Insurance


are primarily premises cover and liabilities insurance, which typically include public liability insurance and employer’s liability insurance. For companies operating with a


Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of Good or above, cover can be arranged without issue. However, for those businesses that ‘require improvement’, it is a different story with little choice available, if any at all. We recommend that businesses who


find themselves in this predicament create a comprehensive plan of action to put right the elements that need attention. Being able to demonstrate that you are making the required changes will help you to arrange the cover you need. At Barnes Commercial, we work


closely with all our clients to help them develop their plans to mitigate risk, whether highlighted in a report or not. Working closely with an insurance broker who has experience of the sector can bring peace of mind and ensure that the right cover is in place for optimum protection. During the pandemic our approach


has been about adapting and trying to stay ahead of the market changes in order to offer an honest, informative and consultative approach to providing insurance to the care industry. Prior to Covid-19, we would have


visited a care home to get a greater understanding of risk potential before providing our advice and quotation. Meeting with the owners or decision makers to have an in-depth chat about what matters most to them ensures advice is tailored, and allows us to create a suitable insurance programme for optimal risk mitigation.


With face-to-face visits off the table,


we have had to be flexible in our approach: we offer online video calls, good, old-fashioned telephone calls, or email communications - whatever is most convenient. It is important that our clients can still


benefit from our specialist industry knowledge to get the guidance they need, because getting the right cover in place is paramount to any care home provider – for their staff, their residents and themselves.


Insurance advice for providers of elderly care Thankfully there are still some insurers who will provide insurance for the care sector and at affordable premiums. Packages are available for care homes in any setting, including elderly care, with a turnover of up to £5m and can be purchased via reputable brokers. Barnes Commercial offers a ‘Business


Essentials’ package, which has been specifically created for the care home sector, and includes cover for management liability (director’s and officer’s insurance), which is quite hard to come by these days. We expect to see broader insurance packages returning as the pandemic abates and the approved vaccines are rolled out. My advice to care homes owners


during these extraordinary times to mitigate risk is ensuring that you keep up to date with government and CQC guidelines. Create safeguarding practices, write


them up and share with all members of your team so everyone knows the procedures to follow and how to manage a crisis effectively. If following an


inspection any issues are raised, ensure an action is put in place and any remedial actions are taken immediately. Review and improve cleaning regimes


to ensure they are robust and comply with government guidelines. Consider hiring the services of companies with specialist air purifying machines to help with air circulation and ventilation. Try to avoid using agency staff if


possible because the change can be unsettling for elderly residents and there is more potential for the virus to be brought into your workplace. If you do use a care agency, make sure you carry out due diligence and check they have employment liability and medical malpractice insurance for their staff. If you employ new staff, ensure they


are fully trained and put procedures in place to facilitate ongoing training for all employees. Make sure you carry out thorough background checks for new team members, or suppliers. In summary, it is all about general good


management and an ability to manage risk effectively. Take the time to look at all areas of your business and identify where you are open to risk, putting measures in place to allow business continuity should the unexpected occur.


TCHE


Matthew Dale


Matthew Dale is an account executive at Barnes Commercial Insurance Broker working closely with clients in the care home sector. Matthew is passionate about managing business risk and recommending the right insurance policies to meet needs for now and for the future. A Cert CII-qualified professional with over ten years of experience in the insurance industry, he gained his wealth of knowledge working with well-known brokers and as an account executive in a wholesale environment.


February 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 15


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