Our Communities – Safeguarding Policy

1. Purpose

This policy outlines our commitment to maintaining a safe, ethical, and professional environment for all Members and Professionals on our platform. As a platform focused on self-development and personal growth, we prioritise user safety, responsible content sharing, and professional integrity.

2. Eligibility & Age Restrictions

Our platform is strictly for individuals aged 18 and over. By using our services and agreeing to our Terms & Conditions during the signup process, Members confirm they meet this requirement. We do not knowingly allow underage users, and any suspected violations should be reported immediately.

3. Professional Verification & Responsibilities

To ensure the highest standards, we verify the qualifications and experience of all Professionals before they are permitted to provide educational content on the platform. However, professionals remain solely responsible for the accuracy, relevance, and ethical standards of their content. 

4. Education vs. Advice

All content shared by Professionals on our platform is strictly educational and should not be considered personalised advice. Professionals must ensure that their material is general in nature and does not constitute legal, medical, financial, or therapeutic advice.

5. Conduct & Community Guidelines

All Members and Professionals must adhere to our Conduct Guidelines, which are publicly available on our website. These guidelines prohibit:

  • Harassment, discrimination, or abusive behaviour.
  • The promotion of unethical or harmful practices.
  • Exploitation of users.

6. Content Moderation & Liability

While we have measures in place to prevent and remove harmful content, we simply cannot actively monitor all interactions. Professionals are solely responsible for the content they produce, and our platform is not liable for any consequences resulting from its use. If inappropriate or harmful content is identified, it should be immediately reported we reserve the right to remove it and take appropriate action against the responsible party. Professionals can report inappropriate or harmful content via their dedicated support channel (professionalsupport@ourcommunities.co.uk), and Members can report inappropriate or harmful content via contact@ourcommunities.co.uk.

7. Reporting & Enforcement

We encourage all users to report concerns regarding inappropriate content, unethical conduct, or safeguarding risks. Reports can be submitted through professionalsupport@ourcommunities.co.uk (Professionals) or contact@ourcommunities.co.uk (Members). We will investigate all reports and take necessary actions, including content removal, warnings, suspensions, or permanent bans, as appropriate.

8. Mental Health & Well-Being

This section is specific to our Mental Health & Well-Being Communities:

While Professionals on our platform may provide educational content related to Mental Health and Well-Being, it is important to note that:

  • No content shared on this platform constitutes medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Professionals may share insights and educational resources, but this should never replace personal consultation with a licensed mental health Professional.
  • Crisis Support: If you or someone you know is in crisis, experiencing severe distress, or at risk of harm, please seek immediate support from a qualified mental health professional or emergency services. Our platform does not provide crisis intervention or emergency support.
  • Ethical Responsibility: Professionals sharing content related to mental health must adhere to ethical standards within their field, ensuring that all information is responsible, evidence-based, and not misleading.
  • Reporting Concerns: If you come across content that appears harmful, misleading, or inappropriate, we encourage you to report it through our designated channels detailed above. We are committed to reviewing and taking appropriate action on such concerns.
  • External Resources for Support
  • If you need immediate help, please reach out to:
  • Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
  • Mind (UK): Visit www.mind.org.uk

9. Disclaimers & Legal Protections

  • Our platform acts as a facilitator for Professional and Member engagement and educational content.
  • We do not provide or endorse specific advice or services.

Updates & Amendments

This policy may be updated periodically to reflect best practices and regulatory requirements. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the latest version of this policy.

 

The Our Communities platform complies with applicable data protection and online safety regulations, including but not limited to GDPR, and the UK Online Safety Act. While we verify Professionals’ qualifications, they are responsible for ensuring compliance with any industry-specific regulations governing their content. Users should seek independent professional advice where necessary.

 

Last updated:

12 February 2025