Confidentiality notice
We know that confidentiality is really important to the people who use our services.
We try to keep everything discussed between us confidential. However, if we’re really worried about your safety or those around you, we may give someone else information to protect you or them. This happens very rarely, and we’ll always aim to let you know first. If you want to know more about this, then just ask.
Via has a robust and comprehensive Safeguarding Policy in place to protect all of the people who use our services, their families, and our employees and volunteers from any harm. We firmly believe that safeguarding is everyone’s business.
We need to keep information about you for the following reasons:
- So we can remember what is talked about with you.
- So we can keep you safe from harm.
The information that we keep will be in the form of paper records and computer records.
When we’re not using it, it will be kept securely.
We also need to collect information to send to statutory agencies and we will discuss this with you. This information will not be used to identify you but will be used to write reports and to show how drug and alcohol treatment is working and inform future funding from the government.
The organisations that fund our services also want to know about how many people come to see us so that it can tell other people what is happening with drugs and alcohol in local areas but, again, the information will not identify you.
You may also agree with your keyworker that we can share information about you with other services or people that help you.
Workers will talk to you about confidentiality and what it means and how it may affect you.
Useful links:
Via’s consent and confidentiality leaflet – for people who use our services
Via’s confidentiality agreement – for people who use our services
NDTMS consent and privacy notice – information for people in drug and alcohol treatment about sharing their information with the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS).