Safeguarding Adults: Information Sharing and Data Protection
Sharing the right information, at the right time, with the right people, is fundamental to good practice in adult safeguarding. We know that there can be concerns and challenges associated with this, especially in relation to concerns about data protection breaches.
The Care Act 2014, section 45 ‘supply of information’ covers the responsibilities of others to comply with any requests for information for the purposes of progressing a safeguarding enquiry. Sharing information between organisations as part of day-to-day safeguarding practice is covered in the common law duty of confidentiality, the Data Protection Act 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) the Human Rights Act and the Crime and Disorder Act. The Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enables the lawful sharing of information.
Organisations need to share safeguarding information with the right people at the right time to:
- prevent death or serious harm
- coordinate effective and efficient responses
- enable early interventions to prevent the escalation of risk
- prevent abuse and harm that may increase the need for care and support
- maintain and improve good practice in adult safeguarding
- reveal patterns of abuse that were previously undetected and that could identify others at risk of abuse
- identify low-level concerns that may reveal people at risk of abuse
- help people to access the right kind of support to reduce risk and promote wellbeing
- help identify people who may pose a risk to others and, where possible, work to reduce offending behaviour
- reduce organisational risk and protect reputation
Further information
If you have any questions or queries about information sharing, please contact Belinda Kirk, Safeguarding Adults Coordinator: Belinda.kirk@coventry.gov.uk