Support and privacy for disabled young people

You should ensure that the disabled young person is actively involved in deciding what information they want to share.

If it is a case when you must report it, you should do so with the disabled young person, so they understand what is happening, and what might happen next.

Disabled young people have rights to confidentiality and privacy

A disabled young person should be empowered to make a complaint themselves, or if they wish, be supported to make it by a trusted adult.

You should also allow for the disabled young person to change their mind.

You should make it clear that the person making a complaint is allowed to have someone support them in any step of the process.

Mandatory reporting

The person receiving a complaint may be required to disclose instances of abuse of children and young people. These people are known as mandatory reporters.

Reporting abuse should be done in a way that empowers disabled young people, and ensures that they are leading the process. The person disclosing this abuse should be told that it will be reported.

You can refresh your knowledge about privacy and disabled young people’s rights in our safeguarding children and young people section

Safeguarding children and young people

If the complaint requires a report, the disabled young person should be involved as much as they feel comfortable.

Anonymity

Anonymity supports disabled young people to make a complaint even if they are scared about backlash. Complaints can be Completely confidential, partially anonymous, or completely anonymous.

Completely confidential complaints are when the identity of the person making a complaint is known, and might be passed on to other people when relevant. This allows for the investigator to contact the person making a complaint. It helps the investigator get a fuller picture of the concern, and ask questions about the situation.

Partially anonymous complaints are where only one person is aware of the identity of the person making a complaint. Partially anonymous complaints refer to the person making a complaint with a pseudonym.

Completely anonymous complaints are for anyone who is too scared to have any connection to the complaint. Anonymous complaints are just as serious, as disabled young people may see anonymous complaints as their only option. These complaints should be recorded, and checked against other complaints to see any patterns occurring. They should then be investigated as much as possible.

Support And Privacy