Confidentiality in an Early Years Setting
4.1 Explain the meaning of the term ‘confidentiality’
Confidentiality as defined by Tassoni et al (2010)
“is about respecting other people’s rights to privacy and keeping safe the information that they have provided” Confidentiality is very important in any organisation since it is the basis of trust between a number of parties. Respecting this trust is vital and information must be handled, exchanged and stored (including both print and electronic information) in an appropriate way so that private information is not jeopardised.
In an early years setting, parents and custodians feel the need to share personal information with the care centre and its professionals in order to ensure that their children can get the right type of attention, support and help. It is with this in mind that these professionals have the duty and responsibility to respect the privacy and sensitivity of the information given about the child and the family. As a basic rule, if this information is not publicly available, then one must consider such information as confidential.
An appropriate approach to confidentiality, encompasses the following points: * Information should be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis. * Confidentiality does not end with the job. It must be respected at all times, indefinitely. * Never discuss information in front of other children. Unfortunately, adults sometimes forget or do not realise that children have ears too!
When working in such a centre, it is imperative that one should keep himself up-to-date with the organisation’s confidentiality policy as well as other legal frameworks such as the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act and any other related guidelines.
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References:
1. Kay, J., 2005. Teaching Assistant’s Handbook. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. 2. Lindon, J., 2003. Child Care and Early Years Education. London: Thomson Learning. 3. Tassoni, P., Beith,
Confidentiality as defined by Tassoni et al (2010)
“is about respecting other people’s rights to privacy and keeping safe the information that they have provided” Confidentiality is very important in any organisation since it is the basis of trust between a number of parties. Respecting this trust is vital and information must be handled, exchanged and stored (including both print and electronic information) in an appropriate way so that private information is not jeopardised.
In an early years setting, parents and custodians feel the need to share personal information with the care centre and its professionals in order to ensure that their children can get the right type of attention, support and help. It is with this in mind that these professionals have the duty and responsibility to respect the privacy and sensitivity of the information given about the child and the family. As a basic rule, if this information is not publicly available, then one must consider such information as confidential.
An appropriate approach to confidentiality, encompasses the following points: * Information should be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis. * Confidentiality does not end with the job. It must be respected at all times, indefinitely. * Never discuss information in front of other children. Unfortunately, adults sometimes forget or do not realise that children have ears too!
When working in such a centre, it is imperative that one should keep himself up-to-date with the organisation’s confidentiality policy as well as other legal frameworks such as the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act and any other related guidelines.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
References:
1. Kay, J., 2005. Teaching Assistant’s Handbook. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. 2. Lindon, J., 2003. Child Care and Early Years Education. London: Thomson Learning. 3. Tassoni, P., Beith,
References: 1. Kay, J., 2005. Teaching Assistant’s Handbook. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. 2. Lindon, J., 2003. Child Care and Early Years Education. London: Thomson Learning. 3. Tassoni, P., Beith, K., Bulman, K. & Griffin, S., 2010. Children & Young People’s Workforce, Early Learning & Childcare. Oxford: Heinemann Pearson Education Limited.