Independence

Independence and integrity are at the heart of everything we do. We have built a solid, long-standing reputation for delivering independent investigations, reviews and evaluations that are trusted by our clients and regulatory bodies nationally. Niche has conducted almost 3,000 independent reviews over the last 32 years.

We have extensive protections relating to independence and are one of very few investigation firms who are ISO certified for our quality and information governance processes.

Niche is an employee owned trust and a B Corp. We have no external shareholders, and no contractual or other relationships with any other organisation which would compromise our independence. Our staff and associates have no conflicting interests in any other organisation, and they make regular declarations in this regard, including in relation to each project that we work on.

Our investigations are robust, proportionate, evidence-based and supported by the most up to date examples of good practice. We recognise that not everyone will agree with the findings of an independent investigation, or indeed, that they trust in the outcome or the process. Indeed, many of the people that we work with have spent years in adversarial or traumatic situations.

We are wholly and independently responsible for our findings, conclusions and recommendations. Whilst we always seek factual accuracy representations in our work, no other agency – including our client – has the authority to ‘sign off’ our report, or to insist on a particular form of finding.

Like any professional organisation we are paid for the work we do. Being paid for the supply of a highly specialised service does not mean that our independence is compromised in any way.

We are contracted precisely because of our independent role, and our proven track record of safely surfacing the truth. We know reviews can deliver difficult messages, but we always aim to do this in a fair and balanced way. At Niche we see the facility of independent reviews as a fundamental aspect of patient safety and very few organisations are as experienced, or as committed to setting out the facts so that learning can occur, as Niche.