Confidentiality At
Brookdale Day Nursery we recognise
that we hold sensitive/confidential information about children and their
families and the staff we employ. This information is used to meet children's
needs, for registers, invoices and emergency contacts. We store all records in
a locked cabinet or on the office computer with files that are password
protected in line with data protection principles. Any information shared with the staff team is
done on a 'need to know' basis and treated in confidence.
Legal requirements
We follow the
legal requirements set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years
Foundation Stage (EYFS) March 2014 and accompanying regulations about the
information we must hold about registered children and their families and
the staff working at the nursery. We follow the
requirements of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 and the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 with regard to the storage of data and access to it. Procedures
It
is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their families and we
do so by:
Storing
confidential records in a locked filing cabinet or on the office computer
with files that are password protected Ensuring staff,
student and volunteer inductions include an awareness of the importance of
confidentiality and that information about the child and family is not
shared outside of the nursery other than with relevant professionals who
need to know that information. It is not shared with friends and family,
discussions on the bus or at the local bar. If staff breach any
confidentiality provisions, this may result in disciplinary action and, in
serious cases, dismissal. Students on placement in the nursery are advised
of our confidentiality policy and required to respect it Ensuring that
all staff, volunteers and students are aware that this information is
confidential and only for use within the nursery and to support the
child's best interests with parental permission Ensuring that
parents have access to files and records of their own children but not to
those of any other child, other than where relevant professionals such as
the police or local authority children's social care team decide this is
not in the child's best interest Ensuring all
staff are aware that this information is confidential and only for use
within the nursery setting. If any of this information is requested for
whatever reason, the parent's permission will always be sought other than
in the circumstances above Ensuring staff
do not discuss personal information given by parents with other members of
staff, except where it affects planning for the child's needs Ensuring staff,
students and volunteers are aware of and follow our social networking
policy in relation to confidentiality Ensuring issues
concerning the employment of staff remain confidential to the people
directly involved with making personnel decisions Ensuring any
concerns/evidence relating to a child's personal safety are kept in a
secure, confidential file and are shared with as few people as possible on
a 'need-to-know' basis. If, however, a child is considered at risk, our
safeguarding/child protection policy will override confidentiality. All
the undertakings above are subject to the paramount commitment of the nursery,
which is to the safety and well-being of the child.
Staff
and volunteer information
All information
and records relating to staff will be kept confidentially in a locked
cabinet Individual staff
may request to see their own personal file at any time
Hints and tips
For
more information on data protection and to register your nursery visitwww.ico.gov.uk
Why
not include the location of your data protection certificate and link this
policy to your access and storage of information policy?
This
policy was adopted:
Signed
on behalf of the nursery
Date
for review
Jan
2020
Susan
Walker
Jan
2021
