Confidentiality in coaching and mentoring
Confidentiality in coaching and mentoring
Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults from harm is everyone’s responsibility. This means that although a coach/mentor is committed to confidentiality, they may have to break confidentiality to safeguard their client and/or another person from serious harm.
Safeguarding means protecting a person’s health, wellbeing and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. This includes recognising when someone has a responsibility to take action to protect a client’s or person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights (especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults).
In coaching and mentoring, your coach will explain clearly to you the circumstances that may result in them reporting a safeguarding concern.
When making a safeguarding or other disclosures, your coach will follow protocols to ensure that they comply with ethical guidelines and data protection legislation. Where possible your coach will tell you what they intend to do and why. However, there may be cases where because of urgency or because of the need not to interfere with a police investigation, this may not be possible.
Safeguarding concerns can give rise to stress and anxiety and may have an impact on the coaching relationship. Your coach will work within the code of ethics of ACC or another professional membership body, with support and guidance from others in the profession and relevant safeguarding advisory organisations, to make the best decision they can with the information they have.
Your coach/mentor is only responsible for reporting safeguarding concerns; it is other agencies who will investigate and if necessary action them. This means that your coach/mentor is normally able to work with you to maintain a coaching relationship, and help you work through the issues that has led to a safeguarding concern.