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Social Work vocabulary · Ethics and Confidentiality

Need-to-know basis

Meaning in social work, with examples

phraseCommon term

In social work, need-to-know basis means: A rule for sharing information only with the people who need it to do their job, and only as much as they need.

In Turkish: bilmesi gerektiği kadarıyla, gereklilik esasına göre

How it is used

Usually in the phrase 'on a need-to-know basis'. It guides how much detail goes into a referral, an email or a meeting: a school may need to know that a child is on a plan, but not the full family history.

Example sentences

  1. Details of the allegation are shared on a need-to-know basis only.

  2. On a need-to-know basis, the teacher was told only that the family was receiving support.

Common collocations

  • on a need-to-know basis
  • strictly need-to-know
  • share on a need-to-know basis
  • confidentialityThe duty to keep information about clients private and to share it only with their consent or when there is a clear professional or legal reason.
  • information sharingPassing relevant information about a person between professionals or agencies so that the person can be protected and receive the right help.
  • data protectionThe laws and practices that control how personal information is collected, stored, used, shared and deleted.
  • informed consentPermission given by a person who understands what they are agreeing to, including the purpose, risks, alternatives and their right to say no.

More terms: Ethics and Confidentiality

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