Social Media and Data Protection Policies and Procedures

This policy is intended to minimise the risks that can impact on the wellbeing of staff, pupils and the reputation of partnering schools and organisations

BSU recognises and embraces the numerous benefits and opportunities that social media offers. While employees are encouraged to engage, collaborate and innovate through social media, they should also be aware that there are some associated risks, especially around issues of safeguarding, bullying and personal reputation.

Purpose of the policy

  • The purpose of this policy is to encourage good practice, to protect BSU and its employees, and to promote the effective use of social media as part of the BSU and partners activities.
  • This policy covers personal and professional use of social media and aims to encourage its safe use by BSU and its employees.
  • The policy applies regardless of whether the social media is accessed using a school’s IT facilities and equipment, or equipment belonging to members of staff.
  • Personal communications via social media accounts that are likely to have a negative impact on professional standards or the BSU’s, school’s  or partner’s reputation are within the scope of this policy.
  • This policy covers all individuals working at all levels and grades, including full-time and part-time employees, fixed-term employees and agency workers.

Roles, responsibilities and procedure

Employees should:

  • be aware of their online reputation and recognise that their online activity can be seen by others including parents, pupils and colleagues on social media;
  • ensure that any use of social media is carried out in line with this policy and other relevant policies, i.e. those of the employer;
  • be aware that any excessive use of social media in workshops/school/college/youth centres may result in disciplinary action;
  • be responsible for their words and actions in an online environment. They are therefore advised to consider whether any comment, photograph or video that they are about to post on a social networking site is something that they want pupils, colleagues, other employees of the trust, or even future employers, to read. If in doubt, don’t post it!

Managers are responsible for:

  • addressing any concerns and/or questions employees may have on the use of social media;
  • operating within the boundaries of this policy and ensuring that all staff understand the standards of behaviour expected of them.

Human resources (HR) is responsible for:

  • giving specialist advice on the use of social media;
  • implementing and reviewing this policy.

Definition of social media

Social media is a broad term for any kind of online platform which enables people to directly interact with each other. It allows people to share information, ideas and views. Examples of social media include blogs, Facebook, Tik-Tok, Snapchat LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.

Acceptable use

Employees should be aware that content uploaded to social media is not private. Even if you restrict it to ‘friends’, there is still capacity for it to be re-posted or distributed beyond the intended recipients. Therefore, employees using social media should conduct themselves with professionalism and respect.

Employees should not upload any content on to social media sites that:

  • is confidential to the BSU or its staff
  • amounts to bullying
  • amounts to unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation
  • brings the BSU into disrepute
  • contains lewd, sexually explicit, threatening or similarly inappropriate or offensive comments, images or video clips
  • undermines the reputation of BSU and/or individuals
  • is defamatory or knowingly false
  • breaches copyright
  • is in any other way unlawful.

Employees should be aware of both professional and social boundaries and should not therefore accept or invite ‘friend’ note that the use of social media accounts during lesson time is not permitted. requests from pupils or ex-pupils under the age of 18, or from parents on their personal social media accounts such as Facebook. All communication with parents via social media should be through the BSU’s social media accounts. Employees should

 

Safeguarding

The use of social networking sites introduces a range of potential safeguarding risks to children and young people.

Potential risks can include, but are not limited to:

  • online bullying;
  • grooming, exploitation or stalking;
  • exposure to inappropriate material or hateful language;
  • encouraging violent behaviour, self-harm or risk taking.

 

In order to mitigate these risks, there are steps you can take to promote safety on line:

  • You should not use any information in an attempt to locate or meet a child.
  • Ensure that any messages, photos or information comply with existing policies.

 

Reporting safeguarding concerns

  • Any content or online activity which raises a safeguarding concern must be reported to the lead safeguarding officer in the BSU.
  • Any online concerns should be reported as soon as identified as urgent steps may need to be taken to support the child.
  • With regard to personal safeguarding, you should report any harassment or abuse you receive online while using your work accounts.

 

Reporting, responding and recording cyberbullying incidents

  • Staff should never engage with cyberbullying incidents. If in the course of your employment with this BSU, you discover a website containing inaccurate, inappropriate or inflammatory written material relating to you, or images of you which have been taken and/or which are being used without your permission, you should immediately report this to a senior manager at your school.
  • Staff should keep any records of the abuse such as text, emails, voicemail, website or social media. If appropriate, screen prints of messages or web pages could be taken and the time, date and address of site should be recorded.

Action by employer: inappropriate use of social media

  • Following a report of inappropriate use of social media, the senior manager will conduct a prompt investigation.
  • If in the course of the investigation, it is found that a pupil submitted the material to the website, that pupil will be disciplined in line with the ‘BSUs behaviour policy.
  • The senior manager, where appropriate, will approach the website hosts to ensure the material is either amended or removed as a matter of urgency, i.e. within 24 hours. If the website requires the individual who is complaining to do so personally, BSU will give their full support and assistance.
  • Checks will be carried out to ensure that the requested amendments or removals are made. If the website(s) does not co-operate, the senior manager will contact the internet service provider (ISP) as the ISP has the ability to block access to certain sites and, in exceptional circumstances, can close down a website.
  • If the material is threatening and/or intimidating, senior management will, with the member of staff’s consent, report the matter to the police.
  • The member of staff will be offered full support and appropriate stress counselling.

 

Breaches of this policy

Any member of staff suspected of committing a breach of this policy (or if complaints are received about unacceptable use of social networking that has potentially breached this policy) will be investigated in accordance with the BSU’s bullying or disciplinary procedure. The member of staff will be expected to co-operate with the school’s investigation which may involve:

  • handing over relevant passwords and login details;
  • printing a copy or obtaining a screenshot of the alleged unacceptable content;
  • determining that the responsibility or source of the content was in fact the member of staff.

The seriousness of the breach will be considered including the nature of the content, how long the content remained visible on the social media site, the potential for recirculation by others and the impact on the BSU or the individuals concerned. Staff should be aware that actions online can be in breach of the harassment/IT/equality policies and any online breaches of these policies may also be treated as conduct issues in accordance with the disciplinary procedure. If the outcome of an investigation leads to disciplinary action, the consequences will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Serious breaches could result in the dismissal of the employee. Where conduct is considered to be unlawful, BSU will report the matter to the police and other external agencies.

Monitoring and review

If the manager reasonably believes that an employee has breached this policy, from time to time BSU will monitor or record communications that are sent or received from within the BSU’s network.

This policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis and, in accordance with the following, on an as-and-when-required basis:

  • legislative changes;
  • good practice guidance;
  • case law;
  • significant incidents reported.

This policy does not form part of any employee’s contract of employment and may also, after consultation with the trade unions, be amended from time to time by the BSU.

Legislation

Acceptable use of social networking must comply with UK law. In applying this policy, the BSU will adhere to its rights, responsibilities and duties in accordance with the following:

  • Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
  • General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018
  • The Human Rights Act 1998
  • The Equality Act 2010
  • The Defamation Act 2013

The internet is a fast moving technology and it is impossible to cover all circumstances or emerging media – the principles set out in this policy must be followed irrespective of the medium. When using social media, staff should be aware of the potential impact on themselves and the employer, whether for work-related or personal use; whether during working hours or otherwise; or whether social media is accessed using the employer’s equipment or using the employee’s equipment. Staff should use discretion and common sense when engaging in online communication. There are some general rules and best practice in the appendix which staff may find helpful.

Review

This policy is reviewed regularly and updated as required.

Adopted on:…………………………… 15/11/2022

next reviewed:………………………… 09/11/2023