If you regularly use social media to interract with your peers or colleagues, it's important you learn how to stay safe online and communicate responsibly.
Thankfully, the SoR has a comprehensive guidance document which outlines the do's and don'ts of social media in the SoR document library.
The document states: ‘Radiography is not as well understood by the public as other allied health professions (AHPs). However, the advent of SoMe has provided the profession with a medium to address this.
‘The radiography workforce can grasp this opportunity to become more visible to the public but need to consider not only the best tools and online spaces but also the impact of their posts on public and other health professions’ perceptions of the profession.’
The document provides detailed guidelines on the different platforms available, such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube, with tips on the best ways to use them.
And there is also information about the legal requirements associated with online communication.
These are no different to those with which radiographers are already familiar in their face-to-face professional communications, reflected in the HCPC Standard of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
The requirements state:
1. You must act in the best interests of service users
2. You must respect the confidentiality of service users
3. You must keep high standards of personal conduct
4. You must keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date
5. You must act within the limits of your knowledge, skills and experience and, if necessary, refer the matter to another practitioner
6. You must communicate properly and effectively with service-users and other practitioners
7. You must behave with honesty and integrity and make sure that your behaviour does not damage the public’s confidence in you or your profession
Click here to read the document online or download it as a PDF.
The HCPC also has guidance on using social media which you can read here.