Built to be usable by everyone.

Our commitment

CarerNest is built to be usable by everyone, regardless of ability. We aim to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA, published by the W3C.

Conformance status

We test against WCAG 2.2 AA criteria and address issues as they're identified. Both automated and manual accessibility checks are integrated into our development process, and we run a quarterly third-party audit.

Specific features

• Keyboard navigation: every interactive element on CarerNest is reachable and operable from a keyboard alone. Focus rings are visible against both light and dark themes.
• Screen readers: pages are structured with semantic HTML 5 landmarks. Live regions announce dynamic state changes (booking confirmations, message arrivals, escrow releases).
• Reduced motion: our motion vocabulary respects the user's prefers-reduced-motion CSS media query. Animations reduce to instant transitions for users who prefer it.
• Colour contrast: body text against background clears the 4.5:1 ratio required by WCAG AA. Large text clears 3:1. Verified across our cream/sage/coral/ink palette in both light and dark modes.
• Form labelling: every form field has a programmatically associated label. Required fields are marked with aria-required. Error messages are tied to the offending field via aria-describedby and announced to screen readers.
• Touch targets: every interactive element on the public surface is at least 24×24 CSS pixels (best practice), with 44×44 where space permits.
• Language: pages declare their language on the document root, and inline passages in other languages declare theirs.

Known limitations

• Some legacy support documents (older PDFs of historic policy versions) may not yet be screen-reader friendly. We are working through them.
• On a small number of older mobile devices, our video profiles may render with reduced colour fidelity.
• The chatbot's AI suggestions use colour-coded status indicators that combine colour with text and shape, so colour-blind users still get the information.

Reporting accessibility problems

If you find an accessibility barrier on CarerNest, please email [email protected] or use the in-app Report a problem link from your account menu. We aim to respond within 5 working days.

Alternative access

If you cannot use CarerNest's website or app due to an accessibility issue, you can request:

• A printed copy of any document, by emailing [email protected] or calling +44 800 000 0000.
• Telephone-based support, including help booking a carer, by calling +44 800 000 0000 (Mon–Fri 8am–8pm).
• British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation for important conversations, by emailing [email protected] at least 5 working days in advance.

Enforcement

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the UK's accessibility regulations. If you're unhappy with our response to an accessibility report, you can contact the EHRC at ehrc.gov.uk.