Safety & Security Policy

We aim to keep this site as safe and secure as possible whilst allowing the freedom that people with Learning/Intellectual Disabilities deserve. The following measures are just a few of the ways we can protect our members:
 
  • Moderators work 24 hours a day in different countries and languages to monitor this site. They all have experience of dealing with people who have Learning/Intellectual Disabilities. They are trained to monitor the site and can act on any problems that may occur.
  • Report buttons are visible throughout the Special Friends website. Members can click this button at any time to report an incident to the moderators, this can be used in the chat room, 1 to 1 chat and for any messages that they have received.
  • Lock down the chat rooms, 1-2-1 chat and messages - A padlock facility is available for parents, carers, family members and professionals. This can be used to restrict a member’s access to the chat rooms and/or sending messages. To regain access to the chat rooms and messaging, the member’s original password must be used to unlock the padlock facility. This is an ideal way for members to be introduced to safety on the internet. The members password can be changed at anytime by the parent, carer or professional by selecting “my profile” and selecting “ edit privacy settings”.
  • Moderators have the authority to suspend or cancel any membership instantly should they have a concern regarding the member's conduct.
  • Profanity Filters are in place to automatically delete abusive language and email addresses to protect the safety of members.
  • A message fly service will alert our main moderating team by text within 2 minutes as a back up should 'report button' be activated.
  • Extra care will be provided by monitoring new members with very close supervision.
  • It is against our Terms & Conditions to give out any email addresses, or solicit email addresses, whilst using Special Friends Online. Any member who breaks this rule or who asks for funds or treats this as a dating website will have their membership terminated.
  • The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), an Executive Agency of the Home Office, provides wider access to criminal record information through its Disclosure service.
† This service enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make safer recruitment decisions by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involve children or vulnerable adults.
† The CRB was established under Part V of the Police Act 1997 and was launched in March 2002.