Privacy and Confidentiality

The STOP Adolescent Programmes’ practices and procedures will protect and respect client’s privacy, both in terms of face-to-face contact and client records. However in some circumstances, where there are risks to other persons or to clients themselves, there will be limitations to the level of privacy/ confidentiality held.  

The safety and well-being of the person, or persons, who have been sexually abused, and any potential persons at direct risk of being sexually abused, have paramountcy when considering the respective rights to privacy of the STOP Programmes’ client.  

In all discussions with clients and their families pertaining to privacy, consent and records, clinicians will ensure that the language used is understandable, culturally sensitive, and concise.  Opportunities will be offered, both at the time and during at least one subsequent discussion, for client’s and/or family members to ask questions or seek clarification as to the meaning and the implications of these policies.  

The policy of the STOP Adolescent Programme regarding Self Report and Privacy is explained to the young person and parents/caregivers at the first meeting.  This covers information on the following areas

1. Medication and medical Conditions
2. Honesty
3. Safety
4. Disclosure of any past sexual abusing
5. Collection of information and right of access
6. Privacy in the process group  

Click here to view policy on Self Report and Privacy ( link to form)  

STOP is required to keep adequate and accurate records of the services it has delivered. Client files are the principle method of recording details of the service delivery at an individual level.  Client's files are securely held at the offices of STOP, and only authorised persons will have access to such information. Clients have the right to request access to information about themselves, and to request the information be corrected, if they believe it to be incorrect.  Any such requests are managed in a manner consistent with the Privacy Act, 1993. Any inaccuracies in the client records, revealed as a result of this process, shall be immediately rectified, with evidence provided that this has occurred  

Other records held are of a non-identifying statistical nature and are used for the organisation’s accountability to funding stakeholders and for research purposes.  

Click here for more information on Privacy and Confidentiality