Privacy & Confidentiality

Protecting Privacy in Fieldwork Learning & Instruction

Basic Principle: Confidentiality

• Instrumental but not Ultimate

• Relative but not Absolute

Levels of Confidentiality

Biggs & Blocher (1987) Biggs & Blocher (1987) Foundations of ethical counselingFoundations of ethical counseling

Levels of Confidentiality (a)

• First Level • divulge information in

careless, casual or irresponsible ways

• Unethical!

Levels of Confidentiality (b)

• Third level• maintain confidential

in whatever situation except in a clear and direct threat of human life

• Try not to convey to client of this level

Levels of Confidentiality (c)

• Second Level

• Conditional disclosure

• clear danger or threat to client or third party’s life

• suspected child abuse

• under legal obligation

• with client’s consent

Practical Guidelines: Collecting Information

• collect those which is relevant and necessary

• explain the purpose, usage & result for collecting information

• get client’s consent for taping or involving 3rd party

Practical Guidelines: Access to Information

• only relevant and/or authorised person can access to it

• for the purposes of social work intervention or for administrative usage

Practical Guidelines: Report & Recording

• code instead of names in recordings/notes except in official files

• avoid specific client details in log

• use accurate substantial & verifiable fact instead of judgments

Practical Guidelines: Storage of Information

• keep it in a safe place, e.g. locker

• try to keep it in office and carry it away when it is really necessary

• do not store in a computer which can be accessed by the public

Practical Guidelines: Disposal of Information

• no recordings (printed copies or disk copies) with specific client data should be kept by student after placement

• disguised files can be kept selectively for academic purpose

Practical Guidelines: Communication

• Do not use fax (unless specially arranged)

• Do not ask unauthorized 3rd party to deliver the communication

• Do not disclose client data in open area

Practical Guidelines: Portfolio

• Do not include client identifying data in it

• Sufficiently covered• Submitted to the

Department directly within a specified period

• Destroyed by student/Department after moderation

Breach of Practice

Academic ReviewAcademic Review(warning, failure, repeat(warning, failure, repeatplacement etc.)placement etc.)

Legal ActionLegal Action

Wish you a happy fieldwork experience!Wish you a happy fieldwork experience!