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An Information Sharing protocol has been introduced in Slough that comprises a set of rules that organisations agree to comply with when sharing person identifiable information. It sets out the obligations and commitments that staff must follow to ensure that legislation is not breached and that service user confidentiality is maintained.
The aim is to improve the knowledge and therefore the confidence of practitioners to share information about children and young people with other organisations and agencies within current guidance and legislation when this is in the interest of the children and young people. The need for these protocols was primarily identified by the Caldicott Report (Department of Health 1997). In terms of Education and Children's Services information sharing and protection takes into account the following legislation and guidance documents:
In deciding whether the sharing is fair, consideration should be given to how and for what purpose the data was obtained and whether the consent was 'informed'.
All staff have an obligation to safeguard confidentiality with regard to information sharing and protection. This is governed by law and should be further protected by contracts of employment and professional codes of conduct.
Part 2 of the Children Act 2004 places a duty on Slough Borough Council as the Children's Services Authority to make arrangements to promote co-operation between the Council and each of the authority's relevant partners and other agencies and organisations considered appropriate. The arrangements are to be made with a view to improving the well-being of the children and young people in the Council's area and will include:
