1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1.1 In these Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”), the following definitions apply:

• “Ronda Vet Locums” means Ronda Vet Locums Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 16317397 and registered at 1 Kings Avenue, London, United Kingdom, N21 3NA.
• “Data Protection Legislation” encompasses all applicable UK data protection laws, including the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003, as amended.
• “Engagement” refers to the short-term assignments you may apply for directly on the Platform, where Practices post locum veterinary cover opportunities.
• “Locum” refers to you, the individual, partnership, limited company, or entity accessing the Platform.
• “RCVS” means the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
• “Services” are the veterinary services you provide during any Engagement.
• “Platform” refers to the online platform operated by Ronda Vet Locums that facilitates the connection between Locums and Practices.
• “Practices” refers to veterinary practices that post short-term Engagements on the Platform seeking locum veterinary cover.
• “Personal Data” means any information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual, as defined under applicable Data Protection Legislation.
• “Reliability Rate” means the score assigned to you by Ronda Vet Locums reflecting your cancellation history on the Platform, calculated in accordance with clause 9.

1.2 Clause references pertain to these Terms, with headings for clarity only.

2. ACCOUNT AND PLATFORM ACCESS

• 2.1 By signing up for an account on the Platform, you gain access to apply for Engagements posted by Practices seeking short-term locum veterinary cover.
• 2.2 These Terms apply for as long as you have an active account with us.
• 2.3 Ronda Vet Locums reserves the right to suspend or revoke your access to the Platform at any time in the event of misconduct, breach of these Terms, or misuse of the Platform.

3. YOUR OBLIGATIONS

3.1 You agree to:

• Deliver Services with utmost care, skill, and in a professional manner during any Engagement.
• Dedicate sufficient time as necessary for effective Service delivery, barring health disruptions.
• Adhere to health and safety standards and report any risks.
• Comply with all relevant laws and regulations regarding the provision of Services.
• Maintain professional behaviour and avoid actions that could damage the reputation of Ronda Vet Locums or the Practice.

3.2 You acknowledge you are solely responsible for fulfilling the Services in line with professional standards.

3.3 You must provide reasonable notice for the cancellation of any confirmed Engagement. You acknowledge that cancellations may negatively affect your Reliability Rate in accordance with clause 9, with greater impact applied to cancellations made at short notice."

4. QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

• 4.1 You agree at all times to maintain and possess a valid veterinary degree from a recognized institution, be registered with the RCVS, and comply with the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct. You also agree to maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance at your own expense and provide an accurate representation of your qualifications and experience.
• 4.2 You may be required to provide proof of your qualifications, insurance, or RCVS registration upon request.

5. RONDA VET LOCUMS’S OBLIGATIONS

• 5.1 Ronda Vet Locums will:
  • Facilitate the Platform for access and application to Engagements but will not be responsible for any payments to you; this remains the responsibility of the Practices.
  • Ensure an interface to assist in the Engagement process.
  • Follow all applicable laws and regulations regarding the Platform.

6. STATUS

• 6.1 Your relationship with Ronda Vet Locums is solely as an account-holder with access to Platform services. No employment, partnership, agency, joint venture, or other administrative relationship is created by these Terms.
• 6.2 You confirm you are operating as an independent contractor and understand that you are not entitled to employment rights, including holiday pay, sick pay, or pension contributions.
• 6.3 You bear full responsibility for any tax, National Insurance, or professional fees due in relation to your provision of Services through the Platform. Ronda Vet Locums cannot and will not be liable for these matters.
• 6.4 You acknowledge that the responsibility for assessing and determining your employment status for the purposes of the off-payroll working rules (commonly known as “IR35”) rests with the Practice engaging you, not with Ronda Vet Locums. Ronda Vet Locums does not provide tax or employment status advice. You are encouraged to seek independent professional advice regarding your own tax position and to cooperate with any Status Determination Statement (“SDS”) issued to you by a Practice.

7. DATA PROTECTION

• 7.1 During your use of the Platform, Ronda Vet Locums may access or process Personal Data in accordance with its Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference and may be updated from time to time.
• 7.2 You acknowledge that Ronda Vet Locums may monitor, record, review, and analyse messages, communications, and other interactions conducted through the Platform’s messaging tools. Such monitoring is carried out for the following purposes:
  • a) Verifying compliance with these Terms, including the non-circumvention obligations in clause 14;
  • b) Ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and professional conduct of all Platform users;
  • c) Resolving disputes between you and Practices;
  • d) Improving Platform performance, quality of service, and user experience; and
  • e) Meeting any applicable legal or regulatory obligations.
• 7.3 Communications data will be processed in accordance with Ronda Vet Locums’s Privacy Policy and retained only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in clause 7.2 or as required by law. You should not use the Platform’s communications tools to share sensitive personal data beyond what is strictly necessary for arranging and conducting Engagements.
• 7.4 By using the Platform’s communications tools, you are informed of and consent to such monitoring.

8. REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

• 8.1 You and the Practices may submit reviews on the Platform within 6 weeks after the completion of the placement.
• 8.2 You understand and agree that you must offer honest, fair, and constructive feedback in your reviews, and Ronda Vet Locums will ensure that Practices adhere to the same standards.
• 8.3 Ronda Vet Locums may remove or take other actions regarding reviews that are defamatory, abusive, inappropriate, or violate any Platform policy to maintain a constructive environment.
• 8.4 Locums authorize Ronda Vet Locums to use their reviews for business improvements.
• 8.5 This two-way review system is intended to promote transparency, enhance service quality, and facilitate fair negotiations between you and Practices.

9. RELIABILITY RATE

• 9.1 Ronda Vet Locums operates a Reliability Rate system for both Locums and Practices. The Reliability Rate is a score reflecting your cancellation history on the Platform. Its purpose is to promote accountability, support informed decision-making by Practices, and maintain the overall quality and integrity of the Platform.
• 9.2 Your Reliability Rate is calculated solely on the basis of your cancellation history, reflecting the frequency and timing of shift cancellations. Greater weight is given to last-minute or repeated cancellations.
• 9.3 Your Reliability Rate will be visible to Practices browsing the Platform or considering you for an Engagement.
• 9.4 Where your Reliability Rate falls below thresholds determined by Ronda Vet Locums from time to time, the following consequences may apply:
  • a) Reduced visibility of your profile to Practices on the Platform;
  • b) Restrictions on your ability to apply for Engagements or access certain Platform features; and/or
  • c) Suspension or termination of your account in accordance with clause 13.
• 9.5 Where your Reliability Rate falls below the applicable minimum threshold, Ronda Vet Locums will endeavour to notify you and provide a reasonable opportunity to address the contributing factors before imposing restrictions on your account.
• 9.6 If you believe your Reliability Rate has been incorrectly calculated, or that a specific cancellation has been unfairly recorded, you may contact Ronda Vet Locums at contact@ronda.vet to request a review. Ronda Vet Locums will consider such requests in good faith but does not guarantee any particular outcome. The decision of Ronda Vet Locums following a review shall be final.

10. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

• 10.1 You are obligated to maintain professional indemnity insurance (such as VDS cover) at your own expense for the entire duration of your use of the Platform, unless such coverage is explicitly provided by the Practice for the engagement.

11. FEES

• 11.1 Locum fees are agreed upon directly between you and the Practices through the Platform. You are responsible for submitting accurate timesheets (if required by the Practice) and for resolving any disputes regarding your fees.
• 11.2 Ronda Vet Locums does not charge Locums any fee for using the Platform to apply for Engagements.
• 11.3 If an Engagement arranged through the Platform results in a permanent or fixed-term employment contract between you and the Practice, Ronda Vet Locums will pay you a one-time success bonus of £300. To qualify, you must notify Ronda Vet Locums in writing within 7 days of signing the employment contract. Payment of the bonus is subject to verification of the placement and will be issued within 30 days of confirmation.

12. CONFIDENTIALITY

• 12.1 You agree to keep confidential any non-public information you receive during your work with a Practice, including but not limited to client information, records, treatment plans, pricing, and any business-sensitive information. This confidentiality obligation applies to any information obtained directly or indirectly while providing Services and shall continue even after your engagement with the Practice ends. You also agree not to disclose any such information to third parties or use it for personal or commercial benefit outside the scope of your work.

13. ACCOUNT SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION

• 13.1 Ronda Vet Locums reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account if you breach any of these obligations, fail to maintain qualifications or professional standards, engage in abusive behaviour, or if there are persistent complaints from one or more Practices about your performance or behaviour.

14. DIRECT PRACTICE CONTACT

• 14.1 If a Practice you have previously worked with through the Platform contacts you directly to arrange further work outside the Platform within twelve (12) months of your last completed shift, you must notify Ronda Vet Locums immediately. You agree not to accept or arrange any engagement with that Practice outside the Platform during this period without prior written consent from Ronda Vet Locums. Failure to report such contact or to comply with this obligation may result in the suspension or termination of your access to the Platform.
• 14.2 This clause is intended to avoid circumvention of the Platform and ensure transparency in the obligations.

15. MARKETPLACE ROLE CLARIFICATION

• 15.1 Ronda Vet Locums serves as a facilitator, helping match Practices and Locums through its Platform. Ronda Vet Locums is not a party to contracts between you and Practices.
• 15.2 You understand that Practices are solely responsible for the payment to you for the Services provided. Ronda Vet Locums neither handles payments nor is liable for any related disputes.
• 15.3 Ronda Vet Locums cannot and will not advise on or influence the terms of agreements between you and Practices, focusing instead on providing a secure and efficient space for these connections to occur.
• 15.4 Ronda Vet Locums reserves the right to restrict or terminate your account if you attempt to arrange off-platform bookings or engage in other practices that abuse or circumvent the Platform’s intended use.
• 15.5 Ronda Vet Locums does not guarantee Engagements, minimum income, or shift availability.

16. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY

• 16.1 Ronda Vet Locums’s liability under or in connection with these Terms, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall not exceed the total Fee you paid for using the Platform in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.
• 16.2 Ronda Vet Locums shall not be liable for any indirect, special, or consequential loss or damage, or any loss of profit, revenue, or business opportunity.
• 16.3 Ronda Vet Locums does not take responsibility for your professional performance or any damages resulting from your services. Similarly, Ronda Vet Locums is not liable if a practice fails to pay you, though assistance may be offered in communication where necessary.

17. INDEMNITY

• 17.1 You shall indemnify and hold harmless Ronda Vet Locums against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages, and losses (including professional costs and expenses) suffered or incurred arising out of or in connection with your breach of these Terms.

18. RIGHT TO REQUEST PROOF

• 18.1 Ronda Vet Locums reserves the right to request evidence of your qualifications, insurance, or RCVS registration at any time and may suspend your access for failure to comply.

19. FORCE MAJEURE

• 19.1 Ronda Vet Locums shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, or internet outages.

20. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• 20.1 Entire Agreement: These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and representations, whether oral or written.
• 20.2 Amendments: No amendment or variation of these Terms shall be effective unless posted on the Platform or otherwise communicated to you in writing, and your continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance.
• 20.3 Waivers: No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right or remedy.
• 20.4 Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
• 20.5 Governing Law: These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms.