As Lancashire Women is now working online and via telephone during the current COVID-19 restrictions we want to ensure you feel as secure as possible while using apps and online tools to receive support from Lancashire Women’s team.
We will only contact you via WhatsApp on a one to one basis with us and only if you feel comfortable with this. We will ask you for verbal permission and will only audio call, video call or message you alone, and never in a group, as this would share your contact details with other people in the group. In some cases a third party, such as your probation worker or social worker, might be invited to the call, but this will only be with your specific permission and it will be to support you in your situation.
We ask those of you who want to use WhatsApp, to only message or call your caseworker during working hours.
Skype
We will only contact you via Skype on a one to one basis with your us, and only if you feel comfortable with this. We will ask you for verbal permission and will only audio call, video call or message you alone, and never in a group, as this would share your contact details with other people in the group. In some cases a third party, such as your probation worker or social worker, might be invited to the call, but this will only be with your specific permission and it will be to support you in your situation.
We ask those who want to use Skype, to only message or call us during working hours.
Zoom
We will only ever use Zoom to video call or audio call you if you have agreed to sign up for one of our Online Group Sessions or for a one to one meeting. At any point you are able to:
- Leave this meeting by clicking the Leave Meeting button
- Turn your video off by clicking the Stop Video button
- Turn your audio off by clicking the Mute button
If the call drops out you will be contacted back by a member of the team as soon as they can.
During any Online Group Session, we ask all attendees:
- To refer to themselves by their first name only
- Have video turned on when entering the call, so we can be sure of your identity
- To never record any of the Zoom meetings, either through the Zoom App or via any other app or software on your phone
- To never screenshot any of the Zoom meetings
- To never share any personal contact details
- To only ever use the private chat messaging facility within Zoom, to message the group as whole or to message one of the Lancashire Women team on the session
For a one to one Zoom call, we will ask you for verbal permission and will only audio call or video call you.
We ask those who want to use Zoom, to only call us during working hours.
Other messaging apps and software
We will only ever use the above apps, and as an organisational policy, will not use any personal messaging apps or websites, apart from email and text when required.
By using virtual communication tools, you will also agree to the terms and conditions of the relevant platforms, example WhatsApp. These are updated regularly and are available through your account settings.