UNITED VOICES CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

This policy applies to all paid employees, Trust Board members and volunteers associated with, or providing a service for, United Voices.

United Voices offer a confidential service and its employees/volunteers will not divulge information concerning advocacy partners to other parties unless the employee/volunteer believes that the client is at risk of harm themselves, or is likely to cause harm to others or to property. 

If an employee/volunteer is unsure as to whether a risk of harm is likely, they must discuss the situation with their supervisor.

If at all possible, the Partner’s agreement to disclose the relevant information should be secured.  If it is not possible, for reasons of physical or emotional difficulty or if the Partner simply does not agree, the employee/volunteer must make clear to the Partner that they intend to disclose the information because they believe it to be in the best interests of the partner.  In these circumstances, volunteers are required to contact their supervisor for advice and assistance in managing this process.

If a decision is made to disclose information to a third party, this must be clearly recorded on the Partner’s contact sheet.  The record must include details of the disclosure, who it was made to and a note of who the decision was discussed with (i.e. supervisor), and whether the Partner agreed or not.

Information about Partners should not be discussed outside UV other than with the Partner’s explicit consent/instruction.  Again, a note should always be made of this on the Partner’s contact sheet.

Any discussion of a confidential nature should take place in a secure environment.

Any breach of confidentiality, other than as at (2) above, will be deemed to be gross misconduct.  Any employee found to have disclosed information about a Partner without their explicit consent will be subject to disciplinary action.  Any volunteer found to have similarly disclosed information following appropriate investigation will have their relationship with United Voices terminated immediately.

This policy may be reviewed annually by the Trust Board of United Voices and may be revised from time to time.