace safety responsibilities
• high level leadership theory, principles and techniques
• internal auditing principles and methods
• jurisdictional policies and procedures relating to inter-agency collaboration, agreements, resource sharing, privacy, confidentiality, work health and safety (WHS), risk management, information management, financial planning, case management and human resource management
• negotiation techniques, methods and objectives
• operational security principles and practices
• opportunities, risks and constraints which may hamper the investigation
• resource management principles and plans for multi-agency investigations
• review process for multi-agency investigations
• risk analysis and management theory and practices
• security classifications and requirements.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, such as in situations that can affect safety or occur only rarely, assessment can occur in simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry
• applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.