Glossary of Terms

A user's registered access to the CareKudos Platform. Accounts are role-based (Care Worker, Manager, Administrator, Family Member).

The mid-tier subscription plan offering Core features plus Company Values, Rising Stars, Value Champions, Career Pathways, and the Family Portal.

A subscription agreement with a minimum 12-month term, available with either upfront or monthly payment options.

The process of removing or obscuring personal data from posts to ensure GDPR compliance. Service users are referred to by initials only (e.g., "J. S.").

The application marketplace for iOS devices where the CareKudos mobile app is available for download.

A record of all user actions, data changes, exports, and approvals. Used for compliance and security monitoring.

A digital award earned by users for achieving specific milestones, such as posting consistently, receiving stars, or demonstrating core values.

A specific action that demonstrates a value in practice. For example, for the value "Compassion," a descriptor is "Taking time to listen and respond with kindness."

A 2-minute breathing exercise available in the Respite Tab, featuring a 4-second animated expanding/contracting square with text prompts: "Inhale… Hold… Exhale… Hold."

An Enterprise feature that allows side-by-side comparison of any two or more care locations within an organisation.

Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales.

A document outlining the terms and fees applicable when a client cancels or postpones Services, including Subscription Services and Professional Services.

Read the full document →

A specific physical site where care is delivered, such as a care home, domiciliary agency branch, SEN school, or supported living facility. Each location has a unique Location ID.

See also: Service Location

A generic term for any organisation providing care services, including Care Homes, Domiciliary Agencies, SEN Schools, and Supported Living.

An individual employed or engaged by a Care Setting to provide care services. The primary user of the CareKudos Platform.

The CQC domain assessing kindness, compassion, dignity, emotional support, and person-centred care.

The entry-level subscription plan for single care homes and small providers (up to 50 staff), offering basic posts, stars, GDPR compliance, and Core CQC reports.

The independent regulator of health and social care in England.

A CareKudos feature that automatically generates CQC evidence from staff recognition data, supporting the "Well-led," "Caring," "Safe," and "Responsive" KLOE domains.

Points awarded to staff for posting achievements that align with organisational values. These points contribute to Rising Stars identification and Value Champions recognition.

The values, behaviours, and mission defined by an organisation's manager to shape recognition and culture insights.

A login reward where users receive 1 Star Kudos for opening the app for a minimum of 30 seconds each day, encouraging daily engagement.

The organisation (typically the Care Setting) that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data.

The entity (CareKudos Ltd) that processes personal data on behalf of the Data Controller.

The individual to whom personal data relates, such as a Care Worker, Manager, Family Member, or Service User.

See Behavioural Descriptor.

See also: Behavioural Descriptor

Care and support delivered in a person's own home, also called home care. In domiciliary mode, a relative confirms that a visit took place before giving a Family Star.

See also: Service Types

A legally binding document that governs how CareKudos processes personal data on behalf of its clients, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR.

Read the full document →

A fee of 50% of the remaining subscription fees payable if a client terminates an annual contract with monthly payments before the end of the Initial Term.

The top-tier subscription plan offering Core and Advance features plus multi-location management, consolidated CQC reports, regional dashboards, and branch comparison benchmarking.

See Service Location.

See also: Service Location

A relative of a Service User who receives limited access to the Platform to view anonymised updates, give Family Stars, and send thank-you messages.

A star given by a Family Member, worth 5× the value of a Peer Star. Limited to 2 per month per family member. In domiciliary mode, requires verification.

The master contract between CareKudos Ltd and a customer, comprising the Order Form, Payment Terms, Terms and Conditions, DPA, and Cancellation Policy.

The UK data protection law that governs how personal data is collected, processed, and stored.

A safety observation reported by a Care Worker to flag potential risks before they cause harm. Good Catch posts are reviewed by managers and contribute to the Safe KLOE.

The application marketplace for Android devices where the CareKudos mobile app is available for download.

A value demonstrated when staff support physical, emotional, social, educational, and mental wellbeing together.

The UK's independent authority responsible for upholding information rights and enforcing data protection laws. CareKudos Ltd is registered with the ICO (Registration Reference: ZC108498).

An exemplary post nominated by a colleague or manager and approved for inclusion in CQC reports as evidence of values-based practice. The author cannot nominate their own post.

The minimum 12-month period of a Subscription, commencing from the date of the first invoice.

A display-layer anonymisation toggle for managers that redacts identifiable data (staff names, client names, NHS numbers, postcodes) for CQC visit preparation.

A value demonstrated when staff act with honesty, transparency, and confidentiality, speaking up when something is not right.

The CQC assessment framework domains: Well-led, Safe, Caring, and Responsive.

See how CareKudos sorts evidence under the CQC's key questions →

The friendly name for the CareKudos AI Assistant that helps users write posts, suggests values and descriptors, and provides personalised insights.

The subscription level (Core, Advance, or Enterprise) that determines which features a client can access.

A flag on posts that demonstrate strong alignment with an organisation's values and behavioural descriptors, providing evidence of values-based practice.

A unique identifier assigned to each Service Location. Previously referred to as "Org Code."

A user role responsible for overseeing a Service Location, approving posts, inviting staff, and generating CQC reports.

A fallback state where the AI cannot confidently align a post with a specific KLOE. The post is published without KLOE tags but remains visible in the feed and portfolio.

The commercial schedule attached to the Framework Agreement, specifying the customer's chosen subscription tier, payment option, fees, and term.

The parent company or group that owns one or more Service Locations, for example a care group with three homes.

A user role responsible for managing an organisation's Service Locations, settings, and high-level data.

A star given by a Care Worker or colleague, worth 1 point. Limited to 5 per day per user.

A value demonstrated when staff tailor support to the unique needs, preferences, and life stories of each individual.

A free 30-day evaluation programme offered to qualifying organisations who have never used a recognition solution before. Includes core features and a mandatory exit survey.

The CareKudos software, website, and mobile applications collectively.

A personalised, exportable PDF document that showcases a Care Worker's achievements, values demonstrated, recognition received, badges earned, and endorsements.

Any onboarding, training, setup, or consultancy services provided by CareKudos.

The individual legally registered with the CQC, responsible for the quality and safety of a care service.

See also: Manager

Any 12-month period after the Initial Term. Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled with 30 days' notice.

A wellbeing feature for Care Workers offering quick activities (box breathing, games, journal prompts) to help them reset during busy shifts.

The CQC domain assessing staff voice, feedback, continuous improvement, and family engagement.

A staff member automatically identified by the system as having high potential for progression based on recognition patterns, values alignment, and culture points.

A security system that restricts Platform access based on the user's role (Care Worker, Manager, Organisation Admin, System Admin, Family Member).

The CQC domain assessing safety reporting, learning from incidents, risk awareness, and proactive culture.

The KLOE metric that captures posts using safety-related descriptors, including Good Catch reports. Good Catch posts contribute to the Safe KLOE.

A specific physical site where care is delivered, such as a care home, domiciliary agency branch, SEN school, or supported living facility. Each location has a unique Location ID.

See also: Care Location

The four care settings supported by CareKudos: Care Home, Domiciliary Agency, SEN School, and Supported Living. Each has different verification rules for Family Stars.

The individual receiving care from a Care Setting. Service users are anonymised on the Platform using initials only.

The commitment to Platform availability (99.5% uptime) and support response times (4 business hours), embedded within the Terms and Conditions.

A monthly pulse survey for Care Workers with 4 questions, using emoji buttons (😊 Agree / 😐 Neutral / ☹️ Disagree). Anonymous by default, with an opt-in to share their name.

A unit of recognition given by peers, managers, or family members. Different star types have different point values.

A third party engaged by CareKudos to process personal data, such as AWS, SendGrid, Twilio, or GoCardless.

The paid plan for access to the Platform, subject to a minimum 12-month term.

A hybrid care model where individuals live in their own homes with on-site or visiting support. Verification rules are configurable (Care Home Mode or Domiciliary Mode).

The highest-level user role with access to manage organisations, locations, and system-wide settings.

A value demonstrated when staff work cooperatively across disciplines to deliver seamless support.

The legal agreement governing use of the CareKudos Platform, covering subscriptions, payments, user conduct, GDPR, liability, and termination.

Read the full document →

A feature that identifies staff at risk of leaving based on recognition patterns and engagement data.

A core principle that guides behaviour within an organisation, such as Compassion, Teamwork, Respect, or Integrity. Managers select up to 5 values for their organisation.

A staff member who best demonstrates an organisation's values, identified through consistent values-aligned posts and recognition.

The percentage of posts tagged with any organisational value, indicating how well staff are living the culture.

A chart showing recognition activity by core value over a given period.

A visual representation showing where values appear across shifts, roles, and themes, with clickable examples.

The process by which a Family Member confirms a visit occurred in domiciliary care mode before giving a Family Star.

See also: Service Types

The CQC domain assessing leadership, culture, governance, and values-based practice.

See how CareKudos sorts evidence under the CQC's key questions →