While the terms ‘privacy’ and ‘confidentiality’ are commonly used interchangeably, they are not identical concepts. Privacy laws regulate the handling of personal information (including health information) through enforceable privacy principles. On the other hand, the legal duty of confidentiality obliges health care practitioners to protect their patients against the inappropriate disclosure of personal information. Confidentiality means keeping a client’s information between you and the client. You are not to make a client’s information available to anyone else unless they are involved in their care. This includes; family, friends, colleagues and anyone else you may be talking to. The types of information that is considered confidential can include: Name, date of birth, age, sex and address Current contact details of family, guardian, etc. Bank details Medical history or records Personal care issues File progress notes Individual personal plans Assessments or reports Adult clients have the right to decide what information they consider personal and confidential. There is, however, no such thing as absolute confidentiality in the community services industry. Workers are required to keep notes on all interactions with clients and often to keep statistics about who is seen and what issues are addressed. As a worker, there Developed by Enhance Your Future Pty Ltd 71 CHCCCS023 - Support independence and wellbeing Version 2 Course code and name will be times when you could be faced with some personal difficulties regarding confidentiality.10 Developed by Enhance Your Future Pty Ltd 21 CHCCCS023 Support independence and wellbeing Version 1.1 Course code and name

It is desirable for confidentiality to be handled consistently throughout the service, and while the type and extent of the information conveyed by staff will vary according to the situation, certain basic principles are applicable in all instances. QUESTIONS The following questions may be answered verbally with your assessor or you may write down your answers. Please discuss this with your assessor before you commence. Short Answers are required which is approximately 4 typed lines = 50 words, or 5 lines of handwritten text. Your assessor will take down dot points as a minimum if you choose to answer them verbally. Answer the following questions either verbally with your assessor or in writing. 1. As a support worker, what can you do to recognise and support individual differences in clients? 2. List two examples each of a client’s possible cultural and spiritual preferences. 3. Support workers are expected to be able to respond to sexuality and sexual health issues. How can they do this? SUPPORT THE PERSON TO EXPRESS THEIR SEXUALITY Supporting a client to express their sexuality is an important aspect of your role. But how can you do so in ways that are both legal and meaningful? Consider the following information from Victoria’s “Personal relationships, sexuality and sexual health policy and guidelines” for disability workers in the state about how you can support clients to express their sexuality: All people access a wide variety of support and materials to meet their individual Developed by Enhance Your Future Pty Ltd 22 CHCCCS023 Support independence and wellbeing Version 1.1 Course code and name