Req 3f - Privacy & Confidentiality

Will Holmes à Court
Will Holmes à Court
Last updated 
HWH Respects each client’s privacy, and personal information is kept confidential.

Context
  • A key aspect of dignity and respect is ensuring that a client’s privacy is respected. 
  • HWH must ensure that our staff and others' communication, behaviour and interactions don’t compromise our client’s privacy. 
    • For example, if our staff talk about the client to others not involved in providing care and services without consent or are careless about how they enter the client’s room or home, this can affect the client’s dignity.
  • HWH has access to a range of personal information about its clients
  • This includes health information, regarded as one of the most sensitive types of personal information. 
  • We must respect a client’s right to privacy in how we collect, use and communicate personal information.
  • The Privacy Act 1988 and the Aged Care Act 1997 permit the disclosure and sharing of health information if the information is necessary to provide health services to individuals,
    • for example, between aged care services and hospital services.
Success Measures
  • In our day-to-day interactions with clients, our staff and others show respect for client privacy and confidentiality.
  • HWH ensures other clients, families, and visitors respect each client’s privacy and confidentiality.
  • Our staff know each client’s preferences for personal privacy, for example, showering or entering their room (including when they are with visitors).
  • The practical steps HWH takes to ensure the client’s information is kept confidential and only those who need to know can access the information.
  • The practical steps HWH takes to ensure accurate health information is safely transferred to those providing health care.
Success Indicators
Clients
  • Clients say HWH protects the privacy and confidentiality of their information.
  • Clients are satisfied that care and services, including personal care, are undertaken in a way that respects their privacy.
  • Clients say our staff and others consistently respect their privacy and confidentiality in communicating and interacting with them.
  • Clients say HWH respects their personal space and privacy when their friends, partners or significant others visit.
Staff
  • Observed delivery of care and services is respectful of client privacy.
  • Staff can describe how they support clients in communicating their preferences for their privacy (including their information, their space, and how they are treated or cared for).
  • Staff can give examples of how they maintain the privacy of individuals in the delivery of care and services and demonstrate their understanding that clients receiving personal care can feel vulnerable.
  • Staff can show they clearly understand the importance of confidentiality and describe (relevant to their role) how they collect, use and communicate any personal information to maintain privacy.
  • Staff orientation, training or other records that show how HWH supported our staff to respect a client’s right to privacy and to meet this requirement.
Organisation
  • Staff can describe how HWH maintains and shares records to protect privacy and confidentiality in line with client preferences.
  • Evidence that information is available to relevant staff and others providing care promptly and is provided in a way that protects the confidentiality and integrity of the information.
  • Processes or procedures support our staff in managing requests for information from others, such as family members or significant others, in a consistent, professional, sensitive and appropriate way.