Volunteers
| Things to consider when applying | Volunteer Committments | Confidentiality Guidelines | Volunteer Application

1. Keep confidential all information about clients, their families and volunteers.
2. Clients and their families have the right to privacy. We do not identify they as our clients to anyone or press for information about their lives.
3. Use discretion in giving the client your own home phone number. Do not give out any other volunteer’s home phone number without their permission.
4. Clients need to know that information may be shared with other hospice volunteers and health care professionals on their health care team.
5. When responding to specific family or outside inquiries, use a gentle refusal such as this for a family member or a friend..….

“I’m not free to discuss our conversation, as I have told (the client) that what we share is confidential but if it would help you to share your concerns, I would be glad to listen”.

Let the inquirer express their concerns if they choose to.

6. If confidentiality is broken with the client to a family member or friend, the client will very likely hear about what was said. This will negate any trust between you and the client.
7. When you need support with regards to hospice clients, please speak with the coordinator. If this does not prove helpful, together you and the coordinator will seek outside professional guidance from a bereavement counsellor.

You can talk about your feelings (but not names or details) with someone close to you.

You can share with another volunteer involved with this client what is happening for you, because all information that is shared with hospice is confidential.

If you have any further questions about confidentially guidelines, please speak with the coordinator.