Privacy Policy

We know that trust matters, especially when the information involved relates to care, health, and people's homes. This policy sets out, in plain language, what we collect, why, and what rights you have. It applies to visitors to this website, people enquiring about care, clients, families, job applicants, and professionals who contact us.

1. Who we are

Dòchas Home Care Limited ("Dòchas", "we", "us") is a home care provider registered with the Care Inspectorate, based at 16 James Herald Terrace, Dundee, DD5 4JJ. We are the "data controller" for the personal information described in this policy, meaning we decide how and why it is used.

2. What information we collect

What we collect depends on how you interact with us:

If you...	We may collect
Submit an enquiry or contact form	Name, phone number, email, the area you're enquiring about, and details of the support you're looking for
Become a client, or enquire in detail about care	More sensitive information relevant to arranging safe care, such as health, mobility, medication, and next of kin details, collected separately and securely, not through the website forms
Apply for a job with us	Contact details, CV/application information, and (later in the process) safer recruitment checks such as references and PVG information
Simply browse the website	Basic technical and analytics information, such as pages visited and general location, if analytics tools are enabled (see Section 7)

3. How we use your information

• To respond to enquiries and explain the support we can offer
• To assess, arrange, and safely deliver care where someone becomes a client
• To process job applications and carry out safer recruitment checks
• To meet our legal, regulatory and safeguarding obligations, including those set by the Care Inspectorate
• To improve this website and understand how it's used

We do not use enquiry or contact information for marketing without your clear consent, and we never sell personal information to third parties.

4. Our legal basis for using it

Under UK GDPR, we rely on one or more of the following, depending on the situation: your consent (for example, submitting a form), performance of a contract (for example, delivering agreed care), a legal obligation (for example, safeguarding or regulatory reporting), or our legitimate interests (for example, responding to a general enquiry). Where health or care-related information is involved, we apply the additional protections required for special category data.

5. Who we share information with

We do not share personal information for marketing purposes. We may share relevant information with:

• Care Inspectorate, local authorities, or NHS professionals involved in your care or referral
• Emergency services or safeguarding authorities, where there is a risk to someone's safety
• Service providers who support our operations (for example, secure IT or payroll systems), under appropriate confidentiality agreements
• Regulators or legal authorities, where we are required to by law

6. How long we keep it

General website enquiries that don't proceed further are kept only as long as needed to respond, and are then deleted. Client and employment records are kept in line with Care Inspectorate and statutory retention requirements, which are typically longer, reflecting the regulated nature of care records.

7. Cookies and website analytics

This website does not currently use analytics tools such as Google Analytics, and sets no advertising or tracking cookies. A cookie banner is shown to every visitor on their first visit, giving a clear choice to Accept All or Reject All, this choice is remembered on your device and can be changed at any time using the "Cookie Preferences" link in the footer of any page.

If we introduce analytics or any other non-essential cookies in future, we will update this section to explain what they do, and they will only run for visitors who have accepted them.

8. How we keep it secure

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, including secure storage systems, restricted staff access on a need-to-know basis, and confidentiality requirements written into staff contracts and training. Information submitted through this website is transmitted securely (HTTPS encryption).

9. Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to: access the information we hold about you, ask us to correct inaccurate information, ask us to delete information (where applicable), object to or restrict certain uses, and request a copy of information you've provided in a portable format. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk if you believe your information has been mishandled.

10. Children's information

This website is intended for adults arranging or enquiring about care. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through this site.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time, for example if our services, systems, or legal obligations change. When we make changes, we will update this page.

12. How to contact us

If you have any questions about this policy or how your information is handled, contact: