Students’ Union Bournemouth University Confidentiality Policy
Within the constitution, it states that it is bad practice to disclose any confidential information about SUBU’s volunteers or clients. Any breach of confidence is to be dealt with according to the complaints procedure and is considered very serious.
What exactly is meant by breach of confidence?
This is not as clear cut as it may first seem:
- If a child under the age of sixteen makes a disclosure of abuse to a volunteer then they are obliged by law to report this to social services. This is why we emphasise very strongly that volunteers should never promise a child that they can ‘keep a secret’.
- Volunteers should feel free to discuss any worries, questions or general observations with project co-ordinators.
- Other information about clients clearly does need to remain confidential. For example: there is no reason why a volunteer needs to know why a client is disabled. If this information is revealed to a volunteer by the client then it is not appropriate to discuss this outside of the project and should be considered as confidential. Personal information about any client is to be treated respectfully and the client may not wish what they have told you to become common knowledge even if they have not specifically indicated this.
- SUBU is committed to confidentiality on a “need to know” basis and accepts the need for information to be disclosed according to the discretion of its volunteers.
- Confidential matters must not be discussed with members of the general public (including other students) who may not have the necessary insight into the work.
- In training sessions, meetings and informal discussions, care should be taken not to disclose information about SUBU where individuals can be identified, or particular happenings in your group are made public that should not be.
- Personal information about other volunteers even if disclosed in a social setting should not be repeated and treated in a sensitive manner.
Remember - Gossip hurts, can be harmful and is unprofessional.
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