Information Sharing and Recording

Good safeguarding records are not an administrative extra. They often provide the detail that turns a worrying moment into appropriate action.

In pharmacy settings you may only see an adult at risk briefly, so your notes can be important later. A clear, factual record helps the safeguarding lead or another professional understand what was observed, heard, or done without guesswork.

Good record keeping is usually straightforward. Write what happened as soon as you can while it is still fresh. Include what you observed, what the person said, who was present, when it happened, and any action you took. If an adult used words that seem important, record them as accurately as possible. Note the adult's wishes and views where appropriate, and state any concerns as your professional judgement rather than fact.

What Good Recording Looks Like

Useful safeguarding notes are:

• factual, clear, and timely
• specific about what was seen, heard, and done
• careful to distinguish fact from opinion
• relevant to the safeguarding concern rather than padded with unnecessary detail

If information may help protect someone from harm, record it clearly and share it through the proper safeguarding route.

Confidentiality matters, but it does not prevent sharing relevant information when there is serious risk, coercion, a possible crime, concerns about capacity, or risk to others. Where it is safe and appropriate, explain to the adult what you may need to share and why. When sharing is justified, give information only to the people who need it and no more widely than necessary.

Why This Matters in Practice

A vague note such as "seemed upset" may not help. A factual entry stating that an adult appeared frightened and would not answer questions, or that they said "please don't leave me with him", is much more useful. Clear records and appropriate information sharing help build the bigger picture, support decision-making, and reduce the chance that important concerns will be minimised, forgotten, or misunderstood.