Terms of Use of NHS Confederation WhatsApp Groups
Terms of Use of NHS Confederation WhatsApp Groups
For all participants
WhatsApp is licensed for personal use only. Individuals using WhatsApp beyond WhatApp’s own intended purpose and participating in NHS Confederation WhatsApp groups is at their own risk and discretion and it is their responsibility to understand WhatsApp’s terms of use.
Security and data protection
NHS Confederation staff should always use their work mobiles for participating in NHS Confederation WhatsApp groups.
All individuals are strongly encouraged to ensure:
• Their mobile phone has the highest level of security, not least password protection, automatic screen locking
• That their mobile phone is not shared with any other individual
• Their WhatsApp account has two-step verification enabled
• Their WhatsApp does not have automatic back-ups set (NB all NHS Confederation WhatsApp groups will disappearing messages set to 90 days)
• WhatsApp does not link directly to your photograph library or your phone’s Contact/address book
• That they do not use unsecure WIFI networks as this can provide visibility to your WhatsApp groups for hackers.
The security details listed above are mandatory for NHS Confederation staff using NHS Confederation mobile phones. All individuals will keep the Moderator informed of any change in contact details and are asked to alert the Moderator of any potential security threats they become aware of.
Your mobile number, and that of fellow WhatsApp group members are visible to all in the group. By consenting to join the group you are consenting for your mobile number to be visible. All group members are asked to be respectful and mindful of access to other mobile numbers and to not process or forward on fellow group members’ phone numbers without receiving direct consent.
Joining and Leaving a Group
By joining a group you are consenting to this terms of use and agreeing to the disclaimer. Only a WhatsApp group Moderator shall add individuals to a group. If you believe a colleague would benefit from the group please refer them to the Moderator.
The Moderator may ask you to confirm via your business email that you wish to join a group and disclose your mobile phone number to use for WhatsApp. Given WhatsApp is a third party application, the Moderator will store a list of WhatsApp members and their phone number in our secure CRM system. This is so you can be contacted should there be a suspected data breach within WhatsApp. This will also help NHS Confederation to verify any suspect message that might be received via WhatsApp.
Please leave the group immediately if the content is no longer relevant to your role or you do not agree with the NHS Confederation Policy, Terms of Use and Disclaimer. Upon leaving you are asked to delete all messages and records attached to that group from your device. You may be asked to confirm in writing that you have removed the messages.
Group discussions
WhatsApp shall not be used for
• formal business decision making
• securing of contracts
• Sharing of senisitive information or data
• Sharing of personal data
• Or other official business
In addition, WhatsApp shall not be used for posting any material or contact deemed to be inappropriate, defamatory, insulting, incorrect or in any other way legally actionable. This includes content which may be racially offensive or of a sexually offensive nature
Confidentiality
All content of a WhatsApp group shall be treated confidentially and is not shared for onward communication outside of the WhatsApp group. NHS Confederation will communicate by other formal methods, such as email, if there is information for forwarding.
