Nine in ten home carers report workplace injuries, research finds

Workplace injuries and near misses are widespread among self-employed home carers, according to new research which highlights ongoing uncertainty about insurance and legal liability.

A survey of 250 UK carers working in family homes found:

• 91% had experienced an injury or near miss during their career.
• 48% had suffered a serious injury.
• 54% had experienced a minor injury.
• 92% had cared for a client who was injured or involved in an accident.
• 47% said the client’s injury was serious.

Among carers who had experienced an incident, almost half (49%) said they had personally covered some of the associated costs, while 42% said they had relied on their own insurance.

Despite the frequency of workplace incidents, many carers remain unclear about the insurance they need if something goes wrong.

The research, commissioned by specialist insurance provider Surewise, found:

• 37% said insurance was too complicated.
• 28% were unsure what cover they needed.
• 29% did not know where to obtain appropriate insurance.
• 40% did not currently have public liability insurance, which can help protect carers if they are found legally liable for accidental injury to a client or damage to their property, helping to cover legal defence costs and compensation claims.

The survey also highlights ongoing confusion around legal liability. When asked who would be legally responsible if a client was injured because of the care they provided, carers were almost evenly divided:

·       45% believed the carer would be responsible

·       45% believed responsibility would lie with the household

·       10% believed liability would be shared.

The findings suggest uncertainty over liability may be contributing to confusion about insurance requirements, particularly for self-employed carers working directly for families rather than through an agency.

Stuart Bensusan, director at Surewise, said: "Home care is physically demanding and accidents can be frequent – affecting both the carer and those they care for.

“Despite everyday risks, many carers are still unsure what insurance they need or who would be legally responsible if something went wrong.

"Understanding liability can be complicated – it’s important not to assume someone else's insurance will automatically protect you. Taking the time to understand your responsibilities and ensuring you have appropriate cover can help prevent significant financial and legal difficulties later on."

Surewise is encouraging carers to review their insurance arrangements regularly, particularly if they are self-employed or their working arrangements change, to ensure they have cover that reflects the way they work.

For more information, please visit: www.surewise.com

Ends

Editors notes

Research was conducted by Censuswide for Surewise in June 2026, among a sample of 250 UK self-employed carers and domiciliary care workers. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. It adheres to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.

For more information, please contact:

Fran Herring, Rose Lock or Alex Hankinson

Midnight Communications

surewise@midnight.co.uk

T: 01273 666 200

About Surewise

Surewise is a leading specialist insurance intermediary which offers a variety of insurance products, including mobility, carers and storage insurance to customers across the UK.

Surewise provides insurance through a partnership with underwriters SAGIC, the Salvation Army General Insurance Corporation, whose profits support Salvation Army charities and give back to vulnerable members of society, including people experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, poverty and unemployment.

Based in Hadleigh in Essex, its growing team is united by a passion to build trust, care and fairness within the insurance sector.

As of 2026, Surewise has more than 15,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an overall 'Excellent' rating of 4.8.