Confidentiality, consent and lawful information sharing

Confidentiality underpins trust, but safeguarding concerns can require sharing information when someone may be at risk. Any disclosure should be purposeful and on a need-to-know basis.

Reception staff are not expected to make complex legal determinations alone. They must, however, recognise when a disclosure or safeguarding request should not be ignored because of uncertainty about confidentiality. In those cases the correct action is to follow the approved route and involve the safeguarding lead, a clinician or the information governance lead.

Information sharing should be

• Relevant to the concern.
• Shared with the right person or service.
• Limited to what is needed for the purpose.
• Recorded with the reason for sharing.
• Handled carefully where online or proxy access may create risk.

Consent is important, but safety may override delay

Where it is safe and appropriate, people should usually be involved in decisions about sharing their information. Safeguarding concerns may justify sharing without consent if asking for consent would increase risk, prejudice enquiries, or leave an adult or child at risk of serious harm.

Reception staff should not promise that information will never be shared. They should also not disclose information casually because someone asks. The safest approach is to route requests or concerns to someone with safeguarding responsibility.

Requests from other professionals

Social workers, police, schools, care providers and other health services may contact the practice about safeguarding. Even when a request appears urgent and legitimate, it should be handled through the approved process so disclosures are accurate, proportionate and recorded.

Do not decide alone

Good safeguarding information sharing protects confidentiality and prevents important risk from being hidden.