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Human rights, for both adults and children, are based on principles of dignity, equality, and mutual respect.
For information sharing this means:
One of the core components of working with families is building trust and safety in relationships; this is also part of a trauma-informed approach. For information sharing, this particularly applies to issues of consent.
When considering whether to ask for consent, think about whether the information sharing is necessary to the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child. What could the consequences be if you don’t share information? If you ask for consent, and the family decline, what position does that put you in?
Asking for consent, where possible, promotes partnership. It will not be appropriate to seek consent in every situation, particularly if the information is critical to the safety, welfare and wellbeing of a child. If this is the case, giving families clear and transparent information about your decision to share information is preferable to seeking consent.
Effective information sharing helps make children safer. To be effective, we need to use the information we have shared to drive actions, conversations, coordination and support for children and families.
Effective information sharing:
It is important not to over rely on information generated within your own agency, or under rely on information from other agencies. Be prepared to challenge your assumptions and work with other agencies to build a complete picture.
Robyn and her son Matthew were working with lots of services who were not talking to each other. Their story illustrates how sharing small pieces of information can drastically improve service delivery.
07 May 2024