Caring Professional



Caring Professional

Although, sometimes, it can be very difficult for a professional worker in health care to know what information and how much can be disclosed about a client and to whom. The Data Protection Act (1998) aims to ensure the confidentiality of information stored. Good ref. to this act. It states that all information held must be obtained legally and that it is confidential but available to those who have a right to see it (Unit 23, p57).

Confidentiality is an important issue because without it, professionals would find it difficult to build relationships with their clients. Trust in a carer/client relationship is important, as a client would not want to share personal information with someone if they felt it was not confidential and Fulford (2001) agrees that confidentiality is a function of relationships. This could be why new employees in the caring profession find it difficult to relate to their clients until a relationship has been formed.

Having policies, employment contracts and codes of practice should enforce confidentiality. However, it is common knowledge that care workers do sometimes discuss clients or residents with their partners, friends and relatives, even if they do so without mentioning the client's name (Unit23, p70). A resident would feel betrayed if they knew that they were being spoken about to others outside the group of people who are bound by a confidentiality policy (Unit 23, p70).

However, records are kept on an every day basis in the caring profession. Workers in a residential care setting, have to record all residents' behaviour and daily living routines in the residents care plan folder. These are called 'daily records'. If a resident has a fall or does something beyond their normal behaviour, then this is documented for future use and by doing this it allows for continuity of care ...