Why Insurers Are Becoming More Selective
Children’s homes are viewed as specialist risks due to the combination of:
- Vulnerable residents
- Safeguarding responsibilities
- Staff interaction
- Potential allegations
- Property damage exposure
- Complex behavioural challenges
Insurers are now carrying out much deeper underwriting assessments before offering cover.
Areas Underwriters Commonly Review
When assessing a children’s home, insurers will often look closely at:
- Staff ratios
- Overnight supervision
- Behaviour management procedures
- Safeguarding policies
- Training records
- DBS checking procedures
- Fire and security protections
- Claims history
The quality of management and operational procedures can heavily influence insurer appetite.
Abuse Cover Remains a Major Concern
One of the most sensitive areas of insurance for children’s homes is abuse and molestation cover.
Many providers do not realise:
- Policies can contain inner limits
- Cover wording varies significantly
- Certain allegations may trigger complex claims investigations
It is important for providers to fully understand the scope of cover arranged.
Property Damage Claims Continue to Rise
Insurers are also seeing increasing levels of:
- Escape of water claims
- Fire claims
- Deliberate damage
- Vandalism
- Accidental damage caused by residents
This is causing some insurers to increase premiums or impose higher excesses.
The Importance of Specialist Advice
Children’s homes should ideally work with brokers who understand:
- Ofsted requirements
- Care sector underwriting
- Safeguarding exposures
- Insurer appetite within the residential care market
At SRS Insurance, we assist children’s homes and residential care providers throughout the UK with specialist insurance solutions tailored to the sector.
Speak to SRS Insurance Today
Whether you oversee a mosque, synagogue, church, temple or multi-faith centre, SRS Insurance can help review your cover and strengthen your protection.
We will:
- Evaluate your current insurance
- Identify gaps or outdated limits
- Recommend improvements
- Provide a tailored insurance package
- Support risk management and security planning
