This page is designed to answer the following questions:
- 2.5 Explain how to balance the tension between confidentiality and openness in records and reports (Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care, Develop, Maintain and Use Records and Reports)
NOTE: This page has been quality assured for 2023 as per our Quality Assurance policy.
As a rule, practitioners should always respect the confidentiality of the individuals that they work with and obtain their consent before sharing information. However, there will be times when information will need to be shared with others without the individual’s consent. This can result in tension and dilemmas.
A good example of this is when an individual discloses that they have been a victim of abuse and wants to keep it a secret. You would have to explain that you are unable to keep their disclosure confidential because you have a duty of care to protect the individual and others from abuse and to do this you must make a record of their disclosure and share it with others.
However, you should also reassure the individual that their disclosure will only be shared with those that need to know as part of the protection and safeguarding process.
Generally, information should be shared if there is a risk of harm to an individual or others if not shared. If you are not sure, you should discuss the issue with your manager who will be able to provide further guidance.