How are Home Carers Insured? What Families Need to Know
Arranging care at home comes with many decisions and insurance is one that’s often overlooked. Whether your carer is employed through an agency or hired privately, it’s important to understand what protections are in place for everyone involved.
In this guide, we’ll explain how home carers are insured, what it means for you, and how Trinity ensures peace of mind every step of the way.
Why is insurance important?
Even with the most experienced carers, accidents can happen. Home care can involve everything from personal care and mobility support to lifting, administering medication or simply moving around a busy home environment. That means there’s always a risk of injury or damage no matter how careful everyone is.
Insurance helps protect you legally and financially if something unexpected occurs. For example, if a carer were injured while supporting your loved one, or if a client’s property was accidentally damaged during care, the right insurance makes sure everyone is protected. Understanding these risks and how they’re covered can give families peace of mind and avoid costly disputes down the line.
What if I hire a carer privately?
Hiring a private carer may give you more flexibility, but it also comes with more responsibility. If you employ a carer directly, you may legally be classed as their employer — which means you’re responsible for arranging the correct insurance and ensuring proper safeguards are in place.
In most cases, you’ll need to consider:
- Employers’ liability insurance, which is a legal requirement in the UK if you employ someone and protects against injury claims made by your carer.
- Public liability insurance, which covers damage or injury caused by the carer while on your property.
- Cover for redundancy or notice period payments, in case circumstances change suddenly.
Without these policies, you may be left personally liable for medical costs, legal fees or loss of income if something goes wrong. That’s why many families choose fully managed care for peace of mind and protection.
What insurance does Trinity Homecare provide?
As a fully managed and CQC-rated ‘Outstanding’ provider, Trinity Homecare takes full responsibility for the carers we employ and the service we deliver and that includes comprehensive insurance cover. Unlike introductory agencies where families may need to arrange or check insurance themselves, Trinity handles it all for you.
We maintain the following insurance on your behalf:
- Public liability insurance, which covers accidental injury to third parties or damage to property.
- Employers’ liability insurance, which protects against claims made by carers who are injured or fall ill in the course of their work.
- Professional indemnity insurance, which covers claims arising from professional advice or care provided.
This means you don’t have to worry about hidden gaps or additional costs. Your loved one, your carer and your home are all protected as part of our service.
What insurance should self-employed carers have?
If you’re hiring a self-employed carer — such as through an introductory agency or privately — they are typically responsible for arranging their own insurance. Before bringing someone into your home, it’s important to ask what policies they have in place and request proof of cover.
Key types of insurance they should hold include:
- Public liability insurance, to cover accidents, injury or property damage while working in your home.
- Professional indemnity insurance, to protect against claims of inadequate or negligent care.
- Personal accident insurance, which helps support the carer financially if they suffer an injury while working.
If your carer does not hold these policies, any claim made could become your financial responsibility — so don’t be afraid to ask questions or request documentation.
Other useful considerations
There are other types of cover worth reviewing when someone is living or working in your home:
- Car insurance – if a carer will be driving your vehicle, make sure they’re listed as a named driver on your policy.
- Home insurance – notify your insurer that a carer will be staying in the property, especially for live-in care. While many policies won’t need changing, failing to notify them could invalidate future claims.
- Contents and building insurance – if damage is caused during care, your policy may cover it, but conditions may apply.
- Medical equipment insurance – if specialist items are used for your loved one’s care, such as mobility aids or monitoring devices, separate cover can protect against theft or damage.
Checking these details before care begins can help avoid complications later on.
How Trinity brings peace of mind
At Trinity, we manage every aspect of your care journey, including the details that are often overlooked. That’s why every carer we employ is fully insured, trained and supervised, with quality checks and ongoing support from our team.
Our ultimate goal is to enrich your lifestyle in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. This allows you to live the independent lifestyle that you love without the daunting thought of moving into a care home. We are here to support you with various different forms of live-in care.
Talk to our team today
Call us now on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
