Confidentiality is really important to End Deportations. We ask every member of the casework working group to read and agree to this collective working agreement.

But it matters to us that it remains active, relevant and authentic to how we all want to work together, so if you have any questions or disagree about any element of it, we ask that you contact us (enddeportations@riseup.net). That way we can chat about your concerns, learn from the discussion, and decide together whether we want to change the agreement.

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Confidentiality Statement:

Given the sensitivity of the information that we are likely to receive from/about people with an immigration or asylum case, and the risks if that information was to be dispersed, we all have a critical responsibility to maintain confidentiality.

As such we have developed this Confidentiality Statement, to which all caseworkers are required to agree before they may join the working group.

1. The key principles

Collectively we maintain the confidentiality of people whose reason for being in touch with us is because they have an immigration or asylum case. This means that necessary information may be shared between members of the working group to ensure the best support possible is provided.

However, we do not share any personal details or information with anyone outside the working group without the expressed permission of the person that information relates to. This also means we neither take any action that involves that person, nor share any identifying details about them, unless and until we have their informed and expressed consent. This includes but is not limited to sharing identifying information on social, digital or print media, email lists or forums.

This also means that we do not discuss details of peoples cases with friends. While we all expect and appreciate questions about charter flights in general, we don’t appreciate curiosity about the people we are working with that borders on gossip or voyeurism, in any setting.

2. Breaking confidentiality

There are a few, very rare situations in which breaking confidentiality might be necessary.

This would include some circumstances where it is not possible to obtain consent for information to be disclosed but where there is a particular risk of serious harm to a person, where disclosing information may be able to prevent or reduce that harm. In these circumstances information will still only be disclosed after detailed consideration with other members of the group.

A court order may also direct us to release information about an individual. We would hope to challenge any such request, but these situations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

3. Operational, audit and evaluation data

A database is used to record information about casework being done. Personal details that could be used to identify individuals will be permanently deleted from our records five years after a case is closed. This excludes general statistical data which we may keep so long as that data wouldn’t allow anyone to be personally identified.

4. Training, development and wellbeing

End Deportation caseworkers are invited to attend regular learning and wellbeing sessions. No personal details that could be used to identify individuals is to be shared in these sessions, and any information disclosed in these sessions is to be kept strictly confidential.

5. Access to records

Individuals have the right to see information stored about them, and can request to see this at any point. Given the time sensitive nature of immigration cases, we will endeavour to ensure that this information is disclosed to them as quickly as possible.

We do not provide access to records on request by other parties, except either/both where we have the expressed and informed consent of the person(s) to whom the information relates, and/or in situations outlined in section 2, above.

6. Transparency of this agreement

This statement is freely available to any member of the casework working group and will be given to all new members at the time of beginning working together. Information about its content will also be given to anyone to whom we offer casework support, and anyone else who asks for it whose reason for being in touch with us is because they have an immigration/asylum case.

All caseworkers must abide by this agreement.

(Adapted from the confidentiality statement of SOAS Detainee Support, with thanks and love.)