Confidentiality/Promise

In Women's Aid we understand how determined abusive men can be so we take safety and confidentiality very seriously. You and your children are assured that any information you give will not be discussed outside Women's Aid without your consent except in the following situation. If Women's Aid workers are concerned that a child may be at risk we have a duty of care to the child to pass on our concerns. However, this would not be done without discussing it first with the child's mother wherever possible.

Also, for the safety of all women and children the address of the refuge must be kept confidential. It must not be given to anyone unless agreed by Women's Aid. You must also respect the confidentiality of the other women and children in the refuge and never tell anyone that they are or were in refuge.

An essential rule in all refuges is that no men are allowed to know the refuge address or telephone number, and are NEVER allowed into or near the refuge. This includes not only partners, but relatives, friends and new partners. This is essential for the safety of everyone and is a reason for being asked to leave the refuge if it is not kept to.

It is very important that you and/or a worker explain these rules to children and young people in a way that they will understand otherwise they may feel frightened and confused by them. They need to understand that they must not answer the door or the phone but that they can tell someone they trust that they are staying in a refuge and how they feel about it as long as they don't say where the refuge is. Let them know that they can ask questions if they aren't sure what the rules mean.

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