The provision of high quality care should be a partnership between service users, carers, families and professional care staff. Sometimes there can be difficulties in relation to confidentiality and sharing information. When a service user wishes to withhold information then these wishes must be respected by professional staff. It is essential that you are informed of this. Staff should aim to ensure that you receive as much information as possible to help you in your caring role.
‘Lack of consent from a service user does not preclude discussion and appropriate and helpful sharing of general non personal information. Every effort should be made by staff to support carers in their caring role, and they should be supported and encouraged to discuss and resolve any concerns or difficulties for them as a carer.’ HPFT Carer Practice Policy.
As an area of good practice staff will:
- Discuss issues of confidentiality with service user and carer at an early stage and ensure that views on information sharing are recorded
- Discuss with the service user any particular information they wish to withhold
- Explain to you what information can be shared and if information cannot be shared the reasons for this
- Explain that they are bound by law and professional codes and have a duty of confidentiality to service users
- Explain that they have the same duty of confidentiality to you as a carer in relation to any information that you wish to discuss
- Continually review consent with service users to promote a good relationship between yourself, the person you support and the service