Confidentiality in Family Councils
by Family Councils Ontario
A basic principle of a Family Council is peer support. A peer support group has a few special characteristics: Council members share a common experience; the group has a strong emphasis on solidarity and equality; the group emphasizes fellowship; members encourage and support one another; and, the process of maintaining the group is primary. Foundational to these aspects of peer support is maintaining confidentiality. Without a strong, shared understanding of confidentiality, a Council cannot build the environment of trust and safety that is necessary for members to share deeply with others and both give and receive support.
Technically speaking, confidentiality means that we do not share any information or stories with others. However, many groups decide that members may talk about what they heard or learned in the group, as long as no identifying information is shared. In fact, for Family Councils, sharing your group’s updates, activities or lessons learned is important in communicating what your group is working on, gaining support from others outside of the Council, and supporting families who do not attend the meetings. For example, sharing key points from a guest speaker’s presentation on communicating with people who dementia via your newsletter can greatly benefit those who did not attend the presentation. Talking to family members and staff about an upcoming project or event is a great way to raise interest and gain support. So, there are obviously some things you want to be share outside of a meeting. What is essential is ensuring that only information that is agreed to be shared will be shared.
Confidentiality is a state of trust. It means never discussing, without direct and explicit consent, the circumstances of another Council member. It is essential that all Council members respect general agreements about confidentiality and anonymity. Personal sharing is important to peer support. People must feel that information will be kept confidential before they can safely share their stories, concerns, and challenges. By creating and maintaining trust, we can share and support more deeply.
At a glance:
Councils generally agree to share and communicate openly:
- Information on projects they are worked on (once they have been decided upon by the members)
- Notices of upcoming events and meetings (once they have been finalized)
- Approved meeting minutes and updates on concerns
- Successes (resolved concerns, projects, activities etc…)
- Requests for support for a project, activity or event
Do not share:
- The experiences or circumstances of another Council member
- Individual concerns or challenges brought up by Council members
Discuss your Council members’ needs and opinions regarding confidentiality. Then, decide on shared rules for your group. Document your shared rules and ensure that all current and new members receive a copy of the Confidentiality Statement. You can incorporate a confidentiality statement in your Council’s Terms of Reference or Code of Conduct. Confidentiality is both a skill and a commitment, the importance of which cannot be overstated for Family Councils. Confidentiality is an anchor of peer support.
For more information on confidentiality in Family Councils, see Your Guide to Starting and Maintaining a Family Council pages 47 and 55.