Domiciliary Care Agency Insurance
Specialist Insurance for Home Care & Staffing Agencies
Domiciliary care staffing agencies face unique risks when placing carers into people’s homes, care homes and supported-living environments. With increasing scrutiny from the CQC, local authorities and private clients, having the right insurance in place is essential.
At Professional Liability Brokers (PLB), we arrange specialist insurance for:
• Home care agencies
• Domiciliary care staffing providers
• Temporary and permanent care worker placements
• Nursing and social care agencies
• Supported living and community care providers
Why Domiciliary Care Agencies Need Specialist Insurance
As a domiciliary care or staffing agency you are responsible for the carers you supply and the services they provide in people’s homes.
A single allegation of negligence, abuse or poor safeguarding can result in: 
• Regulatory action by the CQC
• Contract termination by local authorities
• Claims from service users or their families
• Damage to your reputation and loss of income
Suitable insurance is now a standard requirement for:
• CQC registration and inspection
• Local authority framework agreements
• NHS and care-home contracts
• Private clients looking for assurance that you are properly insured
What Insurance Cover Does a Domiciliary Care Agency Need?
Core Liability Covers
Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI)
Covers allegations of professional mistakes, poor placement decisions, breach of duty, errors in care planning or failure to safeguard service users. Includes vicarious liability for supplied personnel placed with your clients. PI only responds where the agency is legally liable for a negligent act, error or omission in the professional service provided.
Public Liability Insurance (PL)
Covers the agency’s legal liability for accidental injury to service users, visitors or members of the public, or damage to their property, arising from your business activities where the agency or its staff are found to be legally liable, always subject to policy terms and conditions.
Employers’ Liability Insurance (EL)
A legal requirement for most care agencies and employers alike. Employers’ Liability covers injury, illness, disease or death sustained by employees arising out of or in connection with their work, where the employer is held legally liable.
Malpractice Liability
Protects the agency’s legal liability for bodily injury arising from domiciliary care tasks, such as help with medication administration (as prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional), moving and handling, mobility assistance, personal care and other routine support activities.
This cover does not extend to clinical nursing, medical procedures, diagnostics or any excluded professional healthcare activities.
Care-Specific Extensions
Abuse Extension
Covers the agency’s legal liability for allegations of physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse by carers or staff, subject to policy terms and conditions.
Loss of Registration Extension
Provides cover for loss of income if your CQC registration is suspended or withdrawn following an insured event, helping to protect your business while remedial action is taken.
Theft/Loss of Keys Extension
Covers the cost of replacing locks and keys if carers lose clients’ keys or access fobs.
Business Interruption & Property
Protection for your office premises, contents, computer equipment and loss of revenue following an insured incident.
Insurance & CQC Requirements for Domiciliary Care Providersour Heading Text Here
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) expects providers to demonstrate that they have:
• Suitable indemnity arrangements in place for the services they provide
• Adequate protection for staff and service users
• Appropriate arrangements for safeguarding and risk management
Most domiciliary care agencies are expected to maintain, as a minimum:
• Professional Indemnity Insurance
• Public Liability Insurance
• Employers’ Liability Insurance
Many local authority contracts and framework agreements also specify:
• Abuse and molestation cover
• Clear vicarious liability for agency workers
• Minimum limits of indemnity (often £5m/£10m or higher for PL/EL)
• Cover for medication administration and moving & handling tasks
We will work with you to ensure your insurance meets CQC expectations and the specific wording required by local authority and care-home contracts.
Typical Insurance Requirements for Domiciliary Care Agencies
Domiciliary care agencies carry a range of risks depending on the type of support they provide. The summary below links typical activities to the key insurance covers that are usually expected by commissioners, CQC and contract partners. It is a guide only – individual requirements will vary.
| Activity / Exposure | Is Insurance Required? | Recommended Cover | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal care (washing, dressing, toileting) | Yes | PI, PL & EL | Covered under Professional Indemnity and Malpractice (care-related tasks) for injury to service users. Injuries to carers fall under EL; damage to third-party property under PL. |
| Medication assistance / prompting | Yes | PI & Malpractice | Important where carers support service users with prescribed medicines in line with care plans and local policies. Covers liability for negligent errors in domiciliary care tasks, not clinical prescribing. |
| Moving & handling (hoisting, transfers, mobility support) | Yes | EL & PL | Injuries to workers fall under EL; injuries to service users and damage to property are normally addressed under PL where the agency is legally liable. |
| Live-in or 24-hour care | Yes | PI & PL | Higher exposure due to extended time in the client’s home. Robust PI and PL limits are usually expected by commissioners and families alike. |
| Dementia and challenging behaviour | Yes | Abuse, PI & PL | Safeguarding and abuse cover are essential for vulnerable clients. PI/PL respond to allegations of negligent care or failure to protect service users, subject to policy terms. |
| Access to clients’ homes (holding keys / fobs) | Yes | Theft of Keys Extension | Covers the cost of replacing locks and keys if carers lose clients’ keys or fobs, subject to policy limits and conditions. |
| Nursing-related tasks (where permitted) | Sometimes | Malpractice & PI | Only where such tasks are expressly permitted, within the carer’s competence and within policy scope. Does not extend to clinical nursing, diagnostics or invasive medical procedures. |
| Recruitment and supply of care personnel | Yes | PI with Vicarious Liability | Covers the agency’s responsibility for the conduct and competence of staff supplied to clients, including placements via local authorities or care providers, subject to policy terms and conditions. |
Note: This table is a general guide only. Insurance requirements depend on your precise activities, contracts and regulatory obligations. Cover is always subject to the individual policy terms, conditions, exclusions and limits agreed with insurers.