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Summary
1. Parents’ permission for information sharing must be obtained before discussing concerns with other agencies unless there are child protection concerns. |
Before professionals have discussions about any child welfare concerns with other agencies, they must usually seek the parents’ permission, and/or the child’s where appropriate, unless seeking permission may itself place a child at risk of significant harm. Examples where seeking permission may cause harm include:
- where sexual abuse is suspected or disclosed;
- where Fabricated or Induced Illness is suspected
- where there are fears for the safety of the child due to possible action by members of their family
- where it is not possible to contact the person whose consent is required immediately and prompt action is required to establish or ensure the child’s safety
In some cases it may be appropriate to make straightforward checks on whether information may be malicious or unfounded by contacting other agencies before parents are consulted. In all cases where an allegation is deemed to have been made without foundation, Children’s Social Care must ensure the parents are informed of the contact and the resulting electronic social care record.
Children’s Social Care may assess, in consultation with the referring agency, that a young person is mature enough to discuss the concerns without involving their parents at this stage.
Children’s Social Care must record the reasons for a decision to consult the child without the knowledge of their parents or to take action on a referral without seeking parental agreement.
Personal information about referrers who are not professionals, including details that would identify them, must only be disclosed to third parties – including the child’s family and other agencies – with the referrer’s consent.
In all cases where the police are involved, the decision about when to inform parents about referrals from third parties must be shared with the police as it will have a bearing on the conduct of their investigations.
Ref:
Working Together 2010 Chapter 5 Para 5.23 – 5.24
Information Sharing: Guidance for Practitioners and Managers DCSF 2008
