What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow websites to recognise your device, remember your preferences, and understand how you use the site.
This policy explains what cookies Care-Meter uses on care-meter.co.uk and within the Care-Meter platform, why we use them, and how you can manage your preferences.
We comply with the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and UK GDPR when using cookies. Strictly necessary cookies may be placed without consent; all other cookies require your prior consent.
Summary: Cookies We Use
localStorage instead. PECR applies to both, so everything we store on your device is listed below regardless of the technology used.| Name / storage | Purpose | Duration | Category | Consent required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-in tokens (localStorage) | Keeps you signed in and authenticates your requests to our API. Placed by our authentication library (AWS Cognito) and cleared on sign-out. Because these are held in browser storage rather than an HttpOnly cookie, they are readable by scripts running on the Care-Meter origin — which is why we enforce a strict Content Security Policy and use no third-party scripts. | Until sign-out, session timeout, or token expiry | Strictly necessary | No |
| cm-last-activity (localStorage) | Records when you last interacted with Care-Meter so the 30-minute inactivity sign-out applies consistently across every tab you have open. | Overwritten continuously; cleared on sign-out | Strictly necessary | No |
| cm_consent (localStorage) | Records your cookie preference so we don't show the banner on every visit. | Persistent (until cleared) | Strictly necessary | No |
| cm_consent_versions (localStorage) | Remembers which version of our Terms, DPA and Privacy Policy you have accepted, so you are only asked again when a document materially changes. | Persistent (until cleared) | Strictly necessary | No |
| cm-theme (localStorage) | Remembers your dark/light mode choice. Written only when you actively change the setting. | Persistent (until cleared) | Strictly necessary | No |
| Interface state (localStorage: cm-page-guide-seen, cm-command-bar-minimised, current care-home selection, saved list filters, alert read-state) | Remembers small choices you have made in the interface: guides you have dismissed, whether a panel is minimised, which care home and filters you last worked in, and which alerts you have already seen so they aren't repeated. | Persistent (until cleared) | Strictly necessary | No |
Why none of this needs consent. PECR requires consent for storage that is not strictly necessary for a service the user has requested. Everything above either keeps you signed in, keeps you signed in safely, records a consent or acceptance decision, or stores a preference you set yourself while using the platform. We store nothing for analytics, advertising, profiling, or any purpose you have not asked for, so there is no optional category to consent to.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are required for the Care-Meter platform to function. They cannot be disabled without preventing you from using core features. No consent is required to place these cookies under PECR.
These:
- Maintain your authenticated session so you don’t have to sign in repeatedly
- Store your API authentication token in browser storage on the Care-Meter origin
- Track your last activity so the inactivity sign-out works across your open tabs
- Record your cookie preference and which legal documents you have accepted
- Remember interface choices you made yourself, such as dark mode
We do not use strictly necessary storage for analytics, marketing, or any purpose beyond enabling the platform to function.
Preference Storage (No Separate Consent)
Care-Meter remembers a few interface choices — dark mode, dismissed guides, your current care home, saved list filters, and which alerts you have already seen. These are written only when you actively make the choice, and only to make the platform behave the way you just asked it to.
We previously described these as optional “functional cookies” requiring separate consent. That was not an accurate description of what the platform does: nothing here is set speculatively, none of it is shared with anyone, and none of it is used for any purpose other than the one you triggered. We have therefore classified them as strictly necessary to the service you have requested, rather than presenting a consent choice that had no effect.
You can clear all of it at any time through your browser settings (see Section 6). Doing so simply resets these preferences to their defaults.
Analytics Cookies (None Currently)
Any platform performance analysis we carry out uses aggregated, anonymised server-side data only. No cookies are involved.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Within Care-Meter
You can re-open the cookie banner at any time using the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer of any page, and change the preference we have recorded for you.
Via your browser
You can also manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View and delete existing cookies
- Block all cookies or cookies from specific sites
- Receive a notification when a cookie is placed
Clearing site data for care-meter.co.uk removes your sign-in tokens and signs you out; you will simply need to sign in again. Blocking storage for this site entirely will prevent you from signing in at all.
Browser-specific guidance:
Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit care-meter.co.uk or the Care-Meter platform, a consent banner appears. You can choose “Strictly necessary only” or “Accept all”.
Your choice is stored in localStorage as cm_consentso we don’t repeat the banner. You can change it at any time via the Cookie Settings link in the footer.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy when we add, change, or remove cookies. We will notify users of material changes by displaying a prominent notice and re-requesting consent where required.
The effective date at the top of this page reflects the current version. Previous versions are available on request from privacy@care-meter.co.uk.
Contact
For questions about cookies or to exercise your rights under UK GDPR:
- Email: privacy@care-meter.co.uk
- Post: Data Protection, WillMachi Limited, 8 Raite Green, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 5JY
- ICO: ico.org.uk · 0303 123 1113