Terms of Use and Network Guidelines

Terms of Use

The Terms of Use explain the purpose of the networks, the standards expected of members, and how participation is managed. They are intended to support a constructive, respectful and professional environment where members can collaborate, share knowledge and participate in discussions relevant to the network's subject area. By joining and participating in the network, members agree to follow these Terms of Use, including any future updates.

Purpose of the Network

• Networks support collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and discussion among members around a defined theme or area of interest.
• By participating, members agree to support a constructive, respectful and professional environment.
• By registering, members confirm that the network is relevant to their role, council or professional interests, and that they meet any eligibility criteria set out on the relevant network joining page.

Membership and Participation

By joining the network, members agree to:

• Ensure all contributions are professional and respectful.
• Keep discussions relevant to the purpose of the network.
• Have their name visible within discussions and group communications.
• Have their email address visible to invited participants in meeting invitations and collaboration tools (e.g. Microsoft Teams).
• Personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and organisational policies.

Confidentiality and Use of Materials

Network discussions, meetings, shared files and resources are intended for network members only unless stated otherwise. Members must not:

• Share meeting links with non-members.
• Forward or distribute network discussions, documents, or materials externally without permission.
• Share confidential, sensitive, or restricted information without appropriate authorisation.
• Members should also follow any confidentiality notices or instructions attached to specific content.

Ownership and Responsibility for Content

Members remain responsible for the content they post or share within the network. By posting content, members confirm that:

• They have the right to share the material.
• The content does not breach confidentiality or copyright laws.
• The content complies with these Terms of Use.
• Unless explicitly stated otherwise, views expressed by members are their own and do not represent official advice, policy or the views of NALC.
• Content shared within the network should not be relied upon as professional, legal, or official guidance.

Acceptable Use

Members are expected to communicate with civility and respect at all times. The following behaviour is not permitted:

• Harassment, bullying or personal attacks.
• Offensive, discriminatory, hateful or inflammatory content.
• Spam, promotional, or irrelevant content.
• Deliberately misleading or false information.
• Disruptive behaviour during discussions or meetings.

We reserve the right to remove content or restrict participation where necessary to maintain a safe and constructive environment.

Meetings

For network meetings hosted through platforms such as Microsoft Teams:

• Access links are for invited members only.
• Members must behave respectfully towards attendees, speakers and moderators.
• Recording, screenshots or redistribution of meeting content is not permitted unless explicitly authorised.

Reporting, Moderation and Enforcement

We moderate the network to help ensure discussions remain safe, respectful and relevant. Members can report content or behaviour they believe breaches these Terms of Use or the Network Guidelines. Moderation actions may include:

• Providing guidance or reminders to members.
• Editing or removing content.
• Closing discussions.
• Permanent removal from the network in serious or repeated cases.

We will review reports within a reasonable timeframe. Where appropriate, moderators may contact members for further information or clarification.

Changes to the Terms of USE and Acceptance

These Terms of Use may be updated from time to time, and members will be notified of significant changes where appropriate. By joining and continuing to participate in the network, members confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by these Terms of Use, including any updated versions. 

Network guidelines

These guidelines are intended to help members use the network effectively and maintain a positive and valuable discussion space.

Purpose of the Discussion Feature

The discussion area is designed to:

• Share knowledge, ideas, experience and useful resources.
• Ask thoughtful questions.
• Support collaborative discussion and problem-solving.
• Contribute in ways that are helpful and relevant to others.

Before You Post

Before starting a discussion or sharing documents:

• Check whether the topic already exists.
• Use a clear and descriptive title.
• Make sure the topic is relevant to the network's purpose.
• Provide context so others understand why the resource or discussion topic is useful.
• Ensure any external resources are from a credible source.

Writing Effective Posts

Helpful posts are usually:

• Clear and concise — Get to the point while providing enough context.
• Relevant — Directly related to the network topic.
• Readability — Easy to read and understand.
• Constructive — Focused on sharing, learning, or problem-solving.

Members are encouraged to:

• Ask specific questions where possible.
• Provide enough context for others to respond usefully.
• Use paragraphs, headings, and/or bullet points to improve readability.
• Use plain language that is accessible to all members.

Engaging in Discussions

When replying to others:

• Show civility and respect at all times, even when you disagree.
• Stay focused on the topic being discussed.
• Add value and avoid one-word or non-constructive replies.
• Acknowledge helpful contributions where appropriate.

Healthy debate is encouraged, but it should always remain courteous and professional.