Within schools there is constant sharing of information about individuals and groups of children. There are however occasions when we need to share information with others outside of school, and this needs to be done with care, particularly when it relates to individuals. Whilst the media often focuses on the way in which large organisations such as Microsoft, Google and Facebook use individuals information, all organisations have a duty to make sure that what they know about individuals is only shared with the right people at the right time.
Deciding when and how to share information is not easy. Many serious case reviews have shown that there professionals have problems with recording, sharing, discussing and analysing information in order to identify the needs of, or risks to a child. Like when constructing a jigsaw, it is often only when information from a number of sources has been shared that it becomes clear that a child has suffered, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
When deciding when and how to share information outside of your organisation, the starting point is to ask yourself what you would be wanting if it was your personal information that was being shared.
