Confidentiality What is confidentiality and why is it important? The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has defined confidentiality as “ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorized to have access”. Confidentiality is the state of being secret; “you must respect the confidentiality of your client’s communications”. Confidentiality is a basic principle in the relationship between professionals and patients. Confidentiality is based on: Privacy, which is related to the notion of respect for the person - people have a right to decide how much information about themselves should be shared with others, and public interest.
We can uphold this by empowering individuals to maintain their own independence. Each individual should have the right to privacy which encourages that person to maintain dignity and self-respect. Whilst respecting the individuals diversity cultures and values. 2.1Describe how to find out the history, preferences, wishes and needs of an individual - we could find out information relating to an individual by working in a way that puts the individual at the centre of any planning and support, we can do this by communicating with them to find out about their history, preferences and wishes. it is important that we appear and work in a non-judgemental way in order to eliminate any prejudices or personal feelings as to not discriminate in any way against the individual.
What you should do if you think a vulnerable adult has been or is being harmed or abused? Summary A person who is vulnerable may be unable to protect themselves from harm. If you think a person is being abused your actions now may help the person being abused to manage their situation better. Anybody may experience abuse. A person may be abused by: • Their partner or a member of their family • A neighbour or friend • Or a paid carer.
Find out how to address each service user; do not assume you can call someone by their first name. Rights People in your care should continue to enjoy the same rights as when they were living independently. Each person you are supporting has the right to say no, the right to have a relationship, the right to have a say in their care. You may have to balance their rights against your responsibilities. Are they at risk?
The college of West Anglia has to follow them as well. The information should be: • Obtained fairly and lawfully • Used only for the purpose stated during collection • Accurate and up to date • Not kept for longer than necessary • Subject to procedures to prevent unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, and damage to personal data. Any organisation that wishes to store personal data has to register with the Information Commissioner. The college has to do that too. It has to show what information will be collected and how it will be used.
2.3 Explain the purpose of confidentiality and security when dealing with callers. From a callers point of view they want their personal details kept secure and confidential by showing this when dealing with a caller you are showing them that you can be trusted with their personal information. For your point of view, you need to keep callers personal information private and respect their privacy, or you could be liable for prosecution under the Data Protection Act. 2.4 Describe the types of information that could affect confidentiality and security and how to handle these. If any confidential or information to do with security is given out, then it is causing a threat to others.
In order to maintain that trust, you must understand confidentiality and what it means in our treatment. Privacy laws are put in place to protect the client, the professional, the agency, and anyone else involved within the case. It is a promise and contract between client and professional not to discuss their matters with anyone else and to keep our sessions private. However, there are certain situations that you need to be made aware of. By law, the professional may be required to break this agreement in severe circumstances.
Unit 205 Principles of safeguarding and protection in Health and Social Care. Outcome 1 Know how to recognise signs of abuse 1.1 And 1.2 Physical abuse is an act of another party involving contact intended to cause feelings of physical pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm. Some examples of physical abuse are; scratching, punching, biting, strangling or kicking. If a service user is being physically abused they might display symptoms such as depression, emotional distress, unusual aggressive behaviour, become withdrawn, unexplained bruising, or suicidal ideation. Sexual abuse refers to any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexual they don’t want to do.
QCF Work Unit 4 Define the term duty of care: The term duty of care can be defined as the legal obligation to safeguard others from harm while they are in your care or using your services. To always act in the best interest of individuals and others, to not act in a way that results in harm and to act within your competence and not take on anything you do not believe you can safely do. Describe how duty of care affects own work role: You have a duty of care to protect my customers from harm, to safeguard confidential information, to pass on any concerns or information that concerns you to the relevant safeguarding body and to provide a high standard of care to all. Describe dilemmas that may arise between the duty of care and an individuals rights; A customer may disclose some private information to you that concerns you. E.G.
It is important that information is only shared with people “who need to know”. If you are uncertain whether a person has a right to access information and is requesting information from you, always check with your supervisor or manager. In day to day communication it is strict policy of midstream that you do not discuss any important information about a clients lifestyle or regarding important information as this is their right to remain any of this information confidential and is part of the regulations of The Human Rights Act 1998. Information that has to be kept confidential on a day to day basis can be shared with agreed others on any other basis as a need to know basis, this is if ever an authoritative body needs to get involved such as social services, ambulance, police or any other multi-agency network. The agreed others in which confidential information can be shared on a need to know basis are: Work Colleagues, social workers, occupational therapist, GP, Speech and Language Therapist, Physiotherapist, pharmacist, nurse, special nurse, psychologist, psychiatrist, advocate, dementia care advisor or family and carers.