We will assure victims and survivors of abuse that disclosures made to H&F will be treated confidentially within limits, ensuring they know that an officer may have a legal authority to share information without consent where a victim or survivor is at risk of serious harm or homicide, or if there is a risk to a child or adult with care and support needs.
This could include a referral to adult or children's social care, or to a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC).
Sharing information is an essential part of safeguarding victims, survivors, and children living with domestic abuse and helps professionals accurately understand risk and support needs. GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 should not be a barrier to justifiable information sharing.
Officers will explain their rationale for sharing information and their legal authority for doing so and will clearly record this.
Any safeguarding or MARAC referrals will be made within 24 hours of disclosure of serious risks and concerns. Referral to safeguarding services or MARAC is not an immediate risk management process, so officers should continue to support the victim or survivor and any children at risk to manage immediate risk.
Referrals can be made to MARAC with or without consent where an officer believes they have lawful grounds to share information without consent. Consent is always preferrable, as all MARAC referrals are shared with the local IDVA service, and the IDVA will contact any victim or survivor referred to MARAC where safe to do so.
If a survivor is at immediate risk of harm, we will always call 999.