Information Sharing
In deciding whether there is a need to share information, professionals will take account of their duty of confidentiality. They will discuss the matter with a named or designated manager. Information may be shared lawfully if there is a public interest of sufficient force or if the child consents.
A joint statement has been made by the Department for Children Schools and Families and the Department of Health and is accompanied by a joint ministerial letter, copies of which are in the document library of these procedures filed as Joint Statement DCSF&DH. The statement deals with the question of who has authority to examine and treat children suspected of being abused, the sharing of information and other key legal questions that arise. All professionals, including medical professionals, involved in safeguarding children, need to read and take account of this statement. Doctors will find additional advice in the GMC guidance on 0 to 18 years
A Practitioner's Guide available from www.ecm.gov.uk/information sharing, outlines, on page 5, six key points relating to information sharing:
- You should explain to children, young people and families at the outset, openly and
honestly, what and how information will, or could be shared and why, and seek their
agreement. The exception to this is where to do so would put that child, young person
or others at increased risk of significant harm or an adult at risk of serious harm, or if it
would undermine the prevention, detection or prosecution of a serious crime including where seeking consent might lead to interference with any potential investigation. - You must always consider the safety and welfare of a child or young person when
making decisions on whether to share information about them. Where there is concern
that the child may be suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm, the child’s safety
and welfare must be the overriding consideration. - You should, where possible, respect the wishes of children, young people or families
who do not consent to share confidential information. You may still share information, if
in your judgment on the facts of the case, there is sufficient need to override that lack
of consent. - You should seek advice where you are in doubt, especially where your doubt relates to a
concern about possible significant harm to a child or serious harm to others. - You should ensure that the information you share is accurate and up-to-date, necessary
for the purpose for which you are sharing it, shared only with those people who need to
see it, and shared securely. - You should always record the reasons for your decision – whether it is to share
information or not.
Material, held by Telford & Wrekin Council in relation to cases where there are multi-agency child protection investigations, will be disclosed to the police in accordance with the West Mercia Protocol Child Witnesses or Victims, available from the document library of these procedures.
The Protocol in relation to assessment information sharing between ISA and Safeguarding and Corporate Parenting Teams can be accessed from the Document Library.