Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) Practice Guidance 4 - Information sharing

This guidance aims to clarify the circumstances in which information can be shared with another agency, the considerations that need to be taken into account to ensure sharing information with another agency is appropriate, and the importance of involving children, young people and families.


8. Professional Judgement

A culture of appropriate information sharing starts with leadership that values the voice and opinion of children and the workforce. Leaders must model an approach that encourages a culture of speaking up and recognises the judgment of the workforce.

The Promise

Professional judgement is always required about the needs, risks or concerns in each set of circumstances and what information, if anything, is relevant, proportionate and necessary to share in relation to these. The needs, risks or concerns must be placed in the context of available observed and recorded information about the child or young person in their current circumstances.

You should share information that is adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the purpose for which you are sharing the information (Principle (c): Data minimisation). In deciding what to share you should also consider the rights of the child under Articles 12 and 16 of the UNCRC.

Your record of decisions should evidence how data protection compliance has been considered.

Contact

Email: GIRFEC@gov.scot

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