When an individual tells you private information, they often trust you to keep it to yourself. Part of providing good care and support involves building trust and confidence, and by not disclosing private information you are helping to do this. It tells the individual that you have their best interests in mind and that you respect their privacy.
Confidentiality is an important right of individuals who receive care and support and it could affect their care negatively if you pass private information on when the individual may not want you to do so. For example, they may not want a friend to know about their health or if they have been unhappy because it could affect them socially in a negative way.
Therefore you should only disclose private information if it is necessary to pass it on for health and social care reasons. If you do need to pass private information on, you should do your best to explain why to the individual and come to an agreement. This will help you maintain trust with the individual and make them feel better about their care.