CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY

Walkley Community Centre provides space for hire for a wide range of local groups and maintain information about these groups including details of payments and their contacts. In addition, Walkley Community Centre personnel have wide-ranging discussions/meetings and maintain records concerning all aspects of centre management, many of which are confidential in nature.

All staff, whether volunteers or paid, directors or individuals, undertaking work at the centre at whatever level, are likely to come into contact with confidential information, either through the records kept or through discussions in meetings. We need to ensure that those who use our services can do so with confidence whilst being able to operate effectively and provide a service that is professional and respected, by both hirers and the local community.

For the purpose of this policy all those involved in the running and management of the centre will be referred to as staff, regardless of their level of involvement.

Confidentiality will be respected in the following ways.
• Staff shall not discuss individual hirers or other staff, or financial information beyond that set out in the annual return or that which is uncontentious in nature, with any person or organisation outside of the centre. If in doubt permission should be sought from the Chair of Directors.
• Staff will not repeat or disclose to any individual/group/company outside the organisation information acquired through their work at the centre and which was discussed or imparted in confidence.
• Staff must always ensure that their actions or comments do not in any way denigrate any individual associated with the centre, or in some way reduce the perception of the professionalism of the centre or those involved in the management of it.
• Issues to do with the recruitment of staff/volunteers should remain confidential to the people directly involved with making personnel decisions.

Failure to abide by the Confidentiality Policy could result in the person breaching the policy being asked to leave the centre/resign their position.