Policies, guidelines and boundaries for interacting online

[Jon Jolly]

Does anyone have any written statements about online conduct for youth workers and volunteers? I'm re-writing our volunteer handbook and would love some thoughts from others about what to include. There's the obvious stuff about safeguarding children, but what about personal/professional boundaries, keeping logs of online comments or Personal Messages, and guidance on 'what not to post'?

[mas]

brilliant to see this - makes it a lot easier once the ball is rolling.

Some thoughts from me.....
- I think its relatively straightforward for using networks that allow a user to have more than one profile - so they can be clearly identified under their 'professional identity'. For cases like facebook though I do wonder if its better that it just shouldn't be used if using it could put workers against its terms of service - perhaps it would be better for example to correspond through a group or to have an organisation page rather than individual youth workers using their personal profiles?

There are other things in the terms of service (for facebook) that youth services might need to take into account such as its against their terms for under 18's that are not at school or college to register.

Facebook pages can be set up to promote charitable services but the person setting up the page must check they have permission (so I guess this has to go as high up the chain in local authorities to whomever makes that type of decision)

plus theres this bit in the privacy stuff for creating pages "If you collect or have access to any personal information from users (including without limitation personal information contained in any User profile), you agree to have users expressly authorize such collection or access, and any subsequent use, through an express opt-in process" - I would imagine this fits in with stuff that organisations would need to comply with for the data protection act but might need emphasising the need to make young people aware of what data is being collected and how stored and used etc.

- Is there a need to define personal/professional relationships and 'young people'. For example I can see two possible scenarios - one is where a worker is related to somebody they work with, so perhaps rightly they are 'friends' but this could put them at odds with the policy. The second is cases where a 'young person' moves on, is aged over 18 but wants to keep in touch as a 'friend' (I'm in touch with a few young people this way who I worked with 10 years ago in a different part of the country).

Both grey areas but its whether its possible to take those sorts of things into account but still have a rigid policy about relationships.

- The bit I think thats really interesting is about making sure workers personal profiles are 'appropriate'. Most employment contracts will have something in along these lines that if personal behaviour brings the employer into dispute it may result in disciplinary action, so I think its right to have in but may need some guidance about what might be inappropriate.

- Should there be something about making young people aware of confidentiality procedures and how they relate to recording/use of data? (Childline has a good page on this)

- From my memories of how local authorities work I wonder f there should be some emphasis on the need for workers to be able to access suitable training so that they're familiar with policies/guidelines plus who to contact at all hours for support - for example if there is concern about a child protection very late at night on a Saturday

- slightly related to that I wonder if there should be something in about working hours and use of professional profiles outside of them? And also the need to use a professional email address and that notifications to 'professional profiles' are directed to these and not to personal emails/instant messengers etc.?

Hope that helps rather than hinders!

[Tim Davies]

Hey Mike

This is really useful. I'll have a look at what I can incorporate today from this.

I'm thinking that the final report will need to be in a very flexible online format so that I can link off here and other spaces to all the details that don't fit into space-constrained prose...

[Barnabas Shelbourne]

Hi Tim,

I have used the guidelines that you posted previously for SNS as a base to work from for making my organisations guidelines, I just wanted to say that I found them very useful and the discussions about using SNS during work hours, recording arose.

I wondered if there is a more up to date version of the Guidelines, if you have I would very much appreciate a copy many thanks.

[Tim Davies]

Hey Barnabus

I've not updated those guidelines in any coherent form recently... although it's something I'll be looking at soon...

It might be worth starting a new forum thread perhaps sharing the draft guidelines you've created and asking others to share any guidelines or policies they have been working on?

I'm sure the most up-to-date knowledge is now out there in different authorities and organisations rather than with me sitting somewhat distant now that my research project has finished...

[Barnabas Shelbourne]

thanks, I will do that.

[Denise Drake]

Some related guidance - from 12 October 2009, organisations with interactive websites likely to be used mainly by children must ensure that staff moderating the sites are not barred from working with children. There is an article on Out-Law.com (from law firm Pinsent Masons) with more details http://www.out-law.com/page-9762

[David Whewell]

We are hosting an "open space" activity on 18 April with young people and youth workers specifically to consider this! Want to come along?

[David Whewell]

Well, actually it is on 15 April in Devizes from 11am 'til 3.00pm but anyone is most welcome. The facilitator is a young person who we've supported in training in open space technology. Whilst we cannot offer payment to the attendees - we can offer, at least, a lunch. If you do wish to participate then please contact [e-mail] before 13 April. We cannot guarantee loads of learning for you, but we can guarantee a real live experience!!

[Tim Davies]

Hey David. Alas I can't make it - but never cease to be inspired by Wiltshire's work.

Twittering, Ning & now Open Space. T'is great stuff :)

Hope it goes well - and if you can - do share learning back to the network here :)

[David Whewell]

Hi Tim - I intend to upload all the outcomes from the day and when we reach the stage of policies - those also! Twittering is interesting... but am I becoming a stalker of the rich and famous?

[Tony Cisse]

Jon,

I think the issue you raise here about professional boundaries is very important. In my view an online engagement with young people should respect exactly the same boundaries as would apply in face to face practice. It may be useful to look at Outreach guidelines on boundaries when considering this. This would apply both to our own personal boundaries, and the boundaries of the young people we contact online. I think the concept of co-working is one which might be particularly important to explore in ensuring accountability...

Here is a very quick adaptation of some guidelines on detached work I have 'adapted' for 'online detached youth work'...needs much more thought and work, but the issues, in my view are fundementally the same:

Draft ideas on Online Detached Youth Work

Based on Bristol City Council Youth Service Detached Work Policy 2000

The relationship, which exists between youth workers and young people, is both voluntary and informal.

Online Detached youth work remains a specialist area of work and in turn requires that its face to face deliverers and managers both have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver the work to a high quality.

Understanding the Work

As with other forms of youth work there needs to be a clear rationale for undertaking online detached work. As far as possible there should be a shared understanding of this rationale before setting up and embarking on any form of detached youth work.

Shared understanding should ideally exist with the following:

Youth Work Manager Detached Workers
Management Committee City-wide colleagues
Young people
Politicians - local and city-wide


Practice Issues

Lone Working
Just as this is not considered to be good practice in a street-work setting, consideration might be given to the same when working online. Just as in street work you must inform your colleagues as to your whereabouts and whom you are with, similar principles can be applied to online work, this not only protects yourself but also safeguards the work of the team.

Co-Working Relationships
Working within a co-working pair allows workers to support each other both in the delivery of online work and in planning, de-briefing reflective practice and evaluation.

Two workers can be of more benefit to young people as they may have different knowledge and specialisms within the work and can dip into these as and when appropriate. Workers need to consider the male/female balance within co-working pairs, utilising the positive role modelling that a male/female mix can provide to young people.

Identification
Online workers have a clear responsibility to ensure that all staff engaged in Online Detached Youth Work are issued with an online ID which has a photograph of the worker, and work contact details clearly visible.

Detached Workers should ensure that they identify themselves with their online ID. When cold-contacting a young person or group online always encourage the young people to ask for your ID and clearly explain who you are, who you work for and the purpose of your role.

Professional Boundaries
There are some clear boundaries that need to be adhered to which benefit our practice and encourage us to take a purely professional stance.

Workers should be discouraged from giving young people their personal online profiles, websites, blogs and phone number as this crosses over into the workers personal life. Workers who have a personal online profile should try and ensure the two are kept separate and distinct.

If you reveal details of your personal experience to a young person it may be worth stopping to ask yourself “what benefit will it have”? However your experiences of crime, drugs, and relationships etc may positively benefit the young people with which you are working.


Confidentiality
Workers need to be explicit with young people and other professionals in relation to the boundaries within which they work.

Young people need to be aware that if a young person is at risk of or experiencing abuse and/or a young person’s life is in serious danger the detached worker has to comply with Child Protection Procedures. All online Detached workers require training around Child Protection Procedures

Detached workers should respect confidentiality between different groups/individual young people.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR ONLINE DETACHED YOUTH WORKER

As a young person involved in online detached youth work 'you' can expect the following:

a) To be treated fairly, with respect and understanding

b) To have the opportunity to ‘meet online’ with online detached workers at times and on terms that are agreeable to you

c) To be given respect for your privacy, confidentiality; and given an explanation of where we cannot promise you total confidentiality which is in 'exceptional circumstances' ie child protection and when young people's lives may be in serious danger

d) To be supported by the detached workers in understanding and beginning to meet your own needs

e) To be helped by detached workers to obtain and seek information, advice or further support that you may want or need from ourselves or other agencies/workers

f) To be encouraged by detached workers to try out new and challenging experiences

g) In times of crisis detached workers will try to help you find other avenues of support as soon as possible

h) To allow you the space and give you the encouragement to challenge others' views of you ie your community or wider society

i) To be helped to make informed choices form a knowledgeable point of view taking into account your legal rights and responsibilities

j) To be challenged by detached workers and for you to challenge us

k) To be involved in the decision-making processes within the work of the detached team/project

l) To experience positive relationships with all detached workers

m) To be informed by detached workers when we 'cannot' or are 'unable' to work with you due to other commitments, time restrictions and the need to work with other young people equally

[Jon Jolly]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the feedback and for posting the guidelines here - I'm sure they will come in handy for many people. When I've got some time, I'll go through them properly and see how they might work for our organisation.

Again, thanks for sharing!