Confidentiality and Concerns

Sexual Assault Crisis Centre > Confidentiality and Concerns

Confidentiality and Concerns

As a potential or current service user you may have questions about how SACC addresses confidentiality and concerns about services. The following is important to know:

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is the safekeeping of your confidential information.  It is both an ethical principle and a legal right that is upheld by employees of SACC.  Confidentiality however is limited to the following at SACC:

Purposeful Sharing of Confidential information

Case Planning: The Social Workers at SACC work as a team and as a service user your confidential information extends to SACC, the organization and not specific to only one Social Worker.  What this means is that the Social Worker will share confidential information within SACC to help with treatment planning and to ensure you receive the quality of service you deserve.

Treatment Planning: The Social Workers at SACC may at times share confidential information with other community services only for the purposes of treatment planning to ensure your needs are met.  It is the practice of SACC to inform the service user that treatment planning can occur with other organizations and that permission to share information is obtained from the service user.

Keeping you Safe: SACC is committed to your safety.  If there is a threat of danger or abuse to you or someone you care for SACC will act to ensure you or your loved one stays safe.  This includes the threat of abuse, potential suicide, or potential homicide. 

Concerns about services

SACC is committed to help service users manage the trauma resulting from sexual violence.  In this process, SACC recognizes that a trusting relationship must be established with the assigned Social Worker and that a willingness to be helpful is felt by the service user.  Sometimes the match between Social Worker and service user does not fit due to styles and or expectations.  SACC Social Workers know the importance of building rapport and therapeutic engagement in the treatment process and recognizes that not every SACC Social Worker will achieve this fit with every service user.  SACC recognizes this  and will work towards finding a fit that is more beneficial for the service user.

How does SACC address these concerns?

  1. Service users are encouraged to address their needs and concerns directly with their assigned Social Worker.  As much as the service user may feel uncomfortable in talking to the Social Worker for several reasons, it is important to remember that the Social Worker understands the importance of engagement and their potential limitations  in achieving this with every service user.  It is also important to remember that the Social Worker will do their best to help but if the service user does not feel that the process is helpful, the Social Worker welcomes this feedback so they can find other ways that may be helpful.   This may include changing approaches, changing the Social Worker, or changing the service provider.  Do not hesitate to provide this feedback.
  2. SACC understands that it is not always comfortable to provide feedback to your current Social Worker at SACC who is trying to help.  As a result, if you as service user have concerns, questions or seeking information the Executive Director  is available to assist.  Please note that if you share your concerns with other Social Workers or SACC staff your concerns will be redirected to the Executive Director to address.

SACC is committed to helping and ensuring your needs are met whether it is within the SACC organization or outside through other community resources and partners.  Knowing how confidentiality and concerns are addressed at SACC helps inform you as a service user.