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Professionalism & Boundaries in Use of Social Media

👥 0 students 📖 26 lessons & topics

Course Description

Social media use by healthcare professionals is closely scrutinised by regulators and the public. Even posts made on personal accounts can raise concerns about professionalism, confidentiality, boundaries, and public trust. Breaches — whether intentional or inadvertent — can lead to complaints, investigations, and serious regulatory consequences. UK regulators including the GMC, NMC, GDC, GPhC, and HCPC expect professionals to apply the same standards of conduct online as they do in clinical practice. This course provides practical, regulator-aligned guidance on navigating social media safely and demonstrating insight where concerns arise.

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and allied health professionals working across NHS and independent settings in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is particularly relevant for practitioners facing complaints, investigations, or fitness-to-practise proceedings relating to online behaviour or social media use.

What You Will Learn

The course covers professionalism and ethical behaviour on social media, maintaining professional boundaries with patients and colleagues online, protecting patient confidentiality and avoiding indirect identification, managing conflicts of interest and endorsements, reputational and cybersecurity risks, and regulatory guidance on online conduct. You will also develop a personal social media code of conduct to guide safe, ethical, and professional online behaviour going forward.

What You Receive

On successful completion you receive a CPD UK accredited certificate and structured CPD evidence suitable for appraisal, revalidation, remediation portfolios, and regulatory submissions. The course is fully online and self-paced — accessible immediately after enrolment.

CPD UK Certified This course is CPD UK certified. The accredited certificate issued on completion is accepted as evidence for UK appraisal, revalidation, and professional regulatory submissions.
Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This course is CPD UK certified, and participants receive an accredited CPD certificate on successful completion.

Yes. The course provides structured CPD evidence suitable for UK appraisal, revalidation, and professional portfolios.

Yes. This course is particularly suitable for healthcare professionals dealing with complaints, investigations, or fitness-to-practise processes relating to online behaviour or social media use.

Yes. The course supports learners in developing a personal social media code of conduct to guide safe, ethical, and professional online behaviour.

Yes. The course is delivered fully online and can be completed at your own pace, with instant access immediately after enrolment.

Course Content

1

Section 1 – Overview of Professionalism and Boundaries on Social Media

  • 1.1 Overview of Professionalism and Boundaries for Healthcare Professionals on Social Media

  • 1.2 Impact of Unprofessional Use of Social Media

  • 1.3 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 1

2

Section 2 – Risks associated with Social Media Use for Healthcare Professionals

  • 2.1 Common Social Media Risks

  • 2.2 Taking Responsibility for Social Media Conduct

  • 2.3 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 2

3

Section 3 – Guidelines and Standards by Healthcare Regulatory Bodies

  • 3.1 Guidelines & Standards related to Confidentiality

  • 3.2 Guidelines & Standards related to Professional Boundaries

  • 3.3 Guidelines & Standards related to Conflict of Interest

  • 3.4 Guidelines & Standards related to Trust

  • 3.5 Guidelines & Standards related to Social Media Use

  • 3.6 Summary Points and Quiz for Section 3

4

Section 4 – Handling Complaints and Investigations Related to Social Media Use

  • 4.1 Responding to Complaints

  • 4.2 Fitness to Practise Standards and Investigations

  • 4.3 Professionalism During Inquiries

  • 4.4 Interactive Quiz for Section 4

5

Section 5 – Developing a Personal Social Media Code of Conduct

  • 5.1 Setting Personal Rules to Maintain Professionalism and Boundaries on Social Media

  • 5.2 Tracking Progress and Reflecting on Social Media Practices

  • 5.3 Interactive Quiz for Section 5

6

Section 6 – Conclusions and Takeaways

  • 6.1 Conclusions and Takeaways