Ask Sheila 
Sheila will try to answer as many of your English Social Care questions as possible, giving priority to frequently asked questions and questions regarding current events and trends.
Are carers required to have business insurance?
Hi, Is it a legal requirement by CQC for domiciliary agencies to ensure all carers have business insurance while conducting their care calls?
Dear Rajiv,
Thank you for your question. All businesses in the UK are expected to have the appropriate insurances in place.
In the case of domiciliary care almost all providers will go to a specialist insurance company and will, I expect, be offered a policy covering:
-Employers’ Liability
-Public Liability
The policy offered may include:
-Medical Malpractice cover
-Professional Indemnity
The following information is taken from the Care Quality Commission website:
Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009: Regulation 13
The intention of this regulation is to require providers to make sure they take all reasonable steps to meet the financial demands of providing safe and appropriate services.
To meet this regulation, providers must have the financial resources needed to provide and continue to provide the services as described in the statement of purpose to the required standards.
CQC cannot prosecute for a breach of this regulation or any of its parts but we can take regulatory action. See the offences section for more detail.
CQC must refuse registration if providers cannot satisfy us that they can and will continue to comply with this regulation.
CQC's guidance says:
13(1)(a) achieving the aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose;
-The provider must have the financial resources needed to provide and continue to provide the services as described in the statement of purpose to the required standards.
-The provider must have insurance and suitable indemnity arrangements to cover potential liabilities arising from death, injury, or other causes, loss or damage to property, and other financial risks.
With best wishes.
Sheila
What would you like to ask Sheila?
Sheila Scott OBE from National Care Association (NCA). Care is Sheila’s life; she possesses a strong command of the issues facing the care sector informed by her long career as a nursing professional, the owner and manager of a care business and as a leader in the care sector.
Sheila will try to answer as many of your questions as possible, giving priority to frequently asked questions and questions regarding current events and trends.
Please note that Sheila can not offer answers to matters requiring legal advice. If your matter concerns a specific service provider, please contact the CQC.
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