PIF Membership Terms & Conditions

Introduction

The Patient Information Forum (PIF) provides a Membership Service for people involved in health information and support.

There are two member key categories:

General membership

  • Access guidance and support documents via the website
  • Attend webinars and discounted training sessions
  • Receive regular updates, via a newsletter and email alerts
  • Ask questions of, and receive feedback, from the membership body
  • Receive feedback on information

 

PIF  TICK membership

PIF TICK membership includes standard member benefits and assessment and certification of information producers under the PIF TICK quality mark for health information.

By registering and using the membership service you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

 

Registration and Membership

  1. A Member is anyone who registers on the PIF website, as an individual or as part of their organisation, who has paid any appropriate membership fee.
  2. PIF reserves the right at all times and at its absolute discretion to accept or reject applications for Membership as it feels appropriate.
  3. Upon registration you will become a Member of PIF and gain access to PIF membership services (including the Member-only section of the website and have the option to opt in to receive the weekly e-newsletter – PIF Aware).
  4. Membership is for a limited period and to continue Membership you must pay a subscription fee when prompted.
  5. PIF may terminate your Membership in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, and you shall not be entitled to a refund of any part of the subscription fee paid or payable.
  6. Membership fees are reviewed annually and any change will be notified to Members in writing, via email.

 

PIF TICK Membership

  1. Applicants for PIF TICK must submit their application via the online assessment system within a reasonable time of joining the scheme.
  2. Following a successful assessment members will be eligible for PIF TICK.
  3. Once certified the PIF TICK logo should appear on all information created using the approved process following usage guidance supplied.
  4. Members should include a link to piftick.org.uk next to the PIF TICK logo to enable members of the public to find out more about the scheme.
  5. PIF will include certified members in the member directory (updated every six months) and on the appropriate page at pifonline.org.uk and piftick.org.uk
  6. Assessment under the scheme is an annual requirement.  PIF will select members for either a process assessment or an information assessment. PIF reserves the right to withdraw certification following failed assessments.
  7. Complaints: PIF will moderate complaints about PIF TICK certified information with the member involved and the complainant. Members will be given an initial opportunity to respond to the complaint.
  8. Renewal fees are annual: If either renewal fees are not paid or renewal assessments are not conducted within three months of their due date membership will automatically cease.
  9. Once membership has ceased, the PIF TICK logo can no longer be added to new information. It must also be removed from any email signatures or website footers.
  10. Any information with the PIF TICK logo already on it must have the logo removed at its next review or after 3 years from production (whichever is earlier).
  11. PIF reserves the right to update the PIF TICK criteria to ensure the scheme continues to reflect best practice in the sector. Members will be given a reasonable time to meet new requirements.

 

Refunds

  1. Membership subscriptions are non-refundable.
  2. Membership can be substituted by another individual within the same organisation in some circumstances. Please contact info@pifonline.org.uk to request this.

 

Membership area

  1. Members can use their Membership login to enter the Member-only area of the website.
  2. Upon registration, the admin of a Group Membership may invite up to 9 team members to join their Group Membership so they can access member only content and PIF TICK criteria resources.
  3. Information held on the PIF Members’ Area pages is subject to the PIF Privacy Policy.

 

Members’ Responsibilities

PIF members benefit most from their membership when they support and learn from one another. To do this it is important that you share some information about yourself and your work, and that there is an element of trust between Members. 

We strongly encourage you to contribute, discuss and comment. However, it is also important to be safe and respectful. Your responsibilities as a Member are that:

  1. All registration details that the Member provides to us are true and correct and you will keep the information updated.
  2. You agree that your data can be shared on our Members page (your name if you are a freelancer or organisation if you are a group).
  3. You are responsible for all the information which you post, upload or display on the Website, and will only upload information that you own all intellectual property rights to, or that you have a licence / permission from the owner.
  4. You will not post any material which is false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, harassing, obscene, threatening, invasive of a person’s privacy, pornographic, or otherwise in violation of any UK laws relating to on-line conduct and with any applicable international laws.
  5. You will not upload, post or otherwise display any content which contains software viruses, or any that contains chain letters, bulk mail, junk mail, spam or similar.
  6. You will not post any material or comments which make any commercial endorsement, or promote any commercial product, service, event or publication not directly relevant to the discussion.
  7. You are solely responsible for how you interact with other users of the Website.
  8. You agree to indemnify us in full and on demand against any loss, damage, costs or expenses which we suffer or incur directly or indirectly as a result of your use of the Website and the Membership Service.
  9. It is your responsibility to keep your password and log-in details confidential.  Our security measures depend on you complying with this obligation, and we are not responsible for any breach of your privacy due to your failure either to keep your password/membership number secure.
  10. Other Members may also see and use the personal data you make available in the member listing. Think carefully about the information you disclose. Do not make any information public which you do not want other Members to see.
  11. If you have a concern about how another Member is using your personal data, or if you think it is being used in breach of these Terms, please report this via info@pifonline.org.uk.
  12. You acknowledge that the Internet is not a completely secure medium, and we therefore cannot be responsible for breaches of security arising out of intentional and/or unauthorised attempts to access the Website, for example, by computer hackers.
  13. Amended Terms and Conditions shall become effective as soon as they are placed upon the Website and your continued use of the Website and the Membership Service constitutes acceptance by you of the updated terms.

 

PIF’s Responsibilities

  1. PIF may delete, edit, lock, move or remove any content without notice and for any reason and/or to record the IP address from which any content is posted, uploaded or displayed without notice and for any reason, (including, without limitation) content which is in breach of these Terms.
  2. If you are in breach of any of these Terms, PIF may reveal your identity or any other related information collected on this service, and to the extent that such action constitutes processing for the purpose of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) you hereby consent to such processing.
  3. PIF disclaims all liability whatsoever whether arising in contract, tort (a wrongful act, whether intentional or accidental, from which injury occurs to another including negligence) as a result of or in connection with the Website and/or the Membership Service including the online assessment portal for any economic loss, loss of goodwill or reputation, or special or indirect or consequential loss or otherwise and all implied warranties relating to the Website and the Membership Service.  In particular PIF accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage sustained by you as a result, directly or indirectly arising out of:
    – conduct of any user of the Website
    – any technical or other failure of the Website
    – any dealings that you have with any users of the Website and/or the Membership Service
    – any subsequent arrangements, contracts, agreements or business – relationships that you enter into with any person (whether a Member or otherwise) as a result of, or facilitated by your use of the Website or Membership Service.
  4. If PIF is found to be liable to you directly or indirectly in relation to the Website or the Membership Service that liability shall be limited to the annual Subscription Fee.
  5. We will respect the privacy of your data which you supply to us in accordance with our Privacy Policy which forms part of these Terms and Conditions, and in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and any other applicable data protection legislation.
  6. We will use your data to administer your Membership, the Events you attend and any CPD credits applied for.
  7. We are not responsible for the use made of your personal data by other Members who access it through the Website.
  8. PIF complies with relevant anti-bribery legislation.
  9. We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time at our discretion.

 

Contact

Questions, comments and requests regarding these Terms and Conditions should be addressed via the contact us page.

 

Reviewed September 2023.