Sharing personal information in the child protection context: Impediments in the Australian legal framework
Research in Practice
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
This summary draws on research presented in a paper that examines the legal framework that governs information sharing in Australia. To make these findings more applicable to the UK context, the summary also highlights key messages on information sharing from the triennial analysis of serious case reviews 2011-2014.
- Carolyn Adams
- Child & Family Social Work Vol 22, (2017)
Sharing and protecting information
The paper by Adams identifies that a failure to appropriately share personal information in the child protection context can have a negative impact on joined-up service provision. Research by Keeley et al in 2015 identified four reasons for sharing personal information in "human" services, all of which are relevant to the child protection context. These are to:
- Facilitate collaboration in the provision of services to individuals and families
- Improve efficiency and quality of care
- Reduce the burden on clients of providing information
- Improve safety.
The paper notes that there has been a tendency in legislation and policy to emphasise the protection of information, at the expense of sharing it where necessary and appropriate, which has created an environment in which those holding information may be overcautious about when and with whom they share information.
In the UK, the Information Sharing Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding (2015), based in part on the Munro Review, notes the importance of being able to share information with other agencies. It suggests that frontline practitioners are best placed to exercise their professional judgment about when to share information with colleagues and other agencies in order to keep children safe.
Key messages to emerge from serious case reviews
Communication breakdown is one of the key areas that has been identified in serious case reviews (SCR). Of the 66 SCR reports from the period 2011-2014 that were reviewed in depth for the triennial analysis, there was only one where information sharing was not specifically mentioned.
Information sharing is central to effective child safeguarding so that there can be a careful assessment of a child's vulnerability. This depends on collaborative, multi-agency working, which requires good communication and information sharing between agency professionals.
The findings from the triennial analysis report highlights the following key messages:
- Effective communication is crucial for safeguarding children. Professionals for whom safeguarding is not a core responsibility need to be aware of the need to share information early as failure to do so can hinder effective assessment of parental capacity and child vulnerability.
- Despite national guidance and legislation on confidentiality and data protection there are often deep cultural barriers to sharing information among professionals, with a culture of client confidentiality being prioritised over children's safety. Often, professionals' default position is not to share information with other professional groups.
- Systemic issues underlying information sharing difficulties include fragmentation of services, delays in sending information, bureaucracy and requests that are vague in what information is required.
- Effective information sharing can be facilitated by clarity over the reasons for requesting information. This can be facilitated by setting up clear pathways and agreements for information sharing between agencies, including clear procedures and pro-formas.
- Information must be triangulated and verified by seeking independent confirmation of parents' accounts from other agencies.
Implications for practice
- Any information that has a bearing on child welfare should be shared with other professionals unless there is a reason not to do so.
- It is important to have a lateral flow of information between all relevant agencies with a role in child protection. This includes practitioners in children's services providing prompt feedback to referrers and others involved in safeguarding, as well as other agencies providing information to professionals in children's services.
- Best practice in information sharing combines verbal communication with clear written documentation of concerns.
The research section for this special report is based on a selection of academic studies which have been explored and summarised by Research in Practice, part of the Dartington Hall Trust.
