Confidentiality

Bridge staff and volunteers are expected to hold in confidence all information regarding clients that comes to their attention in accordance with this policy.

1. Any information regarding the client will not be revealed to any other person outside of Bridge and will generally only be on a need to know basis.
2. The only circumstances which confidentially could be breached or information released will be in the following circumstances:
   • Where written permission is given by the client (e.g. Information Sharing Consent Form).
   • Where there is a significant risk of harm to self or others.
   • Where the staff member/volunteer is aware that the client is involved with criminal activity.
3. Under the Children Act 1989 the interest of children is always paramount, overriding any other public interest consideration. Confidential information will be shared if a child (under 18 years) is considered to be “suffering, or at risk of suffering, significant harm”.
4. Bridge is obliged, for reasons of accountability, to periodically submit reports and project statistics to relevant agencies. However, client identities will not be revealed unless the client indicates that such a disclosure is acceptable (by use of the Information Sharing Consent Form).
5. Confidential material regarding clients will be kept securely in a locked cabinet when not in use.
6. The client has the right to read his/her file at anytime. He/she may not however interfere with any documents unless it can be shown that its content is untruthful or inaccurate. In such cases the Programme Manager should be approached.