Responding to requests for information

1. 46. You should consider all requests for information for child protection purposes seriously and quickly, bearing in mind that refusing to give this information, or a delay in doing so, could increase the risk of harm to a child or young person or undermine efforts to protect them.
2. 47. You must respond fully and quickly to a court order asking for information. You must also cooperate with requests for information needed for formal reviews^* carried out after a child or young person has died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect is known, or is suspected, to have been a factor. The purpose of such a review is to learn lessons from mistakes and to improve systems and services for children and young people. You should also cooperate with procedures set up to protect the public from violent and sex offenders.^†
3. 48. Before sharing confidential information, you should do all of the following.
   
   
   1. a. Check the identity of the person who has asked for the information – for example, by calling them back if you receive a telephone request from a person or agency you do not recognise.
   2. b. Check that the request is valid, understand why the person or agency is asking for the information, what information they need, and how they may use the information in the future.
   3. c. Make sure that you have met one of the conditions for sharing information set out in paragraph 31.
4. 49. You should only share information that is relevant to the request. This will include information about the child or young person, their parents and any other relevant people in contact with the child or young person. Relevant information will include family risk factors, such as drug and alcohol misuse, or previous instances of abuse or neglect, but you should not usually share complete records.^* If you share information without consent you should follow the advice in paragraph 38.
5. 50. If you are not sure whether to share information, you should discuss your concerns and the best way to manage any risk to a child or young person with your named or designated professional or lead clinician or, if they are not available, an experienced colleague.