For clients paying privately for their coaching with no commissioning of this work from their organisations, then confidentiality is absolute within the boundaries of the law. As it is a private arrangement there is no accountability to their company for the content or achievements of the coaching.
I work with many high profile people and understand the need for absolute discretion and a safe place in which to be real. Apart from any clear, agreed feedback pathways to a commissioning company, confidentiality is otherwise limited only by circumstances in which the coaching relationship cannot legally or ethically maintain confidentiality. In such a situation, wherever possible every attempt will be made to communicate first with the client, explaining the reasons for the need to pass on information and to whom this will be given. These exceptional circumstances are:
• Safeguarding Children: if information is disclosed that a child is at risk of significant harm there is a duty of care under the Children Act to pass on this information to Children's Services or the Police in order to do what is possible to see that child protected. This includes any illegal activities defined by the 2003 Sexual Offences Act.
• Serious Harm: if planned serious harm to the life of yourself or another person is disclosed there is a duty of care to pass this on to the appropriate authority (GP, Police, etc) in order to do all that is possible to see that person protected.
• Offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1987.
Other than these exceptional circumstances clients should be assured of their privacy.
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