What Is Domiciliary Care?
Domiciliary care refers to care and support provided to clients in their own homes, rather than in a residential care setting, covering services from personal care to companionship and practical support for elderly or vulnerable individuals.
What Domiciliary Care Insurance Typically Covers
- Public liability, for injury or property damage claims arising during care visits
- Employers' liability, a legal requirement for care staff
- Medical malpractice or professional liability, for care and treatment provided
- Personal accident cover for staff, given the lone working nature of home visits
- Travel and vehicle-related cover for staff moving between appointments
Lone Working and Staff Travel
Unlike residential care, domiciliary care staff typically work alone in clients' homes and travel frequently between appointments. This creates distinct risk considerations around personal safety, vehicle use, and liability while working unsupervised in private homes.
Regulatory Requirements
Domiciliary care providers in the UK are typically regulated in a similar way to residential care providers, and insurers often expect evidence of relevant regulatory compliance and appropriate staff training and vetting.
Working in Clients' Homes
Frequently Asked Questions About Domiciliary Care Insurance UK
What does domiciliary care insurance cover?
Typically public and employers' liability, medical malpractice or professional liability, and cover addressing the lone working and travel nature of home care.
How is domiciliary care insurance different from care home insurance?
Domiciliary care insurance addresses risks specific to care delivered in clients' own homes, such as lone working and staff travel, rather than a fixed residential setting.
Do care staff need their own vehicle insurance?
If using a personal vehicle for work travel between appointments, staff typically need business use car insurance rather than standard social, domestic and pleasure cover.
Is medical malpractice cover necessary for domiciliary care?
Given the personal care and sometimes medical tasks involved, professional liability or medical malpractice cover is an important consideration.
Does domiciliary care insurance cover damage to a client's property?
This depends on your specific policy, check whether accidental damage during care activities in a client's home is included.
Conclusion
Domiciliary care insurance reflects the distinctive risks of delivering care in clients' own homes, from lone working to staff travel and professional liability. Providers should ensure cover specifically addresses these home-based, mobile working conditions rather than relying on generic business insurance.
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