Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to Care Directory. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website at caredirectory.org.uk and our services. By using our platform, you agree to these Terms.

Care Directory is operated by NE26 Limited, registered in England and Wales (Company Number: 16030871), with our registered office at First Floor Office, 3 Hornton Place, London, United Kingdom, W8 4LZ.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO Registration: ZC054682).

2. Our Services

Care Directory provides:

• A searchable directory of care homes and care services in the UK
• CQC rating information and inspection data
• A platform for families to enquire about care services
• Listing management tools for care providers
• An AI Care Assistant to help you find suitable care

Important: We are a directory service, not a care provider. We do not provide care services directly and are not responsible for the services provided by listed care homes.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Keep your login credentials secure
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorised access
• Be responsible for all activity under your account

3.2 Account Types

• Care Seeker: Free account for families searching for care
• Care Provider: Account for care homes to manage their listing

4. For Care Seekers

As a care seeker, you agree to:

• Use enquiry forms for genuine care-related enquiries only
• Provide accurate contact information
• Not send spam, harassment, or inappropriate content to providers
• Conduct your own due diligence when choosing a care provider

Disclaimer: While we display CQC ratings and information, we recommend you verify all information directly with providers and conduct visits before making care decisions.

5. For Care Providers

5.1 Listing Claims

To claim a listing, you must be authorised to represent the care provider. We may request evidence of your authority.

5.2 Provider Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information about your services
• Respond to genuine enquiries in a timely manner
• Not misrepresent your services, availability, or pricing
• Comply with all applicable regulations (CQC requirements, etc.)

5.3 Subscriptions

• Paid subscriptions are billed monthly or annually as selected
• Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled
• Cancellations take effect at the end of the current billing period
• Refunds are provided in accordance with consumer protection laws

6. AI Care Assistant

Our AI Care Assistant is designed to help you find suitable care services. When using this feature:

• The AI provides informational guidance only, not medical, legal, or professional advice
• Responses may occasionally contain inaccuracies; always verify important information
• The AI should not be used for emergency situations—call 999 for emergencies
• Daily usage limits apply (10 requests per IP address) to ensure fair access for all users
• The AI may provide safeguarding resources if concerning content is detected

Important: Always consult qualified healthcare professionals, social workers, or legal advisors for specific advice relating to care decisions.

7. Reviews and User Content

When submitting reviews or other content, you agree to:

• Only submit genuine reviews based on personal experience with the care provider
• Not include personal information about staff members or other service users
• Not post defamatory, discriminatory, or offensive content
• Not submit fake reviews or reviews in exchange for payment or incentives

We reserve the right to moderate, edit, or remove reviews that violate these guidelines. Care providers may respond publicly to reviews submitted about their service.

By submitting a review, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display, reproduce, and distribute your content on our platform.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You must not:

• Use the platform for unlawful purposes
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems
• Scrape or harvest data from our platform
• Post false, misleading, or defamatory content
• Interfere with other users' use of the platform
• Upload malicious code or content
• Abuse the AI assistant with excessive requests or inappropriate content

9. Intellectual Property

All content on Care Directory (excluding user-submitted content and CQC data) is owned by NE26 Limited. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without permission.

CQC data is Crown copyright and used under licence from the Care Quality Commission.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• We provide the platform "as is" without warranties
• We are not liable for the quality or safety of care services provided by listed providers
• We are not liable for any indirect, consequential, or special damages
• Our total liability is limited to the amount you have paid us in the past 12 months
• We are not liable for any decisions made based on AI assistant recommendations

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for death, personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NE26 Limited from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your breach of these Terms or misuse of the platform.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you breach these Terms. You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination:

• Your access to the platform will cease
• Any active subscription will continue until the end of the billing period
• We may retain certain data as required by law

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms. We will notify you of significant changes.

15. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 0808 501 0191
• Post: NE26 Limited, First Floor Office, 3 Hornton Place, London, W8 4LZ