Faiths and further education - Church of England

Faiths and Further Education:A HandbookOpenness and Confidentiality39The chaplaincy team needs to behave in an open and tolerantmanner that will encourage the values and ethical position towhich the team itself is committed and will promote the spiritualwell-being of the individuals with whom they interact.40Equally, the individuals with whom they enter into a caring,pastoral relationship must know that their confidences, trust andthe unique aspects of their humanity – for example, race, age,religious affiliation or none, gender, sexuality, disability – will berespected.41Some of the interaction that the chaplaincy engages in will result inthe acquisition of confidential information. Such information mustbe held in accordance with the Data Protection Act, whether it isheld on paper or electronically.The college will have guidelines onthe Act, but the team may have to devise its own declared way ofdealing with such confidences. Information cannot be shared, evenwithin the chaplaincy team, without the express permission of theindividual involved. If the team is part of a student servicesdepartment, there will be clear procedures on all personal contacts.Action point:Check out the legislation that may impinge on your role and that ofothers that you are working with:• Data Protection Act 1988(www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk)• The Children Act 1989 and 2004(www.dfes.gov.uk/publications)• Every Child Matters 2004 (www.dfes.gov.uk/publications)• Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners 2005(www.dfes.gov.uk/publications)• Education and Skills:White Paper 2005(www.dfes.gov.uk/publications)• Youth Matters: Green Paper 2005(www.dfes.gov.uk/publications)42There will also be a decision to be made about the chaplain’sprivacy, for example in respect of home contact details.Again, thecollege will have guidelines on professional boundaries. Chaplaincyteam members should talk this issue through together in order tobalance the need for access in an emergency with the need forprivacy. For example, the use of a mobile phone reserved for a dutychaplain may resolve this type of boundary issue. In summary,chaplains are there to be a friend to people, to help them, and tosupport them in developing their spirituality according to eachperson’s temperament, and within appropriate professionalboundaries.