Confidentiality Policy
SRSH believes that confidentiality is fundamental to our work. Group sessions must always offer a safe place. We ask that what is discussed within the group stays within the group. Group facilitators must respect the information they are told within the group session and will not pass this information on to individuals outside of their SRSH support network. We are unable however to vouch for other individuals at the group session, beyond asking that all individuals at group sessions respect other people’s right to speak in the knowledge that their words will not leave the room.
Working within our confidentiality policy
Group facilitators have a support network. They are encouraged to use this network to discuss issues that arise in sessions. This is to enable them to be supported through their role and to help their development as group facilitators, so that the groups they run for you are always improving. This support network includes the SRSH project directors and project manager, a named contact as a formal supervisor at the university and the SRSH core volunteer team. Discussions with these individuals will never mention names and will avoid disclosing identifying details.
Breaking confidentiality
We believe that individuals attending our groups have a right to remain anonymous. There are however a few limited circumstances under which our group facilitators will be unable to maintain confidentiality. In an immediate emergency, such as an individual being taken seriously ill during a group session, group facilitators will contact 999. Further, group facilitators will ask to break confidentiality if they feel that an individual attending the group is at high risk of committing suicide or harming another person. The individual will be fully involved in this process. The group facilitators will talk to the individual explain their concerns and ask if they can contact anyone to offer further support to the individual. Depending on the individual’s request, the group facilitators will contact emergency services or the individual’s local GP surgery. If group facilitators are made aware that a third party is in immediate danger or harm, specifically a child, they will have to break confidentiality in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and do what they can to protect that child by passing on information to the relevant services.
Please note that our group facilitators can only offer support within the group session. If an individual chooses to leave a group session or refuse our request to break confidentiality group facilitators will be unable to pursue further action. Group facilitators cannot take any responsibility for individuals after they have left a group session.
Working within our confidentiality policy
Group facilitators have a support network. They are encouraged to use this network to discuss issues that arise in sessions. This is to enable them to be supported through their role and to help their development as group facilitators, so that the groups they run for you are always improving. This support network includes the SRSH project directors and project manager, a named contact as a formal supervisor at the university and the SRSH core volunteer team. Discussions with these individuals will never mention names and will avoid disclosing identifying details.
Breaking confidentiality
We believe that individuals attending our groups have a right to remain anonymous. There are however a few limited circumstances under which our group facilitators will be unable to maintain confidentiality. In an immediate emergency, such as an individual being taken seriously ill during a group session, group facilitators will contact 999. Further, group facilitators will ask to break confidentiality if they feel that an individual attending the group is at high risk of committing suicide or harming another person. The individual will be fully involved in this process. The group facilitators will talk to the individual explain their concerns and ask if they can contact anyone to offer further support to the individual. Depending on the individual’s request, the group facilitators will contact emergency services or the individual’s local GP surgery. If group facilitators are made aware that a third party is in immediate danger or harm, specifically a child, they will have to break confidentiality in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and do what they can to protect that child by passing on information to the relevant services.
Please note that our group facilitators can only offer support within the group session. If an individual chooses to leave a group session or refuse our request to break confidentiality group facilitators will be unable to pursue further action. Group facilitators cannot take any responsibility for individuals after they have left a group session.
