© Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc 2013

Insurance and Night Shelters

October 2013

Marcus Booth & Paul Franklin

Ecclesiastical Insurance

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When I see a risk which includes people with these issues; Homelessness

Drinking problems

Drug dependency

Mental and psychological issues

Then my job is to protect the profitability of the company I work for and to run a mile from these issues and say “No” to providing insurance cover

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Actually I don’t, because I work for Ecclesiastical Ecclesiastical Insurance has worked with churches and

charities for 126 years; we understand our market and how we can support these organisations

We appreciate that the role of many churches and charities includes working with these people. Our role is to provide insurance cover for churches and charities and also to support, guide and influence the way that this work is conducted

Our aim is primarily the safety and welfare of all involved and this includes the provision of night shelters

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So what are we asking of you?

• We have worked closely with Housing Justice to establish a ‘Quality Mark’. This is a document listing rules, procedures and guidelines, which constitutes best practice for the organisation of night shelters and draws on the experience and knowledge of both parties to keep you and your service users safe

• By implementing the Quality Mark this means we can try to keep additional premiums on your insurance to a low and affordable level and give you the cover and reassurance that you need in order to carry out your work

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What is included in this Quality Mark?

The key areas are;• Risk management and assessments• Health and safety• Safeguarding• Admission procedures• Training of staff and volunteers• Suitable facilities and equipment• Regularly reflecting on key learning points and implementing changes as required• Staying safe!

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I am not an underwriter…

… but I am a risk surveyor

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The dreaded words….

Health

&

Safety

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So what do they mean…

Health & Safety is…

about being safe

about good systems and procedures

dynamic and flexible

everyone’s responsibility

Health & Safety is not…

about preventing things happening or distracting you from your mission

about ticking boxes

rigid and restrictive

an imposition

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What does the law require?

The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires an employer* to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all employees by providing:

safe equipment safe working practices a safe place of work instruction, information, training and supervision a written policy on H&S (if 5 or more employees)

*NB: the Health & Safety Executive considers it good practice for all users of volunteers to apply the requirements as if they were employees

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So what do you need to do? Complete a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

Document what you have found

Act on your findings

Monitor and review

Share best practice

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…which will lead to…

A safe, efficient and well run night shelter, where staff, volunteers and users are safe

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Resources to help you Housing Justice Quality Mark Scheme

www.ecclesiastical.com/churchmatters

Where you will find templates for: Risk assessments Health & Safety Policies

amongst much other guidance on risk assessment and related matters