What Insurance Does a Care Home Legally Need in the UK?
22nd May 2026
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What Insurance Does a Care Home Legally Need in the UK? Running a care home is about people first, but it is also a regulated
ALDIUM Insurance
Specialist insurance designed specifically for domiciliary care agencies and home care providers across the UK — protecting your business, your staff, and the clients in your care.
Domiciliary care insurance is a specialist insurance package designed specifically to meet the needs of domiciliary care agencies, home care providers, and personal assistants delivering care in clients' own homes across the UK.
Domiciliary care is rapidly growing as a preferred alternative to residential care — enabling those with varying needs to remain in their own home for longer. However, the nature of delivering care in a client's home creates a distinct set of risks that standard commercial insurance policies do not adequately cover.
Your staff work in environments you do not control, handling personal care tasks for vulnerable individuals. If something goes wrong — an accident, an allegation of neglect, or damage to a client's property — the right specialist insurance ensures your agency, your carers, and your clients are properly protected.
At Aldium Insurance, our care specialists take the time to understand your operation before approaching our panel of market-leading insurers. Cover can include:
Prefer to speak to someone? Call our care insurance team now:
📞 0151 336 5881Complete the form below and one of our domiciliary care insurance specialists will be in touch to discuss your requirements and search the market for the best available cover.
Domiciliary care insurance is a tailored package of covers addressing the specific risks of delivering care in clients' homes. Key sections include:
Public LiabilityCovers your agency against claims for injury or property damage made by service users, their families, or members of the public arising from your carers' activities in clients' homes. |
Employers' LiabilityA legal requirement. Covers compensation and legal costs if any employee — including care workers and office staff — makes a claim for a work-related illness or injury. |
Professional IndemnityCovers claims alleging negligence, errors, or inadequate service in the delivery of domiciliary care — including claims made by service users or their families for financial or personal losses. |
Treatment Risk CoverCovers claims arising from the provision of personal care tasks such as medication administration, manual handling, wound care, or other clinical or therapeutic activities carried out in a client's home. |
Buildings & ContentsCovers your registered office, administrative base, or headquarters against damage from insured perils — protecting the physical base of your domiciliary care operation. |
Business InterruptionCompensates your agency for lost income and additional costs if your operations are disrupted following an insured event — keeping your business financially stable during recovery. |
Cyber InsuranceProtects your agency against data breaches and cyber attacks — critical for domiciliary care providers who hold sensitive personal data about service users, staff, and clinical records. |
Commercial Legal ExpensesCovers expert legal representation for employment disputes, regulatory investigations, contract issues, or other legal proceedings affecting your domiciliary care business. |
25+ Years of Care ExpertiseOur dedicated care team has been protecting domiciliary care agencies for over 25 years. We understand CQC requirements, the risks of home-based care, and the cover you genuinely need. |
Whole of Market AccessAs independent brokers we are not tied to any single insurer. We search our full panel of specialist care insurers to find you the most comprehensive and competitive cover available. |
No Coverage GapsStandard policies often leave domiciliary care agencies exposed. We take the time to accurately describe your activities so your policy covers everything you do — including specialist care tasks. |
Dedicated Claims SupportShould you need to make a claim, our in-house claims manager will handle the process on your behalf — minimising disruption and working to resolve your claim as efficiently as possible. |
Common questions about domiciliary care insurance answered by our specialist team.
What is domiciliary care insurance and why do I need it?
Domiciliary care insurance is a specialist insurance package for agencies and providers that deliver care, support, or personal assistance in clients' own homes. You need it because standard commercial policies do not cover the specific risks of home-based care — including liability for care tasks carried out in a client's property, treatment risk, and the professional indemnity exposures unique to care delivery. Operating without adequate cover also risks non-compliance with CQC registration requirements.
Is domiciliary care insurance a legal requirement?
Employers' Liability insurance is a legal requirement for any domiciliary care agency that employs staff. Beyond this, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) requires registered providers to hold adequate insurance as a condition of registration. Operating without appropriate cover risks both regulatory action and significant uninsured financial exposure in the event of a claim.
Does domiciliary care insurance cover my care workers in clients' homes?
Yes. A specialist domiciliary care policy is designed to cover your carers while they are working in clients' homes — including public liability for damage or injury caused in the client's property, employers' liability if a carer is injured while working, and professional indemnity for claims arising from the care they provide. Your policy should accurately describe the types of care tasks your workers carry out to ensure the right cover is in place.
Does the policy cover self-employed or agency care workers?
This depends on how your workforce is structured. If you use self-employed care workers, their insurance position is more complex and needs to be discussed with your broker carefully. In some cases your policy will extend to cover contracted workers; in others they will need their own personal insurance. Our specialists will review your workforce arrangements and advise on the most appropriate cover.
Our care insurance specialists are available now to discuss your domiciliary care insurance needs and search the market for the best available cover.
How much does domiciliary care insurance cost?
The cost depends on factors including the size of your agency, the number of service users and care workers, the types of care tasks carried out, your claims history, and whether you own or lease your office premises. As independent brokers we search the market to find the most competitive premium for your specific circumstances. Call us on 0151 336 5881 or complete the quote form above for a tailored quotation.
Can I get domiciliary care insurance if I am a sole trader or new start-up?
Yes. We arrange domiciliary care insurance for sole traders, small agencies, new start-ups, and large established providers alike. If you are newly registered with the CQC or in the process of registering, we can arrange cover from day one. Contact our team to discuss your specific situation and we will advise on the most appropriate policy for your stage of business.
Here's what care operators across the UK say about Aldium Insurance:
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★★★★★
Highly recommend their services! Great support and customer service, problem solver oriented. I have only good impressions and words until now. Keep up the good work! |
★★★★★
We have utilised the services of Aldium for around three years. The team there have provided us with excellent service, are courteous, efficient and clearly understand the care sector. |
★★★★★
I would like to thank Aldium for all the help and attention to detail they have provided during our recent negotiations to bring my care home insurance business back to them. |
What Insurance Does a Care Home Legally Need in the UK? Running a care home is about people first, but it is also a regulated
