Accessing our Service?

What you need to know about Confidentiality and Consent

Taranaki Retreat works hand-in-hand with other support services in helping people through challenging times. This works most effectively when we can communicate with other supports that you may be involved with, so that we are working well alongside others and advocating for our Guests – understanding where our role fits in, and where the gaps are.

When we’re building up a picture of how we might best support you, we often benefit from a conversation with your GP – for example – so that the Retreat’s involvement is known and understood by your doctor, and we can better tailor our support. Additionally, it is often really helpful to liaise with others in your whānau who know you well. We won’t do this without your consent to do so. If you do consent for us to be in contact with other agencies, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

We always respect the privacy and confidentiality of those being helped by our service. There will always be more than one person involved in providing support, as our service operates from a concept of shared decision-making (including you!). This means that text messages, for example, in both directions, will normally be read by more than one person. Some of our email addresses are shared by members of our team – for example: care, team, waimanako, support.

Those involved in supporting a person (we call those in our support ‘Guests’) will share notes and reflect together on support plans and suggestions. Everyone on our team is bound by our Confidentiality Policy (please ask if you would like to see a copy of this).

We need you to know the ways in which that confidentiality is limited. Our five limitations are as follows:

• Safety: Where there is a safety issue and either a Guest or others are at risk (for example, if there are concerns for the well-being of a child). If such a risk is identified or shared, team members must liaise with another team member and/or take immediate action, and potentially notify emergency services and/or whānau / next of kin
• Supervising Our Work: Our team are trained and supervised in their work. Support provided is shared and reflected on in Supervision and Debriefs
• Sharing Helpful Information: As a team, we discuss day-to-day concerns, logistics, appointments etc., to make sure that the best care is offered
• Handover: Care of a Guest may be shared with, or handed on to, another member of the Retreat Support Team (for example, in the case of illness – or when a Guest moves from Residential to Outreach Support). At that point, the incoming Support Worker will receive the notes and a handover conversation to understand the support journey thus far
• Criminal Offences: Where a criminal offence is disclosed to us, we may be required to report this to the police

At an early stage of anyone’s engagement with our service, we will check that you understand, are comfortable with, and give consent for this – and will record the consent that you give. We welcome and encourage you to raise any questions about this – after all, this is about your confidentiality, and we recognise how important this is.

Q. What if I am not happy with this approach – or do not give my consent?
A. You are entirely within your rights to do so! However, it may not be possible for us to continue to support you – as effective support depends on the consent described above – or, some aspects of our Support (for example, Residential Stays) might not be possible.

Q. Can I change my mind later on?
A. Absolutely – you can let us know you would like to change an aspect of your consent at any time – we will record this and act accordingly.

Q. What happens if you have safety concerns, and I refuse to allow consent for you to contact crisis services?
A. In such a situation, we may need to contact those services (such as the ABC Team or police, or your whānau) in any case, as safety always comes first. This would also be the case when there are concerns for the safety of a child.