How is confidentiality protected in specialist therapeutic foster care?

Confidentiality in specialist therapeutic foster care means protecting personal, family, health and placement information while making sure the professionals responsible for the child can use it safely. It is not an absolute promise that nothing will be disclosed: information may need to be shared where this is necessary to protect the child or another person, meet a legal duty, or coordinate care.

The child’s understanding and views matter. Professionals should explain, in language suited to the child’s age and communication needs, what information is being collected, who may see it and why. A young person’s wishes about privacy should be taken seriously, including their preferences about discussions taking place in front of them. Their views may not determine every decision, particularly where safeguarding concerns apply, but they should be considered and recorded.

Therapeutic information needs particular care. A foster carer may need to know practical advice from a therapist, such as how to respond to distress, avoid known triggers or support an agreed care plan. They do not necessarily need every detail discussed during a session. Sharing should focus on information that helps the adults carry out their responsibilities, rather than encouraging a child to repeat private conversations or disclose more than they wish.

Before a placement begins, the professionals involved should clarify how information will be exchanged. This can include the social worker, supervising social worker, therapeutic practitioner, education staff, health professionals and, where appropriate, the child’s family. The agreed arrangements should explain:

• which people or services are involved in the child’s care;
• what type of information each person needs;
• how consent and the child’s views will be considered;
• how urgent safeguarding information will be passed on;
• how decisions and significant conversations will be documented; and
• who the foster carer should contact when they are unsure whether information can be shared.

Confidentiality applies within the foster household as well as outside it. Other children in the home should receive an age-appropriate explanation about privacy without being given unnecessary details about the foster child’s history. Foster carers should avoid discussing the child’s circumstances with visitors, neighbours or relatives, and should take care when speaking on the telephone or in shared spaces. Information should not be used as casual conversation or as an explanation for the child’s behaviour to people who are not involved in their care.

Digital communication creates additional risks. Foster carers should use the communication methods approved by the fostering service and professionals, rather than personal social media accounts or informal group chats. They should not post photographs, names, school details, locations, incidents or identifying descriptions about a child or their placement. Devices and paper documents should be protected from access by other household members, and any suspected loss or accidental disclosure should be reported promptly through the agreed process.

There are clear limits to privacy where safety is at risk. A concern about abuse, exploitation, self-harm, violence, a missing episode or another serious risk must be passed to the appropriate professional, even if the child has asked for secrecy. Foster carers should not investigate the concern themselves or promise to keep it secret. They should listen calmly, avoid leading questions, make a factual note of what was said and follow safeguarding guidance. Explaining this boundary from the start helps children understand that asking for help will be taken seriously.

Confidential records should distinguish between fact, observation, the child’s own words and professional opinion. Notes should be dated, relevant and written promptly, without judgemental descriptions or speculation. They may include information about appointments, significant events, contact arrangements, behaviour and actions taken, but should not contain unnecessary detail. Records must be stored and shared according to the fostering service’s procedures, with access limited to authorised people.

Confidentiality also includes the foster carer’s own privacy. Details about the carer, their household, address, health, finances and personal circumstances should only be discussed with people who need that information for assessment, supervision, safeguarding or support. A carer can ask the supervising social worker or fostering service to explain how their information, and the child’s information, is being used and who to approach if they believe privacy has not been respected.

When confidentiality is uncertain, the safest approach is to pause before sharing, check the relevant policy or speak to the supervising social worker. The exception is an immediate danger, when safeguarding action should not be delayed while waiting for clarification. Specialist therapeutic fostering works best when information is shared deliberately: enough to provide consistent, safe care, but no more than is necessary for the purpose.