Council staff being impacted by online abuse from the public will be advised to seek support as part of the authority's new social media policy.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has updated its staff social media policy for the first time since 2013.

It notes a 'changing landscape' in how social media is now used in the workplace and across wider society.

While the earlier policy was mostly concerned with ensuring staff did not harm the authority's reputation when posting online, the updated guidelines also takes into account the issue of how staff are impacted too.

It states: "The existing policy was primarily concerned with ensuring that officers' use of social media, either in a personal capacity or on behalf of the council, does not in any way damage the reputation of the council.

"This remains relevant, however it has also become clear that officers may themselves be at risk of online abuse."

The policy makes a number of suggestions, and also states that in certain circumstances staff internet use at work can be monitored.

It also sates council business must only be conducted on official channels, and raises concerns about the use of messaging app WhatsApp to discuss council business.

It states: "WhatsApp must not be used for work purposes, as it is not secure, or end-to-end encrypted.

"If required, Signal can be downloaded and used to share work messages between colleagues.

"However, it must be kept updated; i.e. colleagues must be removed from groups when they leave the council or change roles."

The new policy said the council reserves the right to monitor employees' internet usage, but will aim to inform an affected employee when it happens and the reasons for it.

It added: "The organisation considers that valid reasons for checking an employee's internet usage include suspicions that the employee has been using social media websites when they should be working, or has acted in a way that is in breach of the rules set out in this policy."

It also has a section about online abuse.

The policy states: "Colleagues may come across negative comments online about the council.

"Customers are entitled to express dissatisfaction about council services online, but the council does not deem abusive or offensive content as acceptable."

It states that personal and negative comments naming individual council employees are also 'not appropriate'. It added: "If this type of content is identified, colleagues should not engage with these posts."

The policy states that anyone impacted by such abuse should also seek help from the authority's assistance programme, which offers counselling, personal and emotional wellbeing support.