Confidentiality
If I call the Parents Information Service will they keep what I say confidential?
The helpline is a confidential service. That’s why many parents and professionals ring us to talk about their situation in private. We work independently and are not in partnership with the police or social services.
Our aim is to listen and support you in the best way we can. Helpline workers cannot trace the numbers of incoming calls. Similarly, the helpline number will not appear on the telephone bills of people who call the service from a landline.
It is standard practice to ask some questions which help us monitor who uses the service. But you don’t have to answer these if you’d prefer not to.
In exceptional circumstances
If we think a child or young person is in immediate danger we may consider breaching confidentiality.
What this means is that we’d encourage you to get help from appropriate services like the police, the NSPCC or social services - if they are not already involved.
We’d also offer information to help you understand your options in the interest of the child or young person you’re calling about.
If you make the decision to tell us your name and address and you feel that you’re unable to get help, then we would consider contacting the services ourselves.
The reason why we’d do this would be to protect the child or young person concerned.
But whatever decision is made, we would ensure we talked to you first.
