Tameside SCB

The following guidance on information sharing is taken from the TSCB Mini Guide . For additional information please refer to the DCSF Information Sharing Pocket Guide.

4 Information sharing and Confidentiality P.10

4.1 Sharing information about the development, behaviour and circumstances of a child/young person is essential to effectively meeting a child’s needs.

4.2 If there is a concern that a child/young person is at risk of significant harm the child’s need for protection is paramount. Information must not be withheld if doing so would jeopardise the welfare or safety of the child. This area of information sharing is covered below.

4.3 However, in most circumstances it is good practice to share information only with the consent of the child, or their parent/ carer.

5.4 If you do not have a concern about significant harm to a child but you have information about that child that you think should be shared with another practitioner it is important that you do this with the consent of the parent/carer and/or child. This is good practice and a crucial part of working in partnership.

5.5 However if you decide that information has to be shared without such consent you need to show that there is a ‘public interest’ in sharing this information.

5.6 A public interest can arise in a range of circumstances, for example, to protect children from significant harm, to promote the welfare of children or to prevent crime and disorder.
There are also public interests, which in some circumstances may weigh against sharing, including the public interest in maintaining public confidence in the confidentiality of certain
services.

5.7 The key factors in deciding whether or not to share confidential information are necessity and proportionality, i.e. whether the proposed sharing is likely to make an effective contribution to preventing the risk and whether the public interest in sharing information overrides the interest in maintaining confidentiality. In making the decision you must weigh up what might happen if the information is shared against what might happen if it is not, and make a decision based on professional judgement.

5.8 In the event of a concern about a child’s well-being then first, always share your concerns with your manager/supervisor and with colleagues. Do not try to deal with child protection concerns on your own.