Introduction
This Confidentiality Policy outlines how information shared with The Children’s Wellness Centre is managed and protected.
Our Information Sharing and Privacy Policy lays out how information shared with us via forms, paperwork and/or correspondence with third parties, schools, healthcare professionals or other relevant services is shared internally and externally.

The Clinic additionally understands that at times service users may share personal and sensitive information with their Clinical Practitioner via conversations held in person, via email, on the telephone or through other agreed methods of communication. This information will be managed respectfully and in accordance with relevant data protection legislation.

Aside from the agreements held within our Information Sharing and Privacy Policy, personal information shared during therapy, assessment or intervention will be treated confidentially and information discussed with your individual Clinical Practitioner will be kept private, except in situations whereby your Clinical Practitioner is concerned about your safety, the safety of your child, the safety of someone else, or where there is a legal or professional obligation to share information.

In the case of assessments, information disclosed may need to be included within the outcome report. If a service user specifically wishes for certain information to be omitted from a report, this should be discussed with their Clinical Practitioner.
The Clinic and/or your Clinical Practitioner will endeavour, wherever possible, to discuss any concerns they have, explain what information may need to be shared and why, and obtain consent before doing so. However, in some situations, including emergencies or where there is a significant risk of harm, this may not be possible and consent may not be obtained prior to information being shared. In these circumstances, confidentiality may be breached in the best interests of the individual concerned or to protect others.

Children and Young People
For those attending child and adolescent counselling sessions, and in line with the ethical principles of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the duty of confidentiality owed to young clients who are capable of consenting to their own counselling is the same as that offered to adults.
This means that unless the counsellor has concerns about the child or young person’s safety, behaviour, or something that they have shared, or a concern regarding the safety of another person, aspects of the counselling sessions will remain confidential.
Any questions or concerns regarding confidentiality should be discussed with the Clinical Practitioner assigned to the child or young person.

As with all our services, if a Clinical Practitioner has concerns regarding safety, confidentiality may be breached. This will be explained to the child or young person at the start of their counselling journey, throughout their engagement with the service as appropriate, and, where possible, at the time of any confidentiality breach.

Adults
For adult clients (for example parents attending our support sessions) confidentiality is based upon the presumption of capacity in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Where a client is assessed as lacking capacity to make decisions relating to information sharing, decisions will be made in their best interests and documented accordingly.
Adult clients may choose to involve a third party, such as a partner, family member or healthcare professional, in their care. No information will be shared with third parties without the client’s explicit consent, unless one of the exceptions outlined above applies. As with all our services, if a Clinical Practitioner has concerns regarding safety, confidentiality may be breached. This will be explained to clients at the beginning of their therapeutic or assessment journey, throughout their engagement with the service as appropriate, and, where possible, at the time of any confidentiality breach.