What is the role of confidentiality in employment support services?

• A. Protect client privacy; share information only with consent and on a need-to-know basis to support employment goals.
• B. Share all information with any party.
• C. Never share information.
• D. Only share with family members.

Answer: (A)

Confidentiality in employment support services means protecting what clients share and using that information only to help them reach their employment goals. The best approach is to protect privacy and share information only with the client's consent and on a need-to-know basis with professionals who need it to provide or coordinate services. This supports trust, informed consent, and effective collaboration, allowing the client to access resources, accommodations, and employer communications without exposing private details unnecessarily. There are legitimate exceptions when disclosure is required or justified by safety concerns, but even then only the minimum information necessary is shared and it is documented. Sharing all information with anyone erodes privacy and trust; never sharing information blocks coordination of services; sharing with family members without consent violates autonomy and privacy.