Page 71 - Part-A

Information, Advice or Guidance

There are lots of possible outcomes if you fail to keep a client’s information
confidential:

• Clients may not trust a support worker who does not keep information
confidential – once trust is lost between a client and an advisor, it is
extremely difficult to recover it and have a strong professional relationship
• Clients may not feel valued or able to keep their self-esteem if their private
details are shared with others. As a result, clients are unlikely to provide you
with the full information you need to help them

• Clients’ safety may be put at risk if details of their property and habits are
shared publicly.

• The organisation is likely to be subjected to huge fines and taken to court
where the client’s information is shared with others without their express
permission.

Although you will keep all information told to you by the client confidential, there are
exceptions where, by law, you must tell other people.

1. If the individual’s life, or the life of another person, is at risk

2. If the individual, or another person, is hurting themselves

3. If the individual, or another young person, is being abused

4. If requested by a court of law.

It is important that you explain to your clients your confidentiality policy at the earliest
stage, and also explain the exceptions to keeping their information confidential.

A Activity 3: Maintaining confidentiality

Give three examples of maintaining confidentiality in your
workplace or a workplace you are familiar with.

1.

2.

3.

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