Policies

Social Media Policy

Social Media Policy for Wainfleet St Mary Parish Council

 

  1. Overview
    1. This policy explains your responsibilities when you use social media, both on WSM Parish Council premises and in your own time.
    2. This policy applies to all employees, all Councillors and anyone else working or contracting for the Parish Council
    3. If you are an employee, this policy does not form part of your contract of employment, and we reserve the right to amend it at any time.
    4. Your use of social media may, along with your wider use of our IT resources, be monitored to make sure you are complying with this policy. Whenever you use our IT resources and systems, you give us your consent to monitor your activities.
    5. If you breach this policy you may face action under our Code of Conduct. We may require you to remove any social media content that in itself breaches this policy and may invoke the right to disciplinary procedures for employees, or suspension as a Councillor if you fail to do so. In addition, you could face legal proceedings if comments you post about the council or named individuals are found to have harmed their reputation.

 

  1. What is Social Media?
    1. We define social media as any websites and applications that allow users to create and share content and/or take part in online networking. The most popular sites currently include the following (but this policy covers all social media):

● Facebook

● Twitter

● LinkedIn

● YouTube

● Google+

● Instagram

● Pinterest

● Flickr

● Tumblr

● Reddit

 

 

  1. This policy also covers personal blogs, any posts you might make on other people’s blogs, and to all online forums and noticeboards

 

3. Using social media at work

3.1             You must not use the council’s social media platforms to promote personal views,

       opinions or political alliances.   

3.2 You must not post personal content on any of the council’s social media accounts

      which you are authorised to use. These accounts belong to the council, and your

      access will be stopped if you abuse this policy in any way. If you leave WSM Parish

     Council your access will be stopped.

 

  1. Your responsibilities when using social media  
    1. Always identify yourself and make it clear that if sharing an opinion, they are your own, not that you are speaking on behalf of the council. You might consider doing this in a disclaimer. Do not create a social media account which could be mistaken for an account the council have, or could have, set up.

 

  1. It is your duty to protect the interests of the council and you must not publish anything that could directly or indirectly damage or compromise the council’s reputation. You must never speak on the councils behalf on social media unless authorised to do so. You must always make sure anything you do post is accurate and lawful. Always get your fellow councillors’ permission before posting images of them or any of their personal details.

 

  1. You must take personal responsibility for your social media content. If you can be identified as representing the council, you must make sure your profiles, and anything you post, fit with how we expect you to present yourself as a councillor. Be mindful that even if you do not name the council, people who know you may still make an unwelcome association with WSM Parish Council. If you are in any doubt about what is and is not acceptable, please talk to the Clerk or the Chair. 

 

  1. You must always show respect to others when using social media. You must never criticise our council, our service users, our parishioners, our associates, hospitals, suppliers, business associates, your colleagues or anybody else you come into contact with. Our other Policies — in particular the Harassment and Bullying Policy and Equal Opportunities Policy — give guidance on the type of behaviour we consider unacceptable, and we expect you to maintain the same high standards when using social media. Specifically, we will not tolerate any of the following:

● abusive or threatening language.

● sexually explicit language or images.

● unlawful or disrespectful comments.

● trolling (starting or pursuing arguments in an online community with the intention of disrupting normal discussions within that community)

● false or misleading statements.

● impersonating your colleagues or third parties; or

● inciting somebody to commit a crime.

If any council colleague is bullying, harassing or victimising you using social media, you must follow the process laid out in the

 

  1. You are obliged to respect our confidentiality at all times and not to use social media to comment on sensitive business matters, including — but not restricted to — the following:

● private conversations.

● information from closed sessions of the council.

● any information intended for internal use only; or

● anything else that is not already in the public domain.

We also insist that you never use our any logo’s, trademarks, or other artwork representing WSM Parish Council in anything you post or as part of any of your social media profiles.

  1. You must remain aware at all times of the public nature of social media. Even content posted on a restricted forum can quickly be shared across other social media and you must assume that anything you publish anywhere will sooner or later reach the public domain. When you share content posted by others, remember that you may be seen as giving tacit approval to opinions that could bring the council into disrepute.
  2. You must never air grievances about the council or any of its activities on social

media. You should use our internal process if you want to make a complaint, raising it first with the Clerk or the Chair. If the issue remains unresolved, you must then follow our .

 

  1. Other social media guidance
    1. Always respect copyright and always check whether or not a third party’s content

is protected before you reuse or re-post it.

  1. You are not allowed to add the details of business contacts you make while on

council business to any of your personal social media accounts, without prior consent from the Chair.

      5.3 The contact details of any business contacts you make while working for the

council belong to us and must remain confidential. When you leave the council, you must give us this data and delete any copies you have, including any you have added to your social media accounts.

  1. You should contact the Clerk or the Chair if you find anything posted to a social

media site that breaches this policy or otherwise brings the council into disrepute.

 

February 2023 - Approved Minutes March 2023

Review February 2025