Privacy Policy

Who We Are

Bridgewater Home Care is a provider of domiciliary and specialist care services in the UK, operating through a network of independently owned franchise offices.

• Franchisor: Bridgewater Home Care Ltd, 1 Beecham Court, Wigan, WN3 6PR, Company No. 7271532
• Franchisees: Each local office is independently owned and operated.
• Joint Data Controllers: For some activities, both the franchisor and the relevant franchisee may act as joint data controllers.

For data protection queries, contact:
Email: info@bridgewaterhomecare.co.uk
Phone: 01942 215 888

Prohibited Activities

You agree not to engage in any of the following activities:

• Copying, reproducing, distributing, republishing, downloading, displaying, posting, or transmitting any part of this Site in any form or by any means without our prior written consent.
• Using any automated means, including but not limited to robots, spiders, scrapers, or data mining tools, to access, monitor, or copy any content or data from the Site.
• Employing any manual process to monitor or copy any content from the Site without our prior written permission.
• Circumventing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with security-related features of the Site or features that enforce limitations on the use of the Site or its content.
• Taking any action that imposes, or may impose, in our sole discretion, an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure.

What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

Category	Examples
Contact Information	Name, address, phone, email
Demographic Data	Age, gender, next of kin
Care Information	Health/medical details, care needs, GP details
Employment Data	CVs, references, background checks (for job applicants)
Franchisee Data	Business details, financial information
Website Usage Data	IP address, browser type, cookies, analytics
Communication Data	Enquiries, feedback, complaints

 

Some of this data may be classified as special category data (e.g., health information) and is handled with extra safeguards.

How We Collect Your Data

• When you use our website, fill in forms, or contact us
• When you use our care services or apply for a job
• When you interact with a local Bridgewater Home Care office
• From third parties (e.g., health professionals, family members, recruitment agencies)
• Through cookies and analytics tools on our website

Lawful Bases for Processing

We process personal data only when permitted by law, including:

• Consent: Where you have given clear consent (e.g., marketing).
• Contract: To provide care services or employment.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with laws and regulations (e.g., CQC, HMRC).
• Vital Interests: To protect someone’s life or health.
• Legitimate Interests: For business operations, quality improvement, and network management, provided your rights do not override these interests.

For special category data (e.g., health), we rely on explicit consent, necessity for care provision, or legal requirements.

How We Use Your Data

• To provide and manage care services
• To respond to enquiries and requests
• For recruitment and employment purposes
• To support and manage franchisees
• To improve our services and website
• For regulatory, audit, and compliance purposes
• For marketing (with your consent)

Sharing Your Data

We may share your data with:

• Other Bridgewater Home Care offices (where necessary for care continuity or network management)
• Health and social care professionals (with consent or as required by law)
• Regulatory bodies (e.g., CQC)
• Service providers (IT, payroll, analytics) under strict confidentiality agreements
• Law enforcement or authorities, if required by law

We do not sell your personal data to third parties.

International Data Transfers

If your data is transferred outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent protections.

Cookies and Website Analytics

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve website functionality and analyse usage.

• Essential cookies: Necessary for website operation
• Analytics/marketing cookies: Used with your consent

You can manage your cookie preferences via our cookie banner or browser settings.

Data Security

We implement robust technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including:

• Secure servers, encryption, and access controls
• Staff training and confidentiality agreements
• Regular audits and cybersecurity reviews

Data Retention

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes collected, or as required by law. For example:

• Care records: Minimum 7 years after service ends
• Job applications: Up to 12 months if unsuccessful
• Franchisee records: As required for the duration of the franchise relationship

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data
• Request erasure (“right to be forgotten”)
• Restrict or object to processing
• Data portability (where applicable)
• Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

To exercise your rights, contact info@bridgewaterhomecare.co.uk.

Automated Decision-Making and Profiling

We do not make decisions based solely on automated processing that have legal or similarly significant effects.

Data Breaches

If a data breach occurs that poses a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the ICO as required by law.

Children’s Data

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 16 without parental consent.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Our Services

As part of our ongoing commitment to efficiency and innovation, we may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to support the delivery of our services. These systems may assist with tasks such as data analysis, communication drafting, or customer support.

All AI tools we use are subject to robust oversight and are deployed in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. We ensure that any personal data processed by AI is handled lawfully, fairly, and transparently, with appropriate safeguards in place.

Where AI is used in a way that materially influences decisions or communications affecting you, we retain human oversight and are happy to explain how the technology supports our work. If you have any questions or concerns about our use of AI, please contact us at 01942 215 888.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website. We will notify you of significant changes.

Contact Us

For any questions or to exercise your rights, please contact:

Data Protection Lead
Bridgewater Home Care
1 Beecham Court, Wigan, WN3 6PR
info@bridgewaterhomecare.co.uk
01942 215 888

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

Bridgewater Home Care: Each franchise office is independently owned and operated. This policy applies to all offices operating under the Bridgewater Home Care brand.