Confidentiality and
Information Sharing
Introduction
Sharing information is essential to project children and young people from suffering harm from abuse or neglect but there is often confusion and uncertainty on the part of professionals and volunteers working with children about when, how and with whom concerns about the welfare or safety of children may be shared with others.
The Government has published guidance on information sharing as part of Every Child Matters, which highlights the importance of information sharing to protect the welfare of all children and provides clear, practical advice for people working with children and young people in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Knowing when to share: Practical guidance on information sharing
Making It Happen: Working together for children, young people and families (DfES, 2006) sets out six key points and guiding principles on information sharing:
Six key points:
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Explain openly and honestly at the outset what information will or could be shared, and why, and seek agreement except where doing so puts the child or others at risk of significant harm.
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The child's safety and welfare must be the overriding consideration when making decisions on whether to share information about them.
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Ensure information is accurate, up-to-date, necessary for the purpose for which you are sharing it, shared only with those who need it and shared securely.
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Respect the wishes of children or families who do not consent to share confidential information unless in your judgement there is sufficient need to override that lack of consent.
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Seek advice when in doubt.
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Always record the reasons for your decision whether it is to share or not to share information.
Principles of Information Sharing:
- Is there a
legitimate purpose for you or your agency to share the
information?
- Does the
information enable a person to be identified
- Is the information
confidential?
- If so, do you have
consent to share?
- Is there a
statutory duty or court order to share the information?
- If consent is
refused, or there are good reasons not seek consent, is there a
sufficient public interest to share information?
- If the decision is
to share, are you sharing information in the right way?
- Have you properly recorded your decision?
Further information
For further information, please click on the links below:
1. "Making It Happen: Working together for children, young people and families" (DfES, 2006)
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/IG00130/
2. Information Sharing: Practitioners' guide (DfES, 2006)
Page last updated: January 2007
