Rationale

Information-sharing between the multi-agency workforce around the child is important for the provision of co-ordinated care. It is central to demonstrating what services have been delivered, and what outcomes have been achieved. The GIRFEC practice model will ensure a common structure for assessing the needs of children and young people and recording of information.

There is a need to obtain consent from children, young people and their parents/carers, as appropriate, to share information outwith the staff group providing the care. NHS boards and their partners should build on their existing data sharing partnership agreements and develop information-sharing systems to enable this to happen. Service providers must be aware that young people under the age of 16 who are deemed capable of giving consent have the same right to confidentiality as an adult. This can mean that, in the best interest of the child or young person, professionals working with them will maintain their privacy even when a parent/carer or other professional requests information.

Issues of consent and confidentiality should not prevent the development of a positive partnership between practitioners and the parents/carers of older children. There should be a clear understanding of what is expected of a practitioner if a parent/carer asks for information. Organisations providing mental health services should ensure that their workforce receives and offers training and support in working through these issues. Children, young people and their parents/carers should have clear information about:

• safeguards for information
• giving consent to share information, and
• identifying circumstances where aspects of information that they might prefer to keep private might need to be shared; for example, where a child or young person is considered to be at risk themselves or poses a risk to others.