Social Media Policy
Dental Nurse Training recognises and embraces the benefits and opportunities that social media can bring as a tool. For the purposes of this policy, social media is defined as a type of interactive online media or app that allows parties to communicate instantly with each other or to share data in a public forum.
This includes online social forums, anonymous apps, blogs, video and image sharing apps, websites and similar facilities.
There is, however, an inherent risk involved in using social media, in that, it is an instantaneous and far reaching form of communication and inappropriate use can impact upon staff, learners and the reputation of the training centre.
4.2.3 OF THE GDC STANDARDS FOR THE DENTAL TEAM STATES:
‘You must not post any information or comments about patients on social networking or blogging sites’.
If you use professional social media to discuss anonymised cases for the purpose of discussing best practice you must be careful that the patient or patients cannot be identified.’
Social media covers a number of internet based tools which allow people to create and exchange content. It includes blogs, internet forums, content communities and social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, LinkedIn, GDPUK, Instagram and Pinterest.
This guide is intended to minimise the risks of social media in a personal capacity which can impact on staff, learners and the reputation of Dental Nurse Training
2. Scope
This policy relates to employees and learners at the Training centre who create or contribute to blogs, wikis, social networks, apps, forums, virtual worlds, or any other kind of social media.
It should be applied to all use and all forms of social media where there is potential impact on the training centre.
3. Principles and Responsibilities
- Learners/Staff should not declare that their content or views are representative of Dental Nurse Training
- Social media should not be used to verbally abuse staff, learners or members of the public
- Maintain and protect patients’ information by not publishing any information which could identify them on social media without their explicit consent.
- Dental Nurse Training’s response to any misuse of social media in a personal capacity will be reasonable and proportionate to the perceived offence, we may request the removal of social media postings which are deemed to constitute a breach of these standards.
- Your online image can impact on your professional life and you should not post any information, including photographs and videos, which could bring the profession into disrepute.
- It is important to remember that anything you post on social media is in the public domain and can be easily copied and redistributed without your knowledge. You should presume that everything that you share online will be there permanently.
- You should regularly review your privacy settings to ensure that information is not accessed by unintended audiences. However, you should remember that even the strictest privacy settings do not guarantee that your information will be kept secure