A Caldicott Guardian is a senior professional, typically within health and social care organisations, responsible for protecting patient and service-user confidentiality. They ensure that personal information is shared ethically, lawfully, and only when necessary for the delivery of care.
Their role is guided by the Caldicott Principles, which promote responsible use of confidential data. The Caldicott Guardian works alongside the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO) to balance the duty to share information with the duty to protect it.
This role is vital in maintaining public trust, ensuring compliance with the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Act 2015.
