Public liability insurance for carer?

ceewash

I am looking to appoint a self employed carer a few hours a week for my mother. Does she or do I need to get insurance? I assume the answer is yes but not sure what exactly we need.

chapea

When I had direct payments through council we had to have public liability insurance 

they recommended Fish Insurance which we used about 3 years ago it was £135 per year 

p00hsticks

Worth checking to see if it's something covered by the house insurance ?
I think ours includes public liability insurance for people on the property but I've never looked into the conditions / exclusions

DullGreyGuy

ceewash said:

I am looking to appoint a self employed carer a few hours a week for my mother. Does she or do I need to get insurance? I assume the answer is yes but not sure what exactly we need.

The carer should have appropriate insurances for their business which is likely to include public liability but its not a legal mandate that they have to have it; obviously you can choose to make it mandatory if you want.

You may need employers liability insurance or may want public liability insurance, depending on the exact terms of the persons engagement. You should check your Home insurance, assuming she lives with you, as these both may already be provided for via that. 

ceewash

chapea said:

When I had direct payments through council we had to have public liability insurance 

they recommended Fish Insurance which we used about 3 years ago it was £135 per year 

Thanks I've had a look at Fish. Seems reasonable. You never know how good they are until you need them, which I hope I never do.

ceewash

ceewash said:

chapea said:

When I had direct payments through council we had to have public liability insurance 

they recommended Fish Insurance which we used about 3 years ago it was £135 per year 

Thanks I've had a look at Fish. Seems reasonable. You never know how good they are until you need them, which I hope I never do.

I think I'll be using this Thanks 

ceewash

The Fish policy refers to the carer as an employee. Would she be classed as an employee even if she is self employed.

DullGreyGuy

ceewash said:

The Fish policy refers to the carer as an employee. Would she be classed as an employee even if she is self employed.

No, employee and self employed are not the same thing however it may be questionable if she isnt actually an employee... though at a few hours a week its more likely she could be