Confidentiality and privacy
Confidentiality means not using or disclosing any information about clients, employees or FACS business unless it is a requirement of an employee’s role to do so, or they are given authority or official permission to disclose the information.
Privacy relates to:
(a) the rules around the collection, storage use and disclosure of people’s personal and health information, and
(b) respect for people’s right to autonomy and personal space.
All staff must:
• respect the confidentiality and privacy of colleagues and clients
• ensure the protection of client information so that it is not made available to persons outside of FACS or anyone employed in FACS who does not have a legitimate work related need for the information
• not use FACS information to gain a financial or personal advantage
• comply with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act and Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 by ensuring that personal details of clients and staff e.g. health records, staff phone numbers or information in client profiles, remain confidential and are not disclosed without authority
• not make or retain copies off site of confidential FACS materials e.g. client and staff personal details
• protect the security of their computer e.g. by keeping passwords private
• comply with the State Records Act by keeping full and accurate records and ensuring they are kept in safe custody.
FACS staff have access to a wide range of information relating to the operations of the Department. It is a requirement of all staff to maintain the confidentiality of all information they come across in their work.
Staff and clients have a right to seek access to their personal information held by FACS. All staff have a role in assisting this access subject to specific privacy policies. In some cases, releasing information without proper authority could be a criminal offence. It is therefore important that staff do not release any information without obtaining appropriate authority to do so.
Undermining the decisions of the Government by releasing information without authority is a serious breach of employment responsibilities. Such actions could lead to disciplinary action.
Staff who leave the government sector are expected to continue to respect the confidentiality and privacy of information gained during their employment.