The children’s care home sector has welcomed government measures to tackle the recent hikes in employers’ liability compulsory insurance (ELCI), writes Derren Hayes.
The Department for Work and Pensions final report on its review of ELCI said the government wants insurance premiums to “better reflect the health and safety performance of firms”. It will also look at whether fixed fee schemes could be a possibility.
It builds on a recommendation from an earlier phase of the review for insurers and brokers to give longer renewal periods – the length of time insurers give quotes for renewing premiums before cover runs out.
There has been a reduction in the number of insurers prepared to underwrite cover for children's homes because of abuse claims, which have seen premiums double and in some cases triple over the past few years.
A spokesperson for the Association of Independent Child Care Providers said anything that stabilised insurance fees would be welcome.
“This is a vicious circle: we provide services to public bodies and have to put our fees up to councils and the public purse has to pick this up eventually.”
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Details of government consultations
02 October 2008
Private Member Bills
25 July 2008
Government Legislation
25 July 2008
