Deptford Green School Confidentiality Policy

Deptford Green School
Confidentiality Policy
Policy Statement
Deptford Green School seeks to put young people at the heart of the learning process and to provide
a safe and secure learning environment.
It is committed to developing creative and positive ways for young people’s voices to be heard whilst
recognising the responsibility to use, hold and safeguard information received.
The school is mindful that it is placed in a position of trust by all stakeholders and there is a general
expectation that a professional approach will be used in all matters of confidentiality.
Aims
To protect young people at all times
To give all staff involved clear, unambiguous guidance as to their legal and professional roles
To ensure good practice throughout the school that is understood by pupils, parents/carers
and staff.
Links with other policies:
This policy has links with the following school policies:
• Safeguarding
• Sex and Relationships
• Drug Education
• Anti-Bullying
Dissemination
This policy has been distributed to all teaching and non-teaching staff. A copy of the policy can
always be found in staffroom and school reception areas and on the school website. All new staff
receive a copy of the policy when they join the school.
Page 1

Guidelines for all school staff
We recognise that there are occasions when pupils are worried about something and feel that they
cannot talk about it to their parents/carers. This can result in enormous stress for the individual
which impacts on their education and health. Some pupils may feel that they can turn to teachers
and other staff members for support and we want to be as helpful as we can whilst recognising that
there may be some potential difficulties in being supportive.
All staff at Deptford Green will adhere to the following policy:
When talking with pupils, it is important for you to be aware of maintaining your professional
boundaries.
You must be clear to pupils that you cannot offer unconditional confidentiality when a pupil
first begins to talk about something where confidentiality may become an issue.
Pupils should be warned that if there is a child protection issue where the pupil, or others, is
likely to be at risk of significant harm, you are under a duty to inform the school’s Child
Protection Designated Teacher who may have to involve other agencies. It is important that
each member of staff deals with this sensitively and explains to the pupil that they must
inform the appropriate people who can help the child, but that they will only tell those who
need to know in order to help.
In all cases where you feel that you have to break confidentiality with the pupil, you must
inform the pupil, (unless there is a good reason not to inform them e.g. risk of harm) and
reassure them that their best interests will be maintained.
In talking with pupils, you need to encourage them to talk to their parents/carers about the
issue that may be troubling them and support in doing this should be offered where
appropriate.
All information about individual children is private and should only be shared with those staff
who have a need to know.
All personal information about children including social services records should be regarded
as confidential. All social services, medical and personal information about a child should be
held in a safe and secure place which cannot be accessed by individuals other than those key
school staff who need to know this information.
Information such as medical reports, SEN reports, SEN minutes of meetings and social
services minutes of meetings and reports will be sent between key members of staff in sealed
envelopes and once read should destroyed or securely filed.
Mentoring programme
Mentors are not allowed to promise to keep secrets but all conversations between the mentor and
mentee will be kept confidential except in the following circumstances:
If a pupil discloses either any form of abuse or anything else that would make them worry
about their safety. If the mentee is about to disclose this sort of information, the mentor
must tell them that they will need to take it to the Child Protection Designated Teacher.
In the classroom in the course of a lesson given by a member of teaching staff or an outside visitor
including health professionals.
Careful thought will be to be given to the content of the lesson. Ground rules must be
established to ensure confidential disclosures are not made. It should be made clear to pupils
that this is not the time or place to disclose confidential personal information. When a health
professional is contributing to a school’s health education programme in a classroom setting,
they are working with the same boundaries of confidentiality as a teacher.
Page 2

Disclosures to a counsellor, school nurse or health professional operating a confidential service in
the school
Health professionals such as school nurses can give confidential medical advice to pupils
provided they are competent to do so and follow the Fraser Guidelines (guidelines for
doctors and other health professionals on giving medical advice to under 16’s). School nurses
are skilled in discussing issues and possible actions with young people and always have in
mind the need to encourage pupils to discuss issues with their parents or carers. However,
the needs of the pupil are paramount and the school nurse will not insist that a pupil’s
parents or carers are informed about any advice or treatment they give.
Contraceptive advice and pregnancy
The Department of Health has issued guidance (July 2004) which clarifies and confirms that
health professionals owe young people under 16 the same duty of care and confidentiality as
older patients. The duty of care and confidentiality applies to all under-16’s. However, the
younger the patient the greater the concern that they may be being abused or exploited. The
Guidance makes it clear that health professionals must make time to explore whether there
may be coercion or abuse. Cases of grave concern should be referred through child
protection procedures.
Information for Staff and Governors
All staff can normally expect that their personal situations and health will remain confidential unless:
It impinges on their terms of contract or
Endangers pupils or other members of staff or
There is a legal obligation to disclose such information or
It is necessary for legal proceedings or
Despite the duty of confidence, the staff member’s interest or the wider public interest
justifies disclosure.
Information for Parents/Carers and Families
The school prides itself on good communication with parents and carers and staff are always
available to talk to both children and parents/carers about issues that are causing concern.
Our staff will be supportive to pupils who approach them with concerns but will make it clear
that they cannot offer confidentiality to the pupil on anything that involves an illegal activity
or anything that is a potential child protection issue where the pupil or others are likely to be
at risk of significant harm.
The school encourages children to talk to parents/carers about issues causing them concern
and may in some cases support a child to talk to their parents in school.
Senior staff in the school will liaise with parents/carers as appropriate in cases where a staff
member has reported an issue over which they cannot offer confidentiality.
All parents are written to in Year 7 asking whether or not they give permission for their
child’s photograph to be used in school publications, the school website and at times in the
local media. Replies are stored in the students’ file and electronic record. If there is then to
be a larger publicity campaign involving particular children, such as the promotion of the
school by Lewisham for open events, the school contacts the families involved to seek
additional permission.
Page 3

Information about children will be shared with parents but only about their child. Parents
should not have access to any other child’s books, marks and progress grades at any time
especially at parents’ evening. However parents should be aware that information about
their child will be shared with the receiving school when they change school.
Addresses and telephone numbers of parents will not be passed on except in exceptional
circumstances or to a receiving school.
We recognise that sometimes there may be family issues which may affect a pupil and which
the family will only disclose to us if they can be sure the information will be treated
confidentially. We will respect the wishes of the family and where it is felt necessary to share
the information given to us, this will be discussed with the parents/carers first unless a pupil
is considered to be at immediate risk and /or there is an overriding child protection concern.
Parents/carers and children need to be aware that the school cannot guarantee total
confidentiality and the school has a duty to report child protection issues.
Information for pupils
We understand that there may be times when there are things which may be worrying you but you
can’t talk about them with your family. Teachers and other members of school staff will do all we
can to help you but need to know the following:
If you want to talk to someone about something that is worrying you then you can speak to
any adult that you trust and know.
The teachers and other members of staff in the school will often be able to help you with
many of the things that may be worrying you but they cannot promise to keep everything to
themselves. For example if you tell them about some things like stealing, they will have to
speak to the Leader of Learning who might then have to speak to your parents or carers.
If the staff member feels that they have to tell someone else what you have talked about,
they will normally tell you first and help you sort it out, perhaps helping you to speak to your
parents/carers if you want this.
Very rarely there are things which you talk about that can be very harmful for you or for
other young people e.g. someone trying to hurt you. The staff member may have to tell
someone else about what you have said, but they will normally tell you first and always help
you to sort things out.
Page 4

Development Process
This policy was developed in March 2010 by:
Senior Leadership Team member
Extended Services Co-ordinator
Teaching staff
School Nurse
Ian Paish
Samantha Hawkesford
Healthy Schools XLA group
Martin Simmonds (Union Rep)
Maria Casey
in consultation with:
The Parents Forum
The School Council
This policy will be reviewed and updated in three years.
Signatures:
Executive Headteacher
Robert Ellis
Governor
Page 5