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Do I Need Insurance For A Nanny?

When entering into a relationship with a great new nanny, even with the absolute best of intentions on all sides, we all know that accidents can happen. Some due diligence when it comes to covering ourselves can give everyone peace of mind.

 

Our relationship with our nanny is one of immense trust, as we leave our children, our home and sometimes a vehicle in the care of another person. We don’t want to imagine that something bad might occur, but as we all know children are notoriously clumsy as they play and explore, and it only takes an absent-minded moment for something untoward to happen. Insurance can be a great option to give everyone the confidence that should an accident take place, we are all covered. Let’s look at some of the options available when it comes to insurance, building a sense of security between us and our trusted nanny.

 

Understanding Ofsted Registration, and Deciding Whether It’s Important To You

 

Nannies may choose to register with Ofsted which is the government Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Nannies referred to by Ofsted as “home childcarers”, can make a voluntary application to be added to the national Childcare Register. This registration is not obligatory and requires payment of annual fees, the meeting of certain criteria such as childcare qualifications, first aid training and a criminal record check, plus taking out a personal liability insurance policy. All of this may sound daunting but can be useful to a nanny because registration offers a certain level of assurance for potential clients. Some insurers offer discounts to childcare professionals who are listed in the Childcare Register, and parents wishing to use childcare vouchers can only do so with Ofsted registered nannies. You can choose what credentials you look for in a nanny and whether Ofsted registration is something that you might prefer in potential candidates.

 

Insurance can be a great option to give everyone the confidence that should an accident take place.

 

What Is Personal Liability Insurance And Who Should Have It?

 

Personal Liability insurance is basically a policy designed to protect us should something go wrong when we are in a position of responsibility. This kind of policy is legally obliged for employers who are going to have a nanny working in their home. It is not obligatory for the nanny, but is a very sensible investment and can be considered best practice.

 

For you as an employer, your insurance policy means that should an incident occur, for example, something in your home breaks and causes an injury to your nanny; you are covered for any potential legal fees or costs. Many insurers can add this type of employer’s liability insurance to your existing household policy which may reduce the costs.

 

For your nanny, insurance of this nature means that should something happen to one of your children or your property and they are deemed to be at fault, they will receive the same legal and financial coverage. Personal liability insurance is not expensive, running at as little as between 60-80 pounds a year. This kind of policy can offer clear conscience for everyone as your nanny focuses on building a thriving, constructive relationship with your children and a strong working relationship with you.

 

Circumstances That Your Insurance Policy May Not Cover

 

It is important to recognise what your personal liability insurance policy covers and what it may not. For example, if your nanny will be driving your children to and from school in their own vehicle it is likely that their public liability policy will not be sufficient. In this case, they will need to contact the insurance company that provides their car insurance and amend their policy, noting that they will be using their vehicle in a professional capacity and carrying children. If your nanny is going to be driving one of your own vehicles it is necessary to ensure their name is on your own vehicle insurance policy. Always check with your insurer to make sure that nothing has been missed.

 

Your nanny’s insurance policy may, or may not, cover time spent with the children outside of your home. Equally, if your nanny travels with you abroad the policy may not be valid. Consider carefully what activities your nanny is likely to undertake when arranging your policy, and if you realise that you have further insurance needs down the road, you can always request additions be made to your policy, as and when any new circumstances arise.

 

It is also worth noting that some insurance policies cover claims that are made retrospectively. For example, if you have changed or cancelled your insurance but something arises relating to an incident that took place while the old policy was active, some insurers will honour the cover. This and all terms and conditions such as the excess value or your policies must be carefully thought through whenever investing in insurance. Once all of that is out of the way, you can feel totally confident in the level of cover you can rely on should the need ever arise.

April 5, 2019

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