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Circles – safeguarding and group guidelines

Can I join a group?  

We would love to have you join the community. Before we can add you to any groups, you need to confirm that: 

  1. You are living with, know someone or are caring for someone with pancreatic cancer in the UK 
  2. You consent to sharing your mobile number. This will be visible to others in the WhatsApp group once you have joined 
  3. You are happy for Pancreatic Cancer UK to monitor and moderate the groups and report on themes that are discussed (no personal or identifiable data will be taken or used). This is to ensure we are creating groups that are useful to users and to help create a community that is available to as many people as possible 
  4. You are over the age of 18 
  5. If you wish to join a Facebook group, you will need a Facebook account 
  6. You agree to follow our Group Guidelines. 

If you don’t meet the joining criteria stated above, we’ll be unable to add you to the WhatsApp/Facebook Group/s. That doesn’t mean we can’t support you, please click here for further information and other support options.  

Group Guidelines

  • The focus of the groups is to offer peer support and to help the community build connections. The groups do not provide or recommend medical treatment, nor meet medical needs.  Please know that the group is not the right place to get help in a crisis. If you have any medical questions, talk to your medical team about any worries or questions you have. You and your family can also speak to our specialist nurses on our free Support Line 0808 801 0707
  • We’ll remove messages that do not meet the Group Guidelines set out here, and issue warnings to members where needed. If the guidelines are repeatedly broken, you will be removed from the group/s. We don’t take the decision to moderate messages lightly, but we will do this if the Group Guidelines are broken, or messages are not appropriate within the group context. Please report any messages or concerns you believe are breaking the group rules to us via email and we will act accordingly
  • Please be kind and courteous. It is everyone’s responsibility to create a welcoming environment. We should all treat others with respect and equality and group discussions should always be held constructively and respectfully. We do not allow inappropriate or unpleasant language or content. If you’re unhappy about something that’s been said in your group, please contact a member of staff so it can be managed appropriately
  • No hate speech or bullying. All group members should feel safe. Bullying, discrimination and derogatory comments about religion, culture, class, sexual orientation, gender, or identity aren’t tolerated
  • Please be careful what you choose to share and who you choose to form relationships with outside of the group. If you wish to share personal details with another member of the group, please do so through private messaging (away from the group) and with their consent. WhatsApp has some useful info and guidance here about staying safe using their platform
  • Please note that your profile picture and/or status will be visible to others in WhatsApp and Facebook groups
  • Please don’t breach copyright or permissions. If you’re posting photos or videos, make sure you have the person’s permission first. Photos shared in groups by members should not be shared outside the group without the subject’s consent
  • Respect the privacy and confidentiality of others. We want our groups to be safe and positive communities. Discussions make groups great, but the topics may also be sensitive and private. What’s shared in the group must stay within the group. We promote having conversations and sharing ideas to support each other; however, we ask you to be mindful that this is a confidential and private space for people to share aspects of their lives. We ask that you do not share private details without permission. Please don’t share anyone’s name, contact details, screenshots, or conversations outside of the group. 

Safeguarding 

Pancreatic Cancer UK are committed to creating a confidential and secure environment and we want people to feel safe when they use our groups.  

We will only share information if it is necessary for us to do so as part of our safeguarding procedures. We will do this if: 

  • We believe someone is at risk of serious harm 
  • We are required to do so by law

If we become aware that someone is at risk of being harmed, this information will be shared with the relevant local authority or police. If we believe that someone is at immediate risk of harm, the emergency services will be contacted.

All staff who moderate the groups on Facebook or WhatsApp are trained and have an Enhanced DBS Check. Staff moderating the groups are trained to know how to deal with safeguarding concerns. During our core working hours (9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday) we will escalate concerns to our Safeguarding Lead or Deputy Safeguarding Lead here at Pancreatic Cancer UK. However, these groups are not always moderated. If you are in crisis or you are concerned about someone in the group outside of our core hours, please call the Samaritans free on 116 123 or use the online chat service.

If you, or someone you know, is at risk of immediate harm, or having concerning thoughts call 999.  

We encourage members to share their own recommendations about equipment, books, websites and more. However, we cannot endorse recommendations made in any group, we recommend all members do their own research so they’re confident and satisfied with recommendations. 

For more information about the Group Guidelines or Safeguarding, please contact us 

If you would like to find out more about how to keep safe online, including learning about email and health scams, Age UK have some useful information. 

Privacy  

WhatsApp is end to end encrypted. This means that only participants of the group can read or see what has been sent. Each message has a unique ‘lock and key’, this means that even the WhatsApp service is unable to see any of the content within the group. 

Only Pancreatic Cancer UK devices will be used to monitor, moderate and set up groups. 

Each participant is responsible for ensuring that the device they use to access the group is secured, i.e. password/pin protected, and the group is not left open for others to see.