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Privacy and
Confidentiality Policy
Westcoast
Family Resources Society (WFRS) handles information in accordance
with the Personal Information and Protection of Electronic Documents
Act (Canada) and the Personal Information Protection Act (British
Columbia). Questions about these acts may be directed to the WFRS
Privacy Officer. WFRS is an accredited agency with detailed
policies, procedures and practices that govern privacy and
confidentiality matters, as well as other areas of operation.
All participants in programs
operated by WFRS (hereafter referred to as clients), volunteers,
donors and staff can expect that all personal information provided
to the agency will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
Clients:
Personal
information about WFRS clients is only released with the consent of
the client (after completing a Consent to Share Information
form), except in the following circumstances, which are explained at
intake:
 | Society
personnel have a duty to report: suspicion of child abuse or
neglect; and suspicion that a client poses a risk of harm to
him/herself or to someone else |
| WFRS will
release information if directed to do so by the courts. |
| The
referring authority has access to all details of service
provision, including all elements of a client’s record. |
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Information may be shared with the direct service provider’s
supervisor and members of the clinical team. |
| Clients’
case records may be reviewed for quality assurance purposes. |
Clients have
access to their records generated by WFRS except in cases when such
access is judged to be detrimental to the safety of others.
Decisions to refuse access are reviewed and approved by the WFRS
Executive Director.
Records
generated by third party or collateral service providers are not
released to the client. Instead, the client is notified of their
inclusion in their record, and assisted in obtaining them from the
professionals or organizations that created them.
Clients,
Volunteers, Donors and Staff:
| We
collect, use and disclose personal information only for purposes
that a reasonable person would consider appropriate. |
| WFRS is an
adherent to Imagine Canada’s Ethical Fundraising and Financial
Accountability Code. We do not rent, sell or trade our mailing
lists. |
| Employee
information is used only as needed to establish, manage or end a
work or volunteer work, relationship. |
Storage and
Disposal of Information:
We have
detailed protocols and procedures dealing with security of
information. All program sites maintain security systems to protect
sensitive information. Confidential information that is no longer
needed is shredded or disposed of securely. Case records of mandated
clients are the property of the referring authority and are stored
securely by WFRS.
If you have
questions or need further information about Westcoast Family
Resources Society’s privacy or confidentiality policies and
practices please contact our Privacy Officer:
Carol Anderson
Phone: (604)
254-5457
Email:
admin@westcoastfamily.org
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