Confidentiality for Fosters Carers

Policy status

• The Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law 2008
• Placement of Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Regulations

Practice is based on and informed by best practice guidance from the United Kingdom jurisdictions including

• Fostering Services National Minimum Standards 2011
• Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011

Key Points

• Foster carers will be given confidential information about the child or young person in their care and their birth families. Foster carers should treat this information with respect and have due regard to confidentiality. There are certain circumstances where it may be appropriate to share some information with certain identified people outside of the immediate family.

• No confidential information should be shared with the general public

• People caring for the child or young person on a temporary basis such as baby sitters, friends (of the child or foster carers) and the extended family should be given basic information to enable them to care for the child appropriately. This level of information would not include details of the child or young person's family background. It could, for example, include details of current medical treatment, allergies, likes/dislikes, or fears and how they would manage a range of specific behaviours. It may be appropriate to give information about possible contact with the birth family.

• Such temporary carers should be given limited information to ensure that they are not placed in a vulnerable position which could lead to allegations being made against them. They should be advised of Safer Caring routines.

• Support from other foster carers and/or Fostering/Adoption Support Groups are valuable to all foster carers. Any information shared in Support Groups must be kept confidential to the group. Sensitive information regarding a child's history should not be shared but discussion can take place around issues in placement for which the foster carer is seeking support such as managing behaviour, working with others and issues arising for the foster carer. Carers should be supported to show sensitivity to information regarding the child and their birth family.  

• It may be appropriate to share some confidential information with other professionals involved on a 'need to know' basis. Foster carers should ask their Supervising Social Worker for clarification on what information is appropriate to share if they are unsure.

• Records kept on behalf of the Department may include Minutes of Looked After Child Reviews and other meetings and Minutes of Child Protection Case Conferences This confidential information should be stored in a secure place and returned to the   Supervising Social Worker at the end of a foster placement.

• Carers are advised to keep Placement Diary Sheets as records of the children they care for according to the Record Keeping Policy [c1]  . Such records should be stored in a secure place and should remain strictly confidential. A copy of the Placement Diary Sheets should be given to the Supervising Social Worker on a regular basis and these will be given to the child's Social Worker for the child's file. At the end of placement the copy retained by the carer should be given to the Supervising Social Worker for secure retention.

• Carers also have a right to confidentiality. Any information relating to carers will be kept on a file in a lockable filing cabinet in the Family Placement Service Office. 

Standards

• Foster carers will be given support and guidance on confidentiality by their Supervising Social Worker

• Foster carers will be provided with a Code of Conduct regarding Confidentiality on approval together with a Code of Conduct which they will be asked to sign.

• Conversations and any discussions that involve the sharing of information about children and young people are not conducted in public. 

• Carers respect a child's need for confidentiality at all times in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

• Records are kept by foster carers in line with the Record Keeping Policy

• All written information regarding the child is kept in a secure and safe location by foster carers and returned to the Department at the end of placement

Quick links

• Assessment
  • Children's development
  • Parenting capacity & families
  • Environmental factors, peers & community
  • Analysis
  • Risk assessment
• Child protection
  • Core Groups
  • Children in specific circumstances
  • Allegations against professionals
  • Indicators of child abuse
  • Dealing with a disclosure
• Youth Offending
  • Appropriate Adult (PPACE)
  • Bail Supervision
  • Remands
  • Voluntary Intervention Plans
  • Statutory Intervention Plans
• Children with Disabilities
  • Supporting Children with a Disability
  • Transfer of Cases
  • Short Breaks Services and Social Inclusion
  • Transition to Adulthood
  • Children's Occupational Therapy