Insurance if you need it
Our membership offers a range of support services to make life easier and know there’s back up when you need it – if the worst happens and for some reason, someone makes a claim against you, or you face de-approval from being a Shared Lives carer. If you choose full membership of Shared Lives Plus, public liability insurance is included.
If you already have public liability insurance, you can choose to be a basic carer member. But you need to check your insurer understands your role as a Shared Lives carer, should someone make a claim against you.
We don’t sell insurance ourselves, and we aren’t qualified to give financial advice. Everyone’s circumstances are different, so always take independent, expert, qualified advice before buying insurance.
Full membership with us includes:
Our membership and carer support team, all our other membership benefits
and:
Legal expenses – up to £100,000
• Assistance from specialist solicitors in response and in appeal of de-approval issues
• General legal advice
• Tax advice
Public liability insurance – up to £10m
A 10% discount on specialist household contents insurance (see below)
What is public liability insurance?
Find out why the Association of British Insurers recommends public liability insurance (giveaway – it covers you if someone makes a claim against you/sues you while being self-employed or running a business).
Why do Shared Lives carers need public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance protects Shared Lives carers from claims from a third party (someone else), arising from personal injury or property damage to a third party as a result of alleged negligence on your part.
When you care for an elderly or disabled person you may be legally liable, should someone else suffer a loss or be injured as a result of the actions of the person in your care, or under your supervision.
The public liability insurance that is included in full membership is arranged by Towergate who have many years of understanding the unique nature of family-based Shared Lives care and have developed a policy which provides effective and broad cover.
Towergate’s Public Liability policy also includes cover for Shared Lives carers being sued by a service user for abuse cover for physical, mental or financial losses.
Towergate only offer PLI to current Shared Lives Plus carer members who are operating within the definition of Shared Lives care by Shared Lives Plus.
Files:
“It was really good to have someone to talk to who actually knew how things worked and could give really helpful advice. ”
House and contents insurance
It is a good idea to take out home contents insurance to cover your possessions against fire, theft and other risks, such as accidental damage. If something happens to destroy or damage your possessions, it can cost a lot of money to replace them items, some of which may be essential.
Our partners Towergate can arrange tailored household insurance which recognises the person who lives with you as a member of your family instead of a tenant. This means you are covered for accidental damages just as you would be for a relative. Other insurers may not view the person you are supporting as part of your family, and may see them as a tenant instead, invalidating the insurance.
Towergate’s specialist care household insurance policies include as standard:
- Accidental damage by the service user within the home
- Buildings cover includes any mobility home modifications
- Personal Liability is extended to include service users
- Resident and respite service user’s belongings
- Items taken away from the home including wheelchairs and other disability aids
- Identity Theft assistance and Property Emergency cover as standard.
Put your mind at rest and get contents insurance with Towergate who have arranged specialist insurance for Shared Lives carers. You can get up to 10% discount on your current insurers’ rates for the first year – you’ll be fully covered with no surprises. Find their details in your members’ account.
