Responding to issues raised by personal assistants (PAs), their employers, local authorities and service support groups, Fish has launched a new public liability policy to protect PAs and carers.
      
The move comes amid increasing concern regarding PAs who advise they are self employed. Such scenarios mean service users believe they need not take out employers liability insurance as their PA is not an employee.  However it important that self employed PAs take out public liability insurance to protect themselves those they care for and the public. However, the distinction between being employed and self employed is not necessarily clearly defined. This grey area is causing worry among social care professionals and service users with real concerns expressed that both PA and service user may both end up without insurance protection.

Reacting to these concerns Fish’s new policy provides PAs with up to £5m public liability cover,   regardless of their employment status. In addition it protects against a key risk which other policies typically do not - errors and omissions in the provision of medical treatment. Designed to serve the specific needs of PAs and carers it also includes cover for accidental damage and personal accident. It also extends protection to public and local authorities by including ‘indemnity to principal.’ This means that that they are covered in the same way as the policyholder providing they comply with the policy’s requirements.

Priced at only £89 per year – less than £2 a week - it therefore provides protection and reassurance not just to PAs but service users and those that support them.

“Through our discussion with a variety of people involved in or receiving support under independent living initiatives we identified an area of real concern,” commented Fish’s sales and marketing director, Warren Dickson. “PAs need to ensure they are adequately protected because their role exposes them to particular risks. Their role may, for example, involve giving medication and many policies currently on the market simply do not protect against the possibility of human error in performing such a vital, day-to-day task. By designing cover to meet the specific needs of PAs, irrespective of whether they are defined as employed or self employed, we have successfully addressed the concerns of care providers, care recipients and the professionals who advise them.  ”

To download an application form for the new Carer and PA Policy , click here or to view  the policy wording click here.



Please note this policy is designed as a complement to, not a replacement for, employer’s liability insurance