2. What is confidentiality?
The ethical practice of protecting private and/or
personal information revealed or provided in an
environment/relationship in which privacy is
expected.
3. Confidentiality and the CA position
• As a CA you will have access to information
that is confidential. This may come in the form
of a conversation, document, computer files,
and email communications. All of these
should be treated with the same level of
respect and confidentiality.
• Someone does not have to explicitly state that
they want information to remain confidential.
4. The Direction of Confidentiality
It is always important to remember that YOU are
bound by confidentiality and that your residents
are not. Because of this, confidentiality is
unidirectional, from them to you…not vice versa.
Community AssistantResident
5. Why is confidentiality important?
• As a CA your residents will gain and may
inherently be given the trust of your residents.
It is our desire to build and maintain healthy,
responsible relationships with our residents
and coworkers. Maintaining each others’
confidence is vital to this goal!
6. Limits to Confidentiality?
• Are there limits to confidentiality?
• Yes!
• Confidentiality is limited in a variety of cases
7. Limits to Confidentiality (cont.)
• Expression of intention(s) to harm self or
others
• Information revealed in the presence of 3rd (or
more) parties
– Should still be kept confidential
• Reports of sexual assault
• Information that should be relayed to an ED
• Reports of other policy violations/safety
concerns
9. Best Practices
• Treat all information you receive as
confidential
– Reduces chance of mentioning it
• Assume that your supervisor doesn’t know
– Report all important information
• Do not take notes unless necessary
