Any information you receive about a foster child and their family and friends must be treated
as private and not shared with anyone without the permission of agency or the child’s social
worker.
You should discuss with your supervising social worker in supervision what you intend to tell
different people in your network about each child placed with you. Some people may need
to know more than others. You should not make the judgement on your own about who
needs to know what.
Written information which you receive and your own recordings must be kept in a safe place;
preferably in a locked cupboard or filing cabinet.
All written information including your recordings should be returned to agency at the end of
the placement.
You may be asked by a child or a member of their family to keep a secret. You should not
agree to do this explaining to the person that until you know what the secret is you cannot
judge whether or not you would be obliged to pass the information on to the relevant social
workers.
You must pass on any information which might indicate that any person is or has been at risk
of significant harm, any criminal activity past, present or future and any matter which could
be relevant to the child’s future.
If your informant still wishes to tell you the secret listen and subsequently make a record of
the conversation. Do not ask leading questions particularly of children making a disclosure of
abuse. Do not be judgemental.
Report significant secrets to your supervising social worker immediately.
