Privacy Policy and Procedure

Purpose of Policy
This Privacy Policy outlines Serenity Specialist Home Care’s policy on how we will ensure the privacy of the clients we provide services to.
To meet the legal requirements of the following legislation:
⦁ Human Rights Act 1998
⦁ Equality Act 2010
⦁ The Care Act 2014
⦁ The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
⦁ Data Protection Act 2018

To meet the following Care Quality Commission (CQC) Key Lines of Enquiry:
⦁ Caring

Scope
The policy applies to:
⦁ All employees, including those designated as temporary, bank staff, agency staff, volunteers or work experience
⦁ Contractors
⦁ Stakeholders

Objectives
The objectives of this policy are:
⦁ To meet legislative requirements
⦁ To meet regulations
⦁ To ensure that the privacy of clients is respected
⦁ To ensure that employees understand how to maintain privacy
⦁ To ensure that breaches of privacy are investigated

Policy Statement
Serenity Specialist Home Care is committed to ensuring that clients will have their right to privacy respected.
Serenity Specialist Home Care requires employees to respect clients’ privacy when they are providing care to clients.
Serenity Specialist Home Care recognises that clients will require private time alone and free from interruptions and disturbances from employees. Serenity Specialist Home Care requires employees to respect the privacy of clients at all times.
Serenity Specialist Home Care will ensure that specific needs for privacy are documented in clients’ Care Plans.
It is the policy of Serenity Specialist Home Care that client’s personal information is confidential and will only be shared, with consent, for the purpose of providing care services.
Serenity Specialist Home Care expects employees to maintain the highest standards of conduct and must not:
⦁ Intrude on clients’ privacy and private time
⦁ Discuss private matters with clients in front of other people or in public areas
⦁ Discuss clients outside of the workplace
⦁ Disclose confidential information without consent or without a legitimate purpose
Serenity Specialist Home Care will provide training on privacy for employees as part of their induction.
Serenity Specialist Home Care will investigate all reports of privacy being breached by employees.
The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring that the privacy of clients is promoted and for managing all reports of breaches of privacy.
Serenity Specialist Home Care is committed to implementing this Policy and the practices it sets out.

Procedure
Care Planning
As part of the care planning process a client’s need for privacy and private time will be assessed. Consideration must also be given to a client’s cultural and religious needs.
Privacy must be considered as part of the care planning process for:
⦁ Entering the client’s personal environment
⦁ Personal care
⦁ Dressing and undressing
⦁ Using the toilet
⦁ Eating meals
⦁ Worshipping and prayers
⦁ Family and friends visiting
⦁ Telephone calls
⦁ Sending and receiving mail
⦁ Hobbies and interests
⦁ Appointments with medical professionals
⦁ Appointments with financial and legal professionals
If a client has specific requirements relating to privacy this must be documented in the client’s Care Plan.
Employees must follow the client’s Care Plan and provide the care and support that is recorded.

Changing Needs
If an employee is aware of any changes to a client’s needs in relation to privacy they must report these to the Registered Manager as soon as possible.
The Registered Manager must ensure that the client’s Care Plan is reviewed and updated.

Mental Capacity
The right to privacy applies to all clients. If a client does not have the capacity to make decisions relating to privacy Serenity Specialist Home Care’s Mental Capacity Act Policy and Procedure must be followed.

Personal Information
Employees must only share clients’ personal information if there is a legitimate reason relating to the provision of care services.
Employees must follow Serenity Specialist Home Care’s Confidentiality Policy and Procedure and Data Protection Policy and Procedure.

Maintaining Privacy
Serenity Specialist Home Care requires employees to be respectful of clients’ privacy at all times. This includes:
⦁ Knocking and obtaining permission to enter a client’s home
⦁ Ensuring curtains, blinds and doors are closed when providing personal care
⦁ Using towels to cover clients when providing personal care
⦁ Providing dressing gowns for clients going to the bathroom/shower
⦁ Respecting clients’ home and possessions
⦁ Not touching clients’ possessions without permission
⦁ Being considerate of where personal items, such as continence aids, are kept so they are not visible to others
⦁ Discussing personal matters relating to clients in a private area away from other people

Breaches of Privacy
Employees must report breaches of privacy to the Registered Manager as soon as possible after becoming aware of the breach.
The Registered Manager must investigate the breach and determine what action is required.
For breaches involving employees action may be taken under Serenity Specialist Home Care Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

Roles and Responsibilities
All employees are responsible for:
⦁ Following the Privacy Policy and Procedure.
⦁ Attending training relating to privacy.
⦁ Ensuring that clients privacy is respected at all times.
⦁ Reporting concerns relating to breaches of privacy to the Registered Manager.
The Registered Manager is responsible for:
⦁ Ensuring this Privacy Policy and Procedure is implemented.
⦁ Ensuring employees attend training on privacy.
⦁ Ensuring that clients’ Care Plans include how privacy is to be maintained.
⦁ Investigating breaches of privacy.

Breaches of Policy
For employees, failure to adhere to the Privacy Policy and Procedure could lead to possible disciplinary action being taken.
For others (volunteers, agency staff, contractors) their individual relationship with the organisation may be terminated.

Monitoring and Review
This Policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if necessary due to legislative or regulatory requirements.